Safety system for operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle

Inventors

Matuszeski, Thaddeus Benjamin • LOTT, WILLIAM ARDEN • Lisoski, Derek

Assignees

Aerovironment Inc

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

A UAV safety system is provided in which a controller presents a first activator and a second activator on a display screen. The first activator is presented as a first user interface element comprising a button, and the second activator is presented as a second user interface element comprising a slider.

The controller is configured to control UAV operation only based on user selections of both activators. The controller receives selection of the first activator and the second activator, where selection of the second activator is subsequent to selection of the first activator, and transmits a UAV command to control the UAV via a transmitter of the controller based on the selection of the first activator and the second activator.

In a further formulation, transmitting the UAV command is performed based on selection of the first activator and the second activator at least one of simultaneously and sequentially with the second activator. The system includes UAV status monitoring via sensors and corresponding execution of received commands, including automated termination behavior based on battery state-of-charge and/or flight time and faults, with selection-dependent outcomes such as RTH versus land-now based on remaining battery.

Claims Coverage

The patent includes two independent claims, each covering a dual-activator safety activation workflow that conditions transmission of a UAV command on selection of both activators, with a button and a slider user interface element on the controller display. Across the independent claims, the inventive features are concentrated in three elements: controller UI presentation of a button and slider, sequential selection of the activators, and transmission of a UAV command based on both selections through the controller transmitter.

Overall, the independent claims are directed to a safety activation workflow where a controller displays a first activator as a button and a second activator as a slider, requires selection of both activators with the second subsequent to the first, and transmits a UAV command to control the UAV based on those selections, with one independent claim additionally covering simultaneous and/or sequential transmission timing with the second activator selection.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications