Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for dynamic swarming of airborne drones for a reconfigurable array

US9104201B1 · kind B1 · utility

60Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 2012
Grant dateAug 11, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W4/023
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus to detect when one or more airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are close to each other, and to take necessary actions to maintain a minimum distance between drones as well as a maximum distance among the drones in a dynamic environment by automatic navigation. A computer method and apparatus for holding a group of drones in a swarm formation by maintaining the group centroid of the group of drones within a tolerance of a predetermined location is also disclosed. Additionally, methods to move a swarm of drones along a predetermined path while maintaining the swarm formation of the drones is also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.