A system for determining the physical path of an object can map several candidate paths to a suitable path space that can be explored using a convex optimization technique. The optimization technique may take advantage of the typical sparsity of the path space and can identify a likely physical path using a function of sensor observation as constraints. A track of an object can also be determined using a track model and a convex optimization technique.

The present disclosure discloses a method for managing a UAV control operation that includes: periodically receiving a request for transmission of UAV assistance information from a network entity and establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the network entity. In response to the received request, the method further includes determining a triggering of at least one event corresponding to an initiation of a UAV control operation and transmitting UAV assistance information to the network entity in an RRC connected state based on the determined triggering of the at least one event. The method further includes receiving a control message from the network entity in response to the transmitted UAV assistance information. The control message includes information related to an execution of the UAV control operation. Thereafter, the method further includes executing the UAV control operation based on the information included in the received control message.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and control thereof to assemble into flexible, dynamic structures. A UAV includes a flexible screen retractable between extended and retracted positions, connector(s) for coupling to another UAV that can pull the flexible screen from a retracted position to an extended position, and a coupling portion for coupling to connector(s) of yet another UAV to connect to and extend a flexible screen thereof. Chain(s) of coupled UAVs with extended flexible screens thereof form a structure that can change shape and size based on UAV movement. Local wireless communication with a group control UAV facilitates coordinated positioning and control of a UAV group. A group control UAV with a power supply and an electrical conducting lead can power UAVs of a group while it and they are in-flight, and can perform real-time management of the group UAVs in forming and maintaining a desired shape of the structure.

In one embodiment, a navigation system may include at least one self-describing fiducial with a communication element to communicate navigation state estimation aiding information comprising a geographic position of the self-describing fiducial with respect to one or more coordinate systems and a first navigating object to receive navigation information from an exterior system, receive navigation state estimation aiding information from the self-describing fiducial, and compare the navigation information received from the exterior system to the navigation state estimation aiding information to improve navigation parameters of the first navigating object.

Systems and methods coordinate drone flights in an operating windfarm. A drone flight path that is removed from any location where the drone is conducting observations of a wind turbine and that extends through at least part of a windfarm to a destination location is determined. A respective wake pattern along at least one portion of the drone fight path is determined based on respective operating parameters for each of at least one wind turbine in the windfarm. Flight time commands to adjust at least one respective operating parameter of the respective wind turbine to reduce the effect of the respective wake pattern at a point ahead of the drone on the drone flight path are sent by a windfarm controller controlling the at least one wind turbine.

Improvements in secure communication using drones. The communication uses aircraft to provide a secure communication link that prevents undesirable reception. The secure link can be between two people, groups or more specific people. Optical transmission can be from laser, infrared, ultraviolet, white light or a particular wavelength of light. One or multiple of aircraft to relay information between senders and receivers. The aircraft can be drones that operate within buildings or with overhead aircraft. The aircraft can intelligently follow or lead a person to maintain a line-of-sight. Each user can have their own tracking aircraft and the aircraft can communicate between each other using light and/or wireless communication to optimize line-of-sight between the aircraft over geographic medium. The geographic medium may include one or more of terrain, air, water, and space. The object may be a soldier, vehicle, drone, or ballistic.

A method may include receiving, from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a first message via a first network using User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The method may further include determining whether a second message that is identical to the first message has been received from the UAV via a second network that is different than the first network. The method may additionally include processing the first message when the second message has not been received and discarding the first message when the second message has been received.

An unmanned device used in a wireless communication relay system includes: a surrounding environment information detector acquiring information on a surrounding environment of a moving object; a processor generating a control command for the moving object based on the acquired information on the surrounding environment; and a communication interface for transmitting the control command generated by the processor to the moving object, wherein the unmanned device is located at a predetermined height and relays communication between the moving object and a control center, and thus, even when wireless communication between the control center and the moving object is difficult due to an obstacle or the like, the connection of the wireless communication may be maintained without disconnection of the wireless communication.

Disclosed are various embodiments that provide demand-based allocation of ephemeral radio-based network resources. In one embodiment, a determination is made that an unmanned vehicle has unallocated computing capacity along a travel path. At least a portion of the unallocated computing capacity is provisioned for use by a customer for a time period as the unmanned vehicle progresses on the travel path.

A method for providing a flight route to an unmanned aerial vehicle, includes: receiving, by first access network equipment, a radio resource control (RRC) connection resumption request sent by the UAV in an inactive state; and sending, by the first access network equipment, flight path information of the UAV to the UAV.