Flight envelope protection system for unmanned aerial vehicles

US9650152B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology · SA

Inventors

• Christian Claudel · Austin, US
• Mohammad Shaqura · Dammam, SA

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 2015
• Grant date: May 16, 2017
• Expiry date: Oct 23, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06N7/01
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods to protect the flight envelope in both manual flight and flight by a commercial autopilot are provided. A system can comprise: an inertial measurement unit (IMU); a computing device in data communication with the IMU; an application executable by the computing device comprising: logic that estimates an angle of attack; a slip angle; and a speed of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based at least in part on data received from the UAV. A method can comprise estimating, via a computing device, flight data of a UAV based at least in part on data received from an IMU; comparing the estimated flight data with measured flight data; and triggering an error indication in response to a determination that the measured flight data exceeds a predefined deviation of the estimated flight data. The estimated speed can comprise an estimated airspeed, vertical speed and/or ground velocity.