Velocity control for an unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (102,152,900,1000) within an environment (100,150) are provided. In one aspect, a system comprises one or more sensors (1008) carried on the unmanned aerial vehicle (102,152,900,1000) and configured to receive sensor data of the environment (100,150) and one or more processors (1100). The one or more processors (1100) may be individually or collectively configured to: determine, based on the sensor data, an environmental complexity factor representative of an obstacle density for the environment (100,150); determine, based on the environmental complexity factor, one or more operating rules (602a-f) for the unmanned aerial vehicle (102,152,900,1000); receive a signal indicating a desired movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle (102,152,900,1000); and cause the unmanned aerial vehicle (102,152,900,1000) to move in accordance with the signal while complying with the one or more operating rules (602a-f).

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, UAVs may operate in environments where obstacles (eg, buildings, trees, humans, other aerial objects) are present. Existing control schemes may rely on the user's own judgment to determine safe operating parameters for the UAV in order to minimize the likelihood of collisions with obstacles. This may be challenging for inexperienced users or in situations where the user cannot readily see the UAV's surroun...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This can be challenging for inexperienced users or in situations where the user cannot easily see the UAV's surroundings (for example, when the UAV is relatively far away from the user)

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