An apparatus and method for controlling flight of a drone

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling the flight of a drone are provided. To efficiently acquire environmental information required for generating a navigation route for a vehicle, the apparatus includes: a receiver for receiving vehicle departure point information and destination information; a controller for generating a flight route corresponding to a travel route from the vehicle's departure point to its destination based on at least one of the sensing range of sensors mounted on the drone, the flight distance based on fuel quantity, and the communication range of a communication device mounted on the drone; and operating the drone to follow the generated flight route.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a technology for controlling flight of a drone based on a navigation route of a vehicle (a route from a departure point to a destination). BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, a technology for promoting safe driving of a vehicle by acquiring environmental information about a route from a departure point to a destination of the vehicle (including an autonomous vehicle) from a drone, generating a navigation route reflecting the acquired environmental information, and providing the navigation route to the vehicle is being developed.

[0003] Such a technology has the following problem: because, in controlling flight of a drone to acquire environmental information about a route from a departure point to a destination of a vehicle, the performance (sensing range) of a sensor applied to the drone, the flyable distance based on a fuel amount (including a remaining amount of a battery), and the performance (distance communicable with the vehicle) of a communication device are not considered, the environmental information cannot be effectively acquired.

[0004] The matters described in the background technology are for the purpose of enhancing the understanding of the background technology of the present application, and can include matters other than the prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present technology pertains. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application aims to solve the above-described problems occurring in the prior art while maintaining the advantages achieved by the prior art. One aspect of the present application provides an apparatus and a method for controlling flight of a drone, which can effectively acquire environmental information required to generate a navigation route of a vehicle by generating a flight route of a drone corresponding to a driving route from a departure point to a destination of the vehicle based on the performance of a sensor mounted on the drone, the flyable distance based on a fuel amount (remaining capacity of a battery), and the performance of a communication device.

[0006] The technical problems to be solved by the present inventive concept are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present application, an apparatus for controlling flight of a drone can include a receiver configured to receive departure point information and destination information of a vehicle, and a controller configured to generate a flight route corresponding to a driving route from a departure point to a destination of the vehicle based on at least one of a sensing range of a sensor mounted on the drone, a flyable distance based on a fuel amount, and a communicable distance of a communication device mounted on the drone, and operate the drone to follow the generated flight route.

[0008] In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to: detect the midpoint on a straight line connecting the starting point and the destination; detect the first point on the travel route that is farthest from the midpoint; and detect a sensing area with the straight line connecting the midpoint and the first point as its radius. In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to: generate a first flight path for flying along a straight line from the starting point to the midpoint when the sensing area is included in the reference area.

[0009] In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to: when the drone reaches the midpoint along the first flight path, operate the drone to wait at the midpoint until the vehicle reaches the destination. In another embodiment, the controller may be configured to: when the first flight path exceeds a reference distance, operate the drone to fly only from the starting point along the first flight path to the maximum arrival point.

[0010] In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to calculate the total distance required to return to a designated location after flying along a first flight path from a starting point, as the flyable distance. In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to generate a second flight path for flying along the driving route when the sensing area is not included in the reference area. In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to operate the UAV to follow the second flight path while maintaining a distance from the vehicle within the communication range.

[0011] Additionally, the controller can be configured to operate the drone only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point when the second flight path exceeds the reference distance, while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communication range.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling the flight of a drone may include the following steps: receiving vehicle departure point information and destination information via a receiver; generating a flight route corresponding to the travel route from the vehicle departure point to the destination via a controller based on at least one of the sensing range of sensors mounted on the drone, the flight distance based on fuel quantity, and / or the communication distance of a communication device mounted on the drone; and operating the drone via the controller to follow the generated flight route.

[0013] In one implementation, the step of generating a flight path may include: detecting the midpoint on a straight line connecting the starting point and the destination; detecting a first point on the flight path that is farthest from the midpoint; and detecting a sensing area with the straight line connecting the midpoint and the first point as its radius. Alternatively, generating a flight path may also include: when the sensing area is contained within a reference area, generating a first flight path for flying along a straight line from the starting point to the midpoint.

[0014] In one implementation, operating the drone may include: when the drone reaches the midpoint along a first flight path, causing the drone to wait at the midpoint until the vehicle reaches its destination. Operating the drone may also include: when the first flight path exceeds a reference distance, operating the drone to fly only from the starting point along the first flight path to the maximum arrival point.

[0015] Additionally, the step of generating a flight path may include: calculating the total distance required to return to the designated location after flying from the starting point along a first flight path, as the flyable distance. In one embodiment, generating a flight path may further include: generating a second flight path for flying along the driving route when the sensing area is not included in the reference area. The step of operating the drone may include: operating the drone to follow the second flight path while maintaining a distance from the vehicle within a communicable range.

[0016] In one implementation, operating the drone may include: when the second flight path exceeds a reference distance, operating the drone to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point. Alternatively, operating the drone may include: when the second flight path exceeds a reference distance, operating the drone to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point, while maintaining a distance from the vehicle within communicable range. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensing area detected by a controller in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the flight path of a drone generated by a controller in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is another schematic diagram illustrating a flight path of a drone generated by a controller equipped in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a method for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Although exemplary embodiments are described as using multiple units to perform exemplary processes, it should be understood that exemplary processes can also be performed by one or more modules. Furthermore, it is understood that the term controller / control unit refers to a hardware device including a memory and a processor, specifically programmed to perform the processes described herein. The memory is configured to store modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute said modules to perform one or more processes further described below.

[0024] Furthermore, the control logic of the present invention can be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions that are executed by a processor, controller / control unit, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, optical disc (CD)-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash drive, smart card, and optical data storage device. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed across a network-connected computer system, enabling distributed storage and execution of the computer-readable medium, for example, via a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0025] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that, when used in this specification, the words “comprising” and / or “including” specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the word “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified or obvious from the context, the term "about" shall be understood to mean within the normal tolerance range in this field, such as within 2 standard deviations of the mean. "About" may be understood to mean within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clearly understood from the context, all numerical values ​​provided herein are modified by the term "about".

[0027] In the following, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary accompanying drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in the various drawings, it should be noted that identical or equivalent components are indicated by the same reference numerals even when shown in other drawings. Furthermore, in describing embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions of relevant known configurations or functions will be omitted when it is determined that such configurations or functions interfere with the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of components according to embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, "A", "B", (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are used only to distinguish components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of components is not limited by these terms. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries, for example, should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field, and should not be idealized or over-formally interpreted unless explicitly defined herein.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, an apparatus 100 for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a memory 10, a first communication device 20, a second communication device 30, and a controller 40. In this regard, based on the scheme for implementing the apparatus 100 for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, components may be interconnected to form a single component, or some components may be omitted. In particular, the first communication device 20 and the second communication device 30 may be integrated into a single module.

[0030] Each of the components will be described below. First, the memory 10 may be configured to store various logics, algorithms, and programs required to generate a flight path for the drone 300 corresponding to a route from the vehicle's starting point to its destination, based on the performance of sensors mounted on the drone 300, the flight range based on fuel quantity (remaining battery capacity), and the performance of communication equipment, and to operate the drone 300 to follow the generated flight path. In this regard, the sensors may include at least one of GPS, cameras, radar, and / or lidar.

[0031] The memory 10 may include at least one type of recording medium (storage medium) such as flash memory, hard disk memory, micro memory, card memory (e.g., security digital (SD) card or extreme digital (XD) card), random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), disk memory and optical disk memory.

[0032] The first communication device 20, serving as a module providing an interface for communicating with the vehicle terminal 200, can be configured to receive departure point information and destination information from the vehicle terminal 200, and to send environmental information about the route from the vehicle's departure point to its destination to the vehicle terminal 200. In this regard, the environmental information may include traffic information (accident information, traffic information, etc.), road information (road control information, construction information, toll information, etc.), and weather information (snow, rain, etc.).

[0033] Additionally, the first communication device 20, which serves as a module providing an interface for communicating with the telematics server 400, can be configured to receive origin and destination information from the telematics server 400. In one example, the first communication device 20 can be configured to receive a driving route corresponding to the vehicle's origin and destination information from the telematics server 400. The first communication device 20 may include at least one of a mobile communication module, a wireless internet module, and / or a short-range communication module as a data transmission / reception module.

[0034] The mobile communication module can be configured to communicate with the vehicle terminal 200 through a mobile communication network built on technical standards or communication schemes for mobile communication (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), Enhanced Voice Data Optimized or Enhanced Voice Data (EV-DO), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High-Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A), Fourth Generation Communication System (4G), Fifth Generation Communication System (5G), etc.).

[0035] The wireless internet module, used for wireless internet access, can be configured to communicate with the vehicle terminal 200 via wireless LAN (WLAN), Wi-Fi Direct, Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), WiBro, Global Microwave Access Interoperability (WiMAX), High-Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and LTE-A Advanced.

[0036] The short-range communication module can support short-range communication using at least one of the following technologies: Bluetooth™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), and / or Wireless Universal Serial Bus (Wireless USB).

[0037] The second communication device 30, serving as a module providing an interface for communicating with the drone 300, can be configured to: receive sensor information (sensor range), fuel level information (remaining battery capacity information), and communication device information (communication range of the communication device) from the drone 300, and transmit the flight path of the drone 300 corresponding to the route from the vehicle's starting point to its destination to the drone 300. In this context, the communication range of the communication device refers to the distance considering both the specifications of the communication device and environmental factors (transmit / receive sensitivity).

[0038] The second communication device 30 may include a short-range communication module as a data transmission / reception module. The short-range communication module may support short-range communication using at least one of the following technologies: Bluetooth™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Communication (Infrared Data Association; IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), and / or Wireless Universal Serial Bus (Wireless USB). In this regard, the second communication device 30 may be configured to communicate with the drone 300 using LTE and 5G communication schemes.

[0039] Controller 40 can be configured to perform overall control, enabling each component to perform its function correctly. Controller 40 can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Specifically, controller 40 can be implemented as a microprocessor, but is not limited thereto. Controller 40 can be configured to: generate a flight path for drone 300 corresponding to a route from the vehicle's starting point to its destination, taking into account the performance of sensors mounted on drone 300, the flight range based on fuel consumption (remaining battery capacity), and the performance of communication equipment, and operate drone 300 to follow the generated flight path.

[0040] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 2 to 5 The operation of controller 40 is described in detail. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensing area detected by a controller in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, "210" represents the vehicle's starting point (or current position), "220" represents the destination, "230" represents the midpoint of the straight line connecting the starting point 210 and the destination 220, "240" represents the vehicle's route from the starting point 210 to the destination 220, "250" represents the point on the route 240 that is farthest from the midpoint 230, "260" represents the straight line connecting the midpoint 230 and the point 250 (sensing radius), and "270" represents the circle (sensing area) formed by the sensing radius 260.

[0042] The controller 40 can be configured to: generate a straight line connecting the starting point 210 and the destination 220 to each other, detect the midpoint 230 of the straight line, detect the point 250 on the driving route 240 that is farthest from the midpoint 230 on the driving route 240 from the starting point 210 to the destination 220, and detect a sensing area 270 with a radius of 260 (the straight line connecting the midpoint 230 and the point 250).

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the flight path of a drone generated by a controller in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] like Figure 3As shown, the controller 40 in an apparatus for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configured to generate a flight path 320 that flies in a straight line from the starting point 210 to the midpoint 230 of the sensing area 270 when the sensing area 270 corresponding to the travel route 240 from the starting point 210 to the destination 220 is included in the reference area 310 (when the radius of the sensing area 270 is equal to or less than the radius of the reference area 310). In this regard, the reference area 310 may represent the maximum sensing area of ​​the sensor provided on the drone 300, and the reference area 310 may be determined based on the performance of the sensor provided on the drone 300.

[0045] Then, when the drone 300 flies along flight path 320 and reaches midpoint 230, the controller 40 can be configured to operate the drone 300 to wait at midpoint 230 until the vehicle reaches destination 220, without immediately returning the drone 300 to the designated location (e.g., a nearby charging station, waiting station, etc.). In other words, when the vehicle reaches destination 220, the controller 40 can be configured to return the drone 300, which has been circling around midpoint 230, to the designated location.

[0046] Additionally, controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path for drone 300 by further considering the flight available distance based on the amount of fuel available to drone 300. In this context, the flight available distance based on the amount of fuel available to drone 300 refers to the total distance required to return to the designated location after flying from starting point 210 along flight path 320. The flight available distance can be calculated by controller 40.

[0047] For example, controller 40 can be configured to maintain flight path 320 when the flight path 320 of drone 300 is less than the reference distance, and can be configured to generate a new flight path for traveling only from the starting point 210 along flight path 320 to the maximum arrival point when the flight path 320 of drone 300 exceeds the reference distance. In this context, the reference distance is the distance obtained by subtracting the return distance from the flyable distance based on the amount of fuel available to drone 300, and the maximum arrival point is the point at which drone 300 must change direction to return to its starting point 210 after flying along flight path 320 due to remaining fuel.

[0048] As another example, when the flight path 320 of the drone 300 exceeds the reference distance, the controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path from the departure point 210 to any point located between the departure point 210 and the maximum arrival point. This is because, in terms of fuel consumption and providing information to vehicles, it may be more advantageous for the drone 300 to fly only to any point before the maximum arrival point rather than to fly to the maximum arrival point.

[0049] Additionally, the controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path for the UAV 300 by further considering the flight range based on the fuel quantity of the UAV 300 and the performance (communication range) of the communication device equipped in the UAV 300. For example, the controller 40 can be configured to: when the flight path 320 of the UAV 300 is less than the reference distance, operate the UAV 300 to follow the flight path 320 while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communication range; when the flight path 320 of the UAV 300 exceeds the reference distance, operate the UAV 300 to fly from the starting point 210 along the flight path 320 only to the maximum arrival point while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communication range.

[0050] Figure 4 This is another schematic diagram illustrating a flight path of a drone generated by a controller equipped in a device for controlling the flight of a drone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, in response to determining that the sensing area 270 corresponding to the driving route 240 from the starting point 210 to the destination 220 exceeds the reference area 310, the controller 40 in the device for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configured to generate a flight route 410 for flying from the starting point 210 to the destination 220 along the driving route 240.

[0051] Then, when the drone 300 flies along flight path 410 and arrives at destination 220, the controller 40 can be configured to operate the drone 300 to wait at destination 220 until the vehicle arrives at destination 220, without immediately returning the drone 300 to a designated location (e.g., a nearby charging station, waiting station, etc.). In other words, when the vehicle arrives at destination 220, the controller 40 can be configured to return the drone 300, which has been circling destination 220, to the designated location.

[0052] Additionally, controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path for drone 300 by further considering its flight range based on the amount of fuel available for the drone 300. In this context, the flight range of drone 300 refers to the total distance required to return to the designated location after flying from starting point 210 along flight path 410. The flight range can be calculated by controller 40.

[0053] For example, controller 40 can be configured to maintain flight path 410 in response to determining that the flight path 410 of drone 300 is less than a reference distance, and can be configured to generate a new flight path for traveling only from the starting point 210 along flight path 410 to the maximum arrival point in response to determining that the flight path 410 of drone 300 exceeds the reference distance. In this context, the reference distance is the distance obtained by subtracting the return distance from the flyable distance based on the amount of fuel available to drone 300, and the maximum arrival point is the point from which drone 300 must change direction to return to its starting point 210 after flying along flight path 410 due to remaining fuel.

[0054] As another example, when the flight path 410 of the drone 300 exceeds a reference distance, the controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path from the departure point 210 to any point located between the departure point 210 and the maximum arrival point. This is because, in terms of fuel consumption and providing information to vehicles, it may be more advantageous for the drone 300 to fly only to any point before the maximum arrival point rather than to fly to the maximum arrival point.

[0055] Additionally, the controller 40 can be configured to generate a flight path for the UAV 300 by further considering the flight range based on the fuel quantity of the UAV 300 and the performance (communication range) of the communication device equipped in the UAV 300. For example, the controller 40 can be configured to: when the flight path 410 of the UAV 300 is less than the reference distance, operate the UAV 300 to follow the flight path 410 while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communication range; when the flight path 410 of the UAV 300 exceeds the reference distance, operate the UAV 300 to fly from the starting point 210 along the flight path 410 only to the maximum arrival point while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communication range.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 for controlling the flight of a drone can be installed on a telematics server 400 or on the drone 300. In this regard, the device 100 can be configured to: when installed on the telematics server 400, generate the flight path of the drone 300 in conjunction with the vehicle terminal 200; and can be configured to: when installed on the drone 300, control the flight of the drone 300 in conjunction with the vehicle terminal 200.

[0057] Figure 5This is a flowchart of a method for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. First, a first communication device 20 may be configured to receive vehicle departure point information and destination information from a vehicle terminal 200 or a telematics server 400 (501). Then, a controller 40 may be configured to generate a flight path corresponding to the travel route from the vehicle's departure point to its destination, taking into account at least one of the sensing range of sensors mounted on the drone, the flight distance based on fuel consumption, and / or the communication distance of communication devices mounted on the drone (502). Finally, the controller 40 may be configured to operate the drone to follow the generated flight path (503).

[0058] The above description merely illustrates the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes without departing from the basic characteristics of the present invention.

[0059] Therefore, the exemplary embodiments disclosed in this invention are not intended to limit the technical concept of the invention, but are used to illustrate the invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention can be interpreted as being covered by the scope of the appended claims, and all technical concepts falling within the scope of the claims can be interpreted as being included within the scope of the invention.

[0060] As described above, the apparatus and method for controlling the flight of a drone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can effectively obtain the environmental information required to generate the vehicle's navigation route by taking into account the performance of sensors installed on the drone, the flight distance based on fuel quantity (remaining battery capacity), and the performance of communication devices.

[0061] While the invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. Various modifications and alterations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising: The receiver is configured to receive the vehicle's origin and destination information. as well as The controller is configured as follows: Based on at least one of the sensing range of sensors mounted on the UAV, the flight range based on fuel consumption, and the communication range of the communication device mounted on the UAV, a flight route corresponding to the travel route from the vehicle's starting point to its destination is generated; and Operate the drone to follow the generated flight path; Detect the midpoint of the straight line connecting the starting point and the destination; Detect the first point on the driving route that is farthest from the midpoint; and The detection area is defined by the straight line connecting the midpoint and the first point as the radius. The controller is further configured to: The flight path is also generated based on the reference area and the sensing area. The reference area refers to the maximum sensing area of ​​the sensor installed on the drone, and is determined based on the performance of the sensor installed on the drone.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is configured to generate a first flight path for flying along a straight line from the starting point to the midpoint when the sensing area is included in the reference area.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The controller is configured to: when the drone reaches the midpoint along the first flight path, operate the drone to wait at the midpoint until the vehicle reaches the destination.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The controller is configured to operate the UAV to fly only from the starting point along the first flight path to the maximum arrival point when the first flight path exceeds the reference distance.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The controller is configured to calculate the total distance required to return to the designated location after flying from the starting point along the first flight path, as the flyable distance.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is configured to generate a second flight path for flying along the driving route when the sensing area is not included in the reference area.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The controller is configured to operate the drone to follow the second flight path while maintaining a distance from the vehicle within the communicable distance.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the second flight path exceeds a reference distance, operate the UAV to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the second flight path exceeds a reference distance, operate the UAV to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point, while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communicable distance.

10. A method for controlling the flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising the following steps: The receiver receives the vehicle's departure and destination information. The controller generates a flight route corresponding to the driving route from the vehicle's starting point to its destination, based on at least one of the sensing range of the sensors installed on the drone, the flight distance based on the amount of fuel, and the communication distance of the communication device installed on the drone. as well as The controller operates the drone to follow the generated flight path; The step of generating the flight path includes: Detect the midpoint of the straight line connecting the starting point and the destination; Detect the first point on the driving route that is farthest from the midpoint; and The detection area is defined by the straight line connecting the midpoint and the first point as the radius. The step of generating the flight path further includes: The flight path is also generated based on the reference area and the sensing area. The reference area refers to the maximum sensing area of ​​the sensor installed on the drone, and is determined based on the performance of the sensor installed on the drone.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The step of generating the flight path also includes: When the sensing region is included in the reference region, a first flight path is generated for flying in the direction of a straight line from the starting point to the midpoint.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The steps for operating the drone include: When the drone reaches the midpoint along the first flight path, the drone is operated to wait at the midpoint until the vehicle reaches the destination.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The steps for operating the drone include: In response to determining that the first flight path exceeds a reference distance, the drone is operated to fly only from the starting point along the first flight path to the maximum arrival point.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The step of generating the flight path includes: The total distance required to return to the designated location after flying from the starting point along the first flight path is calculated as the flyable distance.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The step of generating the flight path also includes: When the sensing area is not included in the reference area, a second flight path is generated for flying along the driving route.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The steps for operating the drone include: The drone is operated to follow the second flight path while maintaining a distance from the vehicle within the communicable distance.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The steps for operating the drone include: In response to determining that the second flight path exceeds the reference distance, the drone is operated to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The steps for operating the drone include: In response to determining that the second flight path exceeds the reference distance, the UAV is operated to fly only from the starting point along the second flight path to the maximum arrival point, while maintaining the distance from the vehicle within the communicable distance.

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