Geographic survey system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Inventors
Fisher, Christopher Eugene • Mukherjee, Jason Sidharthadev • LOTT, WILLIAM ARDEN
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11216015-B2
Publication Date
2022-01-04
Expiration Date
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Abstract
A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request having: a first geographic coverage area; and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area; planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod; and deploying the UAV pod.
Core Innovation
A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation includes receiving from a customer a first data request comprising a first geographic coverage area and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area, planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request, uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod, and deploying the UAV pod. The method may include providing a two-rotor UAV with flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV pod, launching the two-rotor UAV from the UAV pod to perform the one of the first plurality of flight missions, receiving the two-rotor UAV on the UAV pod, and receiving in the UAV pod a first flight survey data obtained from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV.
The invention addresses extended and autonomous geographic survey work by enabling multiple autonomous mission launches and landings using a two-rotor VTOL UAV and UAV pod, and by allowing mission planning, mission data upload, mission execution, data retrieval, and data transmission or physical removal of pod memory to facilitate survey data collection and delivery to a customer. The system may be accomplished using a single UAV pod and selectively enclosed two-rotor VTOL UAV, or by using one or more two-rotor UAVs shared with one or more UAV pods to extend autonomous survey range and coverage between adjacent or non-adjacent geographic survey regions.
Claims Coverage
This patent includes 3 independent claims. The following inventive features are extracted from those claims.
Data request comprising geographic coverage area and refresh rate
Receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request comprising a first geographic coverage area and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area.
Planning and uploading plurality of flight missions and deploying the UAV
Planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight mission data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV; and deploying the UAV.
Mission execution cycle of providing mission data, launch, landing, and receiving survey data
Providing the UAV with the flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions; launching the UAV to perform the one of the first plurality of flight missions; landing the UAV; and receiving a first flight survey data obtained from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV.
Uploading and deploying missions for autonomous performance in a geographic survey area
Uploading a first plurality of flight missions into a UAV; deploying the UAV in a first geographic survey area; and autonomously launching the UAV from the first geographic survey area a plurality of times to perform the first plurality of flight missions.
Autonomous migration between geographic survey areas without active human intervention
Autonomously migrating the UAV from the first geographic survey area to a second geographic survey area; receiving a second plurality of flight missions for the UAV in the second geographic survey area; autonomously launching the UAV from the second geographic survey area a plurality of times to perform the second plurality of flight missions; and wherein the autonomous migrating of the UAV to accomplish the first and second survey data happens autonomously and without active human intervention.
Processor configured to receive customer request and plan missions
A processor having addressable memory in communication with the UAV, the processor configured to receive a first data request from a customer comprising a first geographic coverage area and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area, and plan a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request.
Processor transmitting mission data to UAV and receiving flight survey data
The processor configured to transmit flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions to the UAV and receive a first flight survey data from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV.
The independent claims disclose (1) receiving a customer data request specifying a geographic coverage area and refresh rate, (2) planning and uploading a plurality of flight missions and deploying a UAV or UAV pod, (3) an autonomous mission execution cycle of providing mission data, launching, landing, and receiving survey data, (4) autonomous migration between geographic survey areas without active human intervention, and (5) a processor-based system configured to receive requests, plan missions, transmit missions to the UAV, and receive flight survey data.
Stated Advantages
Provides improved remote geographic survey capabilities.
Extends the operational capabilities of UAVs and facilitates survey data retrieval in remote geographic areas.
Increases range and/or duration of a particular flight by enabling efficient horizontal flight using a winged two-rotor VTOL UAV.
Reduces data transmission bandwidth requirements, which may translate into reduced data transmission costs and time, by pre-processing flight survey data onboard the UAV or UAV pod.
Provides a more robust vehicle structure by reducing the opportunity for damage to aerodynamic control surfaces and allowing a lighter, less complex design.
Documented Applications
Aerial geographic survey work for the agricultural and oil industries.
Measuring roads, buildings, fields, identifying agricultural progress, inspecting infrastructure, and urban planning.
Search and rescue missions as an example of transmitting or physically providing information about an event of interest (e.g., the location of a lost person).
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