Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight planning. One of the methods includes receiving a location for an aerial survey to be conducted by a UAV. One or more images depicting the location are obtained, and a geofence boundary to limit flight of the UAV is determined. A survey area is determined, and a flight data package is created for transmission that includes information describing a flight plan. After the flight plan is conducted, flight log data and sensor data are received. The flight log data and sensor data are processed, and at least a portion of the processed sensor data is displayed.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight planning. One of the methods includes receiving a location for an aerial survey to be conducted by a UAV. One or more images depicting the location are obtained, and a geofence boundary to limit flight of the UAV is determined. A survey area is determined, and a flight data package is created for transmission that includes information describing a flight plan. After the flight plan is conducted, flight log data and sensor data are received. The flight log data and sensor data are processed, and at least a portion of the processed sensor data is displayed.

A flight path generation apparatus (300) is configured to generate a flight path for an aircraft (100) capable of autonomously flying, and includes: an airframe information acquisition unit (301) configured to acquire airframe information including airframe IDs and take-off places of a plurality of aircraft (100); a movement information acquisition unit (302) configured to acquire movement information related to scheduled take-off times and destinations of the plurality of aircraft; a generation unit (303) configured to generate flight paths from the take-off places to landing places corresponding to the destinations based on the airframe information and the movement information; and a communication unit (304) configured to transmit the flight paths to the aircraft.

A flight path generation apparatus (300) is configured to generate a flight path for an aircraft (100) capable of autonomously flying, and includes: an airframe information acquisition unit (301) configured to acquire airframe information including airframe IDs and take-off places of a plurality of aircraft (100); a movement information acquisition unit (302) configured to acquire movement information related to scheduled take-off times and destinations of the plurality of aircraft; a generation unit (303) configured to generate flight paths from the take-off places to landing places corresponding to the destinations based on the airframe information and the movement information; and a communication unit (304) configured to transmit the flight paths to the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a control method for a control apparatus for an aircraft, the control apparatus including a communication unit and a processor. The control method includes receiving an address of a delivery location to which a delivery product is to be delivered, and controlling an aircraft by means of the communication unit to deliver the delivery product to the delivery location, in which the controlling of the aircraft by means of the communication unit includes selecting, on the basis of the address, any one of a plurality of delivery criteria that defines an area into which the aircraft is to unload the delivery product, establishing a delivery area and a flight lane to the delivery area on the basis of the delivery criterion, controlling the aircraft to allow the aircraft to fly along the flight lane, and controlling the aircraft to unload the delivery product into the delivery area when the aircraft reaches the delivery area.

The present invention relates to a control method for a control apparatus for an aircraft, the control apparatus including a communication unit and a processor. The control method includes receiving an address of a delivery location to which a delivery product is to be delivered, and controlling an aircraft by means of the communication unit to deliver the delivery product to the delivery location, in which the controlling of the aircraft by means of the communication unit includes selecting, on the basis of the address, any one of a plurality of delivery criteria that defines an area into which the aircraft is to unload the delivery product, establishing a delivery area and a flight lane to the delivery area on the basis of the delivery criterion, controlling the aircraft to allow the aircraft to fly along the flight lane, and controlling the aircraft to unload the delivery product into the delivery area when the aircraft reaches the delivery area.

Systems and methods for a helideck approach path tool. One example system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a helideck identifier and retrieve, from a database storing data on a plurality of helidecks, helideck data corresponding to the helideck identifier. The helideck data includes a helideck azimuth and at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to generate a graphical user interface including a helideck approach indicator object, which includes a compass ring, a graphical representation of the helideck aligned to the compass ring based on the helideck azimuth, and an obstacle indicator overlaid on the compass ring based on the at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to present the graphical user interface on a display within the aircraft.

Systems and methods for a helideck approach path tool. One example system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a helideck identifier and retrieve, from a database storing data on a plurality of helidecks, helideck data corresponding to the helideck identifier. The helideck data includes a helideck azimuth and at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to generate a graphical user interface including a helideck approach indicator object, which includes a compass ring, a graphical representation of the helideck aligned to the compass ring based on the helideck azimuth, and an obstacle indicator overlaid on the compass ring based on the at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to present the graphical user interface on a display within the aircraft.

A drone traffic management system comprising a computer comprising memory means for storing origin coordinates indicating an origin location of a drone, destination coordinates indicating a destination of the drone, and traffic management factors located between the origin location of the drone and the destination of the drone; and processing means for controlling the flight of a drone. This is accomplished by calculating a flight path for the drone to fly automatically from the origin location to the destination location without manual intervention, sending the flight path to the drone, receiving location data of the drone as it travels from the origin location to the destination, re-calculating the flight path of the drone as a function of the traffic management factors and the location data of the drone, and sending the re-calculated flight path to the drone.

A drone traffic management system comprising a computer comprising memory means for storing origin coordinates indicating an origin location of a drone, destination coordinates indicating a destination of the drone, and traffic management factors located between the origin location of the drone and the destination of the drone; and processing means for controlling the flight of a drone. This is accomplished by calculating a flight path for the drone to fly automatically from the origin location to the destination location without manual intervention, sending the flight path to the drone, receiving location data of the drone as it travels from the origin location to the destination, re-calculating the flight path of the drone as a function of the traffic management factors and the location data of the drone, and sending the re-calculated flight path to the drone.