Simultaneously cost-optimized and policy-compliant trajectory generation for unmanned aircraft
US11262746B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08G5/59
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flight processor that calculates a 4-dimensional trajectory having a sequence of two or more position, time and cost (x, y, z, t, c) tuples that minimize a defined cost. Some embodiments generate cost-optimized trajectories with simple or complex constraints and bounds such as fixed AGL altitude; minimum AGL altitude; maximum AGL altitude; minimum MSL; maximum MSL; avoidance of restricted airspace; adherence to non-restricted airspace such as easements; adherence to ground-based guideways, if applicable; and the constraint to maintain adequate radio frequency signal-to-noise needed for communications to the ground station or backhaul systems. Constraint-enabled minimization of trajectory cost may leverage the aircraft's energy model; current atmospheric data (most notably wind vector data along the trajectory path); continuous-time and/or event-based risk models and fault trees; blacklisted and white-listed geo-fence boundaries; defined easements; and known or estimated RF signal-to-noise (SNR) minimum values needed for one or two-way communications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.