Mission monitor and controller for autonomous unmanned vehicles

US10502584B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• Sean Patrick Suiter · Omaha, US
• Richard Andrew Kruse · Omaha, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 2018
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G5/57
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system and related method for monitoring the performance of one or more autonomous unmanned aircraft (UA) includes a flight assistant for periodically determining the viability of an aircraft flight command, flight, or mission by comparing expected flight segment configuration and performance against at least actual performance. The flight assistant may trend actual performance as a function of differences in expected position and actual position and determine whether a flight command, flight, or mission may be performed or continued according to a hierarchy of user selectable detected anomalies or safety concerns. The flight assistant may report to an operator, controller, pilot, or monitor a rate of deviation, size of deviation, or change in the rate of deviation in accordance with a hierarchy based at least in part on flight segment, altitude, proximity to people or things.