Unmanned aerial system targeting
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRyan L. Hupp, Sean R. Wakayama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial system (UAS) includes a body and a lift and propulsion system coupled to the body. The UAS includes a weapon coupled to the body. The weapon has an aiming axis oriented in a fixed direction relative to the body. The UAS includes a control system operatively coupled to the lift and propulsion system and the weapon. The control system is configured to determine a roll angle and a flight path such that the aiming axis is directed at a target when the UAS moves according to at least a portion of the flight path at the roll angle. The control system is further configured to control the lift and propulsion system such that the UAS moves according to the at least the portion of the flight path at the roll angle.
Claims20
An unmanned aerial system (UAS) comprising:
- a body;
- a lift and propulsion system coupled to the body;
- a weapon coupled to the body and having an aiming axis oriented in a fixed direction relative to the body;
- and
- a control system operatively coupled to the lift and propulsion system and the weapon, the control system configured to:
- determine a roll angle and a flight path so the aiming axis is directed at a target when the UAS moves according to at least a portion of the flight path at the roll angle, wherein the aiming axis is side-facing;
- and
- control the lift and propulsion system so the UAS moves according to the at least the portion of the flight path at the roll angle.
A system for aiming at a target, the system comprising:
- a remote control station configured to display an image to an operator and to receive an input from the operator indicating that the image includes a representation of a target to generate an indication of a physical location of the target;
- and
- an unmanned aerial system (UAS) comprising:
- a body;
- a lift and propulsion system coupled to the body;
- a weapon coupled to the body and having an aiming axis oriented in a fixed direction relative to the body;
- and
- a control system operatively coupled to the lift and propulsion system and the weapon, the control system configured to:
- receive the indication of the physical location of the target from the remote control station;
- determine, based at least in part on the indication of the physical location of the target, a roll angle and a flight path so the aiming axis is directed at the target when the UAS moves according to at least a portion of the flight path at the roll angle, wherein the aiming axis is side-facing;
- and
- control the lift and propulsion system so the UAS moves according to the at least the portion of the flight path at the roll angle.
A method comprising:
- determining, by a control system of an unmanned aerial system (UAS), a roll angle and a flight path so an aiming axis of a weapon of the UAS is directed at a target when the UAS moves according to at least a portion of the flight path at the roll angle, wherein the weapon is coupled to a body of the UAS so the aiming axis is oriented in a fixed direction relative to the body, and wherein the aiming axis is side-facing;
- and
- controlling a lift and propulsion system of the UAS so the UAS moves according to the at least the portion of the flight path at the roll angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.