# US 10,311,721 B1 · Traffic control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,721 B1 - Document ID: US10311721B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/916,821 - Filed: 2018-03-09 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-09 - Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hideki Shibata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311721B1 ## CPC - G08G 1/0137: {for specific applications} - B64D 43/02: for indicating aircraft speed or stalling conditions - B64U 10/17: Helicopters (flying platforms B64U10/13) - G08G 1/0116: {from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons} - G08G 1/0145: {for active traffic flow control} - G08G 1/0955: transportable - G08G 5/00: Traffic control systems for aircraft - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft - G08G 7/00: Traffic control systems for simultaneous control of two or more different kinds of craft - B64U 2101/40: for agriculture or forestry operations - B64U 2201/00: UAVs characterised by their flight controls - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - G08G 5/57: for unmanned aircraft - G08G 5/59: in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract A traffic control system includes at least one traffic signal, an aircraft and a ground control station. The aircraft includes a position sensor and a wireless communication device. The ground control station includes an electronic controller and a wireless communication device. The electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal based on at least one of position data of the aircraft and direction data of the aircraft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traffic control system comprising: at least one traffic signal; an aircraft including a position sensor and a wireless communication device; a ground control station including an electronic controller and a wireless communication device, the electronic controller being configured to control the at least one traffic signal based on at least one of position data of the aircraft and direction data of the aircraft; and a traffic detector configured to detect presence of traffic near the at least one traffic signal, the electronic controller being further configured to transmit at least one of detection result of the traffic detector and status of the at least one traffic signal to the aircraft using the wireless communication device of the ground control station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to control the at least one traffic signal based on both the position data and the direction data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to control the at least one traffic signal based on velocity data of the aircraft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic signal includes a traffic light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic signal includes a traffic sign. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic signal is movable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the ground control station is integrated with the at least one traffic signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, further comprising an additional ground control station, the at least one traffic signal including two traffic signals, with the ground control station and the additional ground control station being configured to control the two traffic signals, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller configured to manually control the aircraft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes at least one crop dusting tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal to signal a closure of at least one of an area and a road while the aircraft is travelling towards the at least one of the area and the road. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal to maintain a non-closure state of at least one of an area and a road while the aircraft is travelling away from the at least one of the area and the road. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal to signal a closure of at least one of an area and a road while the aircraft is located within a first predetermined distance from the at least one of the area and the road, and the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal to maintain a non-closure state of the at least one of the area and the road while the aircraft is located outside a second predetermined distance from the at least one of the area and the road. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor includes a GPS sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes a helicopter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes an unmanned aircraft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes an onboard controller having an auto pilot control program. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to transmit the detection result of the traffic detector and the status of the at least one traffic signal to the aircraft using the wireless communication device of the ground control station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The traffic control system according to claim 18, wherein the aircraft is configured to stop travelling towards at least one of an area and a road in response to receiving from the ground station the detection result of the traffic detector indicative of the presence of the traffic and the status of the at least one traffic signal indicative of a closure of the at least one of the area and the road. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The traffic control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one traffic signal to emit sound from a speaker of the at least one traffic signal while the detection result of the traffic detector is indicative of the presence of the traffic and the status of the at least one traffic signal is indicative of a closure of an area and a road.