Context-based flight mode selection

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle within an environment are provided. In one aspect, a system comprises one or more sensors carried by the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to provide sensor data and one or more processors. The one or more processors can be individually or collectively configured to: determine, based on the sensor data, an environment type for the environment; select a flight mode from a plurality of different flight modes based on the environment type, wherein each of the plurality of different flight mode is associated with a different set of operating rules for the unmanned aerial vehicle; and cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to operate within the environment while conforming to the set of operating rules of the selected flight mode.

Description

Background technique [0001] Unmanned vehicles, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, can be used to perform surveillance, reconnaissance, and exploration missions in a variety of environments for both military and civilian applications. UAVs can be manually controlled by a remote user, or can be operated in a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous manner. Various control schemes may be implemented to enable the UAV to operate within the environment with varying degrees of autonomy. [0002] However, existing UAV control schemes may not be optimal in some situations. For example, some control schemes may rely on the user's own judgment to determine optimal operating parameters for the UAV, which may be difficult for inexperienced users or in situations where the user does not have an accurate perception of the UAV's surroundings. Furthermore, some control schemes may not provide safety mechanisms to automatically detect and / or predict collisions with obstacles, sensor failures, or o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0002] However, existing UAV control schemes may not be optimal in some situations

For example, some control schemes may rely on the user's own judgment to determine the optimal operating parameters for the UAV, which may be difficult for inexperienced users or in situations where the user does not have an accurate perception of the UAV's surroundings

furthermore, some control schemes may not provide safety mechanisms to automatically detect and / or predict collisions with obstacles, sensor failures, or other error conditions that may be encountered during UAV operation

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