This disclosure is directed to a detection and avoidance apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and systems, devices, and techniques pertaining to automated object detection and avoidance during UAV flight. The system may detect objects within the UAV's airspace through acoustic, visual, infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, or object detectable signal emitted or reflected from an object. The system may identify the source of the object detectable signal by comparing features of the received signal with known sources signals in a database. The features may include, for example, an acoustic signature emitted or reflected by the objet. Furthermore, a trajectory envelope for the object may be determined based on characteristic performance parameters for the object such as cursing speed, maneuverability, etc. The UAV may determine an optimized flight plan based on the trajectory envelopes of detected objects within the UAV's air-space.

A communication travel plan generation system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a communication hub, a system input and at least one controller. The communication hub is housed in the vehicle and is configured to communicate with a plurality of spaced subscriber communication nodes. The system input is configured to receive mission-specific information. The at least one controller is in communication with the system input. Moreover, the at least one controller is configured to apply the mission-specific information to a mission planning system to generate a mission plan of the vehicle. The at least one controller is further configured to implement the communication travel plan generation system to automatically generate travel waypoints for the mission planning system based at least in part on the mission-specific information applied to the mission planning system.

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle includes transmitting a first message via a communications transmitter of a lighting assembly for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle. The first message includes an identifier associated with the lighting assembly, and the lighting assembly is located within a proximity of a roadway. The method also includes receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a communications receiver of the lighting assembly. The second message includes an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method further includes transmitting a third message via the communications transmitter of the lighting assembly for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The third message includes an indication of an altitude at which the unmanned aerial vehicle should fly.

A method for providing landing assistance for an aircraft is provided. The method analyzes terrain data; identifies one or more landing zones, based on analyzing the terrain data, each of the one or more landing zones comprising a flat area lacking obstacles to aircraft landing; and presents the one or more landing zones via a display element onboard the aircraft.

A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region, and calculates the flight path based on the request and based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, regulatory information, or historical information associated with the region. The device determines required capabilities for the flight path based on the request, and selects, from multiple UAVs, a particular UAV based on the required capabilities for the flight path and based on a ranking of the multiple UAVs. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

In one example, a method to guide and navigate the aircraft during a complete engine failure is disclosed. Nearby airport data is obtained based on aircraft current location upon detecting the complete aircraft engine failure. Minimum and maximum glide distances of the aircraft are computed based on the current aircraft state parameters and environmental parameters. Candidate reachable airports are determined using the obtained nearby airport data for safe landing based on the computed minimum and maximum glide distances. A glide path for each candidate reachable airport is determined. The aircraft is navigated and guided to a selected one of the candidate reachable airports using an associated glide path.

A system and method are disclosed herein to receive preliminary telematics data collected by a smartphone and actual telematics data collected by a data collection device. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores the data indicative of preliminary telematics data collected by the smartphone, including at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data. The processor is configured to calculate an initial benefit based upon the preliminary telematics data, and apply the initial benefit in exchange for receiving the data indicative of actual telematics data via the data collection device within the vehicle. When the received data indicative of the actual telematics data meets a pre-determined condition, the processor may compute a final benefit based on the actual telematics data.

A system and method are disclosed herein to determine an insurance premium discount based on telematics data. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores data indicative telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle, including at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data. The processor is configured to identify safety events and associated safety event locations based on the telematics data. The processor is further configured to display to the driver indications of the safety events on a map display along with indications of safety events associated with other drivers.

A common operating environment (COE) display system for vehicle operations, such as for air transport provides coordination of logistics information with dispatch or a controller. An operational plan, such as a flight plan or other operational plan describing vehicle deployment is stored, and a map visualization system displays a map region. An in-vehicle display depicts the operational plan, providing displays of current and projected operational conditions of the vehicle within different time phases of the operational plan. Transfer of updates of the operational plan is performed without replacing substantial portions of the stored data for the operational plan, allowing synchronization of the operational plan with a remotely located facility. The system permits a controller or dispatcher to screen share the in-vehicle display based on information previously stored, as updated by the updates, and permits review of the modified operational plan.