Safety system for operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle
Inventors
Matuszeski, Thaddeus Benjamin • LOTT, WILLIAM ARDEN • Lisoski, Derek
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Assignees
MemberAeroVironmentAeroVironmentAeroVironment designs, develops, and deploys uncrewed aerial, ground, and loitering munitions systems, as well as advanced autonomy and mission software for defense, security, and exploration applications. The company has a track record of pioneering innovations in robotics, high-altitude platforms, and planetary flight systems, delivering scalable and adaptable technologies for complex and demanding missions across multiple domains.
AeroVironment designs, develops, and deploys uncrewed aerial, ground, and loitering munitions systems, as well as advanced autonomy and mission software for defense, security, and exploration applications. The company has a track record of pioneering innovations in robotics, high-altitude platforms, and planetary flight systems, delivering scalable and adaptable technologies for complex and demanding missions across multiple domains.
Publication Number
US-10209707-B2
Publication Date
2019-02-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for a safety system including: selecting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command on a controller, the controller comprising a first processor with addressable memory; presenting a first activator and a second activator on a display of the controller for the selected UAV command, wherein the second activator is a slider; and sending the UAV command to a UAV if the first activator and the second activator are selected, the UAV comprising a second processor with addressable memory.
Core Innovation
Systems, devices, and methods for a safety system including selecting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command on a controller, the controller comprising a first processor with addressable memory; presenting a first activator and a second activator on a display of the controller for the selected UAV command, wherein the second activator is a slider; and sending the UAV command to a UAV if the first activator and the second activator are selected, the UAV comprising a second processor with addressable memory. The disclosed safety system is configured to require at least two unique and independent actions to launch the UAV, return to land from where the UAV launched, land the UAV at its current location, and effect an emergency stop of the UAV.
One specific danger addressed by the invention is the unintentional, inadvertent, or accidental start and/or termination of flight of the UAV, which can result in injury to persons in the immediate area and damage to the UAV or surrounding property. Having a controller with a single button to control such operations tends to lend itself to accidental commands occurring, and the disclosed system requiring manipulation of more than one separate activator is intended to prevent or limit unintended activation of a critical action.
Claims Coverage
The claims disclose eight main inventive features across three independent claims (claims 1, 16, and 19).
Selecting a UAV command on a controller with a first processor and addressable memory
Selecting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command on a controller, the controller comprising a first processor with addressable memory.
Presenting dual activators on a controller display with a slider as the second activator
Presenting a first activator and a second activator on a display of the controller for the selected UAV command, wherein the second activator is a slider.
Sending the UAV command only when both activators are selected and UAV having a second processor with addressable memory
Sending the UAV command to a UAV if the first activator and the second activator are selected, the UAV comprising a second processor with addressable memory.
Determining remaining battery state of charge needed to return and land at a launch location
Determining, by a processor of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a remaining battery state of charge needed by the UAV to return to and land at a launch location.
Commanding return and land when remaining battery state of charge is within a set limit
Commanding, by the processor of the UAV, the UAV to return to and land on the launch location if the determined remaining battery state of charge is within a set limit.
UAV processor determining a command from status information and transmitting it to a controller for confirmation
Determine a UAV command based on a set of status information of the UAV, where the set of status information is received from at least one sensor associated with the UAV; transmit the determined command to a controller for confirmation.
Controller receiving the transmitted UAV command and presenting dual activators with a slider
Receive a transmitted UAV command from the UAV; present a first activator and a second activator on a display of the controller for the selected UAV command, where the second activator is a slider.
Controller confirming activator execution and sending confirmation for UAV execution
Confirm that the first activator and the second activator are executed successfully; and send the UAV command confirmation to the UAV for execution at the UAV of the command, wherein the UAV executes the UAV command based on receiving the confirmation.
The independent claims focus on a dual-activator controller interface requiring a slider as one activator for sending commands from a controller with a processor and addressable memory to a UAV with a processor and addressable memory, battery-state-based autonomous return/land decisions by the UAV processor, and a system flow in which the UAV proposes commands to the controller for confirmation via the dual-activator mechanism.
Stated Advantages
Prevent or limit unintended activation of a critical action such as initiation and/or termination of flight operations of the UAV.
Provide an acceptable level of usability by simplifying the user's operation and interface while doing so in a sufficiently safe and intuitive manner.
Provide an environment where the UAV may automatically execute certain actions based on data received by the safety system.
Documented Applications
Defining an area to be observed and launching the UAV to capture information about crops, including agricultural surveying.
Operating and monitoring a UAV mission: launch via vertical take-off, monitor the airspace and mission progress, and land via vertical landing or contingency actions.
Uploading data from the UAV to a local drive, cloud system, or other database for further analysis.
Further analysis of data collected by the UAV to detect early signs of crop stress, water issues, and estimated crop yield, and using repeated flights to provide historical insights.
Interested in licensing this patent?