Systems and methods for generating and monitoring flight routes and buffer zones for unmanned aerial vehicles

US11004345B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Walmart Apollo, LLC · US

Inventors

• Robert L. Cantrell · Herndon, US
• Donald R. High · Noel, US
• Samantha M. Mangosing · Berryville, US
• David C. Winkle · Berryville, US
• John J. O'Brien · Farmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 2019
• Grant date: May 11, 2021
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2201/20
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for creating and monitoring predefined mission routes along air rails and non-overlapping buffer zones surrounding unmanned vehicles during travel of the unmanned vehicles along the predefined mission routes. The buffer zone may be thought of as a projected movement variation area being associated by the system to the UAV and containing four dimensions, the three positional dimensions, X, Y, and Z, along with a temporal one, time. Generally, the buffer zone will change as ambient conditions, location, and orientation of an unmanned vehicle change during travel of the unmanned vehicle along its predefined mission route.