A communication optimization system/method for mobile networks uses a server that generates waypoints based on a first communication network within a route to be travelled by an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle comprising a communication hub configured to communicate with at least one communication node, a communication hub controller configured control movement of a steerable antenna, and an aerial vehicle controller configured control movement of the aerial vehicle. The server then transmits the waypoints to the aerial vehicle controller; periodically monitors networks not connected to the communication hub; when a second communication network not connected to the communication hub satisfies a threshold, transmits causes the communication controller to steer the steerable antenna in a direction of the second communication network, further causing the communication hub to communicate and connect with the second communication network.

System and methods for real-time virtual visual in-route vehicle monitoring. System and methods herein provide novel means of monitoring global positioning equipped vehicles, in that tamper-proof identifiers registered on vehicle topsides are electronically imaged by aerospace imaging devices, including manned or unmanned aerospace vehicles or satellites. Transponders of in-route vehicles and aerospace imaging devices correspond, said digital images digitally relay to parabolic antennas, relay to connected networks such as the World Wide Web, are transmitted therein and interfaced in real-time via end-users utilizing computerized devices and applications for purposes of real-time virtual visual in-route vehicle monitoring. Crowdsourced end-users are supplied directives and means via a computerized application alert icon to engage said alert icon in order to alert authorities upon occurrences of specified events such as, vehicle well-being concerns, security or terrorism events.

A method for monitoring an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a processor obtaining a datagram based on monitoring data for a UAV-detector communication between the UAV and one or more detectors. The monitoring data indicates at least one of a location of the UAV or a location of a control station in communication with the UAV. The method further includes determining a risk level by retrieving pre-stored risk information associated with the UAV based on the datagram.

Systems and methods for detecting radio frequency (“RF”) signals and corresponding origination locations are disclosed. An RF sensor device includes a software-defined radio and an antenna pair for receiving RF signals. Furthermore the RF sensor device may include a processing unit for processing/analyzing the RF signals, or the processing unit may be remote. The system calculates a phase difference between an RF signal received at two separate antennas of an antenna pair. The phase difference, the distance between the antennas, and the frequency of the RF signal are used for determining the origination direction of the RF signal. In various embodiments, the origination direction may indicate the location of a UAV controller or base station. The software-defined radio may include more than one antenna pair, connected to multiplexers, for efficiently scanning different frequencies by alternating active antenna pairs. Moreover, the system may execute packet-based processing on the RF signal data.

In one implementation, first and second messages are received that include encoded position information for a transmitter. It is determined that both were received within some time of a previous message and that the second message was received within some time of the first message. A first location of the transmitter is determined based on the encoded position in the first message and the previously determined location. A second location of the transmitter is determined based on the encoded position in the second message and the previously determined location. It also is determined that the first and second locations are within a threshold distance. An updated second location of the transmitter is determined based on the encoded position information in the second message and the first location. A determination is made that the second location and the updated second location are within a threshold distance.

A method of securing radio communication between a ramp agent and an aircraft provided with a base station adapted to transmit a beacon signal includes establishing a first database identifying organizations such as aircraft operators and authorized service providers; for each organization, establishing a second database identifying the ramp agents that it employs and associating biometric data with each ramp agent; providing the ramp agent with a terminal; and when attempting to establish communication between the ramp agent and the aircraft, performing two checks relating firstly to the identity of the ramp agent and secondly to the ramp agent's employer organization in order to verify whether the agent is indeed authorized to establish such communication.

A multi-dimensional flight release efficiency evaluation method. The method comprises: obtaining air flow control production and operation data which mainly comprises airspace capacity information, flight scheduling basic information, flight four-dimensional trajectory information and the like through a business information comprehensive processing platform, identifying a flight object affected by flow control and a flight object restricted by flow control through processing the operation data, analyzing a flight release time-hopping degree, calculating flight release delay distribution, evaluating controlled flight release fairness, predicting a controlled flight release normal rate, comparing airspace flow capacity matching situations, establishing a multi-dimensional flight release efficiency evaluation index set, and visually displaying evaluation indexes in modes of list, histogram, line chart, radar chart and the like.

A flight data aggregation system for a plurality of aircraft includes one or more portable electronic devices in electronic communication with one or more central computers. The one or more portable electronic devices each monitor flight data from a corresponding aircraft. The one or more portable electronic devices analyze the flight data in real-time to determine an insight event indicating an incident of significance is presently occurring upon the corresponding aircraft. Each central computer includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The central computers are caused to receive the flight data collected during the insight event from an individual portable electronic device. The central computers determine overall flight data patterns based on the flight data collected during the insight event received from the individual portable electronic device and historical data stored in the one or more databases.

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control method utilizing wireless networks includes communicating with a plurality of UAVs via a plurality of satellites associated with the wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each include hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of satellites; maintaining data associated with flight of each of the plurality of UAVs based on the communicating; and processing the maintained data to perform a plurality of function associated with air traffic control of the plurality of UAVs.

Described are systems and methods that utilize nodes distributed at different geographic locations to detect and track the approximate position, trajectory, and/or predicted path of aerial vehicles operating below a defined altitude (e.g., 500 feet). As nodes detect an aerial vehicle, the node determines a bearing toward the aerial vehicle and provides the bearing to an air-traffic system. The air-traffic system processes bearings received from each node and determines one or more of an approximate position, trajectory, and/or predicted path of the detected aerial vehicle. The approximate position, trajectory, and/or predicted path may be provided to one or more subscribing clients and/or used to alter paths of one or more aerial vehicles.