G08G5/727

Collisionless flying of unmanned aerial vehicles that maximizes coverage of predetermined region

Collisionless flight is achieved by overlaying a circulant digraph with certain characteristics over a model of the area to be flown. Each UAV then executes a flight path corresponding to a directed cycle of the circulant digraph where each vertex of the circulant digraph corresponds to two waypoints. The circulant digraph includes more vertices than the number of unmanned aerial vehicles and the number of vertices is divisible by the number of UAVs. Additionally, the circulant digraph has a first jump of 1, a second jump of one less than then number of UAVs. To maximize coverage, each of the vertices of the circulant digraph may then be individually updated such that they satisfy two tests: a convexity test and an isosceles avoidance test. The updated flight path of each UAV may then be relayed from a control station to each UAV.

Systems, methods, and devices for automatic signal detection based on power distribution by frequency over time

Systems, methods, and devices for automatic signal detection in an RF environment are disclosed. A sensor device in a nodal network comprises at least one RF receiver, a generator engine, and an analyzer engine. The at least one RF receiver measures power levels in the RF environment and generates FFT data based on power level data. The generator engine calculates a power distribution by frequency of the RF environment in real time or near real time, including a first derivative and a second derivative of the FFT data. The analyzer engine creates a baseline based on statistical calculations of the power levels measured in the RF environment for a predetermined period of time, and identifies at least one signal based on the first derivative and the second derivative of the FFT data in at least one conflict situation from comparing live power distribution to the baseline of the RF environment.

AUDIOVISUAL DISPLAY MODES FOR SENSE-AND-AVOID SYSTEM FOR AERIAL VEHICLES
20170076615 · 2017-03-16 ·

The invention provides six different display modes illustrating interaction and relative locations of two or more aerial vehicles (AVs), with at least one of the AVs being controllable by a ground-based or airborne-based controller of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a pilot of a standard manned aircraft. Some display modes also indicate a predicted distance of closest approach of two AVs, the possibility of conflict or collision, and a remaining time, measured relative to the present time, before this conflict occurs. An audio and/or visual indicator advises the AV controller if this conflict event is likely to occur and recommends an acceleration or deceleration increment that may avoid such conflict.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING AN AIRCRAFT TRAJECTORY
20170076614 · 2017-03-16 ·

Systems and methods of the present invention are provided to generate a plurality of flight trajectories that do not conflict with other aircraft in a local area. Interventions by an air traffic control system help prevent collisions between aircraft, but these interventions can also cause an aircraft to substantially deviate from the pilot's intended flight trajectory, which burns fuels, wastes time, etc. Systems and methods of the present invention can assign a standard avoidance interval to other aircraft in the area such that a pilot's aircraft does not receive an intervention by an air traffic control system. Systems and methods of the present invention also generate a plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories such that a pilot or an automated system may select the most desirable flight trajectory for fuel efficiency, speed, and other operational considerations, etc.

Multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery
20170073085 · 2017-03-16 ·

The invention consists of an actuated box and navigation aid for automatic delivery by unmanned vehicles (UAV) or drones. It also incorporates delivery information via the web linking orders, enclosure status, package specific drone homing signals, delivery confirmations and more.

This system incorporates a novel and effective means for providing a standardized and predicable area for safe landing during delivery by functionalized drones. It also secures the package from theft, vandalism, animals and the weather and provides features necessary for air-traffic management.

Unmanned aerial system position reporting system

An unmanned aerial system (UAS) position reporting system may include an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of a UAS and at least one network-connected remote terminal. The ATC-RS may include an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more telecommunications modems. The ATC-RS may receive position data of at least one UAS in an airspace from the GCS and the at least one network-connected remote terminal and selectively communicate the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center (ATC), to a military command and control (C2) communication center, or to both through the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The ATC-RS may display the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace on a display screen coupled with the ATC-RS.

Runway incursion detection and indication using an electronic flight strip system

An electronic flight strip system and method of detecting and indicating runway incursions are disclosed. One such method receives an aircraft location, compares the location to a geofenced area, and generates an indication on the touchscreen display in response to the aircraft location being within the geofenced area without an indication of clearance to enter the geofenced area. The indication may be part of the electronic flight strip associated with the offending aircraft.

LOCATION VERIFICATION AND SECURE NO-FLY LOGIC FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
20170057634 · 2017-03-02 ·

Certain embodiments herein relate to location verification for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (also referred to as drones). In some embodiments, an unmanned aerial vehicle engaged in autonomous flight may determine its location using a satellite-based navigation system. The location may be evaluated against location data obtained from one or more secondary factors, such as public broadcast beacons, cellular towers, wireless network identifiers, visual markers, or any combination thereof. If the location is determined to be invalid, the unmanned aerial vehicle may be instructed to take a mitigation action. Additionally, certain embodiments also include the verification of a flight plan for the unmanned aerial vehicle using secure no-fly logic to verify a flight plan does not violate no-fly zones. If the flight plan is verified, the flight plan may be signed using a cryptographic signature and provided to a navigation module that verifies the signature and executes the flight plan.

Unmanned vehicle recognition and threat management

Systems and methods for automated unmanned aerial vehicle recognition. A multiplicity of receivers captures RF data and transmits the RF data to at least one node device. The at least one node device comprises a signal processing engine, a detection engine, a classification engine, and a direction finding engine. The at least one node device is configured with an artificial intelligence algorithm. The detection engine and classification engine are trained to detect and classify signals from unmanned vehicles and their controllers based on processed data from the signal processing engine. The direction finding engine is operable to provide lines of bearing for detected unmanned vehicles.

Remote airport management services

A system for providing services to remote airports includes a backbone network, an antenna assembly and a remote services module. The backbone network operates using first assigned RF spectrum and is configured to provide backhaul services and network control to operably couple one or more base stations of the backbone network to the Internet. The antenna assembly is disposed at a remote airport to define an airport cell and is configured to communicate wirelessly with an aircraft located in the airport cell via second assigned RF spectrum. The antenna assembly is operably coupled to the backbone network for backhaul to the Internet or an intranet. The remote services module is accessible by the aircraft both in flight and on the ground within the airport cell via the antenna assembly. The remote services module includes processing circuitry configuring the remote services module to provide the aircraft with access to obtain airside or landside services associated with the remote airport.