Safety system for operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle
Inventors
Matuszeski, Thaddeus Benjamin • LOTT, WILLIAM ARDEN • Lisoski, Derek
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11977380-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-07
Expiration Date
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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
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) safety system in which a controller comprising a first processor with addressable memory presents a first activator and a second activator on a display for a selected UAV command, where the second activator is a slider, and sends the UAV command to a UAV comprising a second processor with addressable memory only if the first activator and the second activator are selected.
The invention addresses the danger of unintentional, inadvertent, or accidental start and/or termination of flight of the UAV by requiring at least two unique and independent actions to launch the UAV, return and land, land now, or effect an emergency stop, thereby reducing the potential for unintended activation that can cause injury, damage, or delayed operation.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims define the invention: a system claim and a method claim. The main inventive features extracted from each independent claim are listed below.
Controller presenting a button and a slider UI elements
Present a first activator as a button UI element and a second activator as a slider UI element on a controller display, the controller having a first processor and a first addressable memory.
Sequence-based selection triggering transmission
Selection of the second activator is subsequent to the selection of the first activator and the controller transmits a UAV command based on the selection of the first activator and the second activator.
Transmission based on direction of slider movement
The transmitted UAV command is based on a direction of movement of the button in the slider of the second activator, and the transmitted UAV command is a wireless signal.
UAV configured to receive and execute the command
The UAV comprises a second processor with a second addressable memory and a receiver configured to receive the transmitted UAV command and execute the received UAV command.
Presenting activators on a controller as a method
Presenting on a controller display a first activator as a button and a second activator as a slider, the controller comprising a first processor with a first addressable memory, as steps of a method for operation of a UAV.
Selecting activators with subsequent selection requirement
Selecting the first activator and the second activator in which the selection of the second activator is subsequent to the selection of the first activator, as a method step.
Transmitting command based on activator selection and slider direction
Transmitting a UAV command to control the UAV via a controller transmitter based on the selection of the first activator and the second activator at least one of: simultaneously and sequentially with the second activator, wherein the transmitted UAV command is based on a direction of movement of the button in the slider.
The independent system and method claims center on a controller displaying a button and a slider, a required sequence or combination of activator selections to transmit a wireless UAV command, the transmitted command being based on the slider movement direction, and a UAV configured with processing and receiving capability to receive and execute the command.
Stated Advantages
Prevents or limits unintended activation of critical actions such as initiation and termination of flight operations.
Provides an acceptable level of usability by simplifying the user's operation and interface while remaining sufficiently safe and intuitive.
Enables the UAV to automatically execute certain actions based on data received by the safety system to preserve the safest outcome possible given the circumstances.
Provides warnings and indicators that convey visual confirmation and provide time for nearby persons to move a safe distance prior to launch.
Documented Applications
Use of the UAV to capture information about crops, including defining an area to be observed and surveying land for conditions such as crop stress, water issues, and estimated crop yield.
Monitoring airspace and mission flight operations including mapping, imaging, displaying survey boundaries and land segment data, and providing a display-based quick-look assessment and data upload to local drives, cloud systems, or other databases for further analysis.
Use in scenarios requiring emergency responses such as initiating return and land, land now, or emergency stop commands during faults, errors, or changing weather conditions.
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