Precise UAV tracking in 3-D space

A wireless network access point comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate within a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• transmit a first wireless unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-locating signal based on a first UAV-locating mode selected from a plurality of UAV-locating modes, the first UAV-locating mode causing the wireless network access point to search for local UAVs, wherein the wireless network access point is a base station or a router;
• base station or a router;
• receive a plurality of wireless signals in response to the first transmitted UAV-locating signal, wherein the plurality of wireless signals are indicative of locations of a plurality of airborne UAVs;
• detect each of the plurality of airborne UAVs and causing a determination to be made regarding a location of each of the plurality of airborne UAVs based on each of the wireless signals received;
• in response to detecting the UAV, switch to a second UAV-locating mode selected from the plurality of UAV-locating modes to track the UAV;
• transmit a second wireless UAV-locating signal based on the second UAV-locating mode;
• track, while in the second UAV-locating mode, the plurality of airborne UAVs;
• and
• wherein the first and second UAV-locating modes control the wireless network access point to emit different emission patterns from an antenna of the wireless network access point.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software, when executed by a processor operable to:

• transmit a first wireless unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-locating signal based on a first UAV-locating mode selected from a plurality of UAV-locating modes, the first UAV-locating mode causing a wireless network access point to search for local UAVs, wherein the wireless network access point is a base station or a router;
• receive a plurality of wireless signals in response to the first transmitted UAV-locating signal, wherein the plurality of wireless signals are indicative of locations of a plurality of airborne UAVs;
• detect each of the plurality of airborne UAVs and causing a determination to be made regarding a location of each of the plurality of airborne UAVs based on each of the wireless signals received;
• in response detecting at least one UAV of the plurality of airborne UAVs, switching, by the wireless network access point, to a second UAV-locating mode to track the UAV;
• transmit a second wireless UAV-locating signal based on the second UAV-locating mode;
• track, while in the second UAV-locating mode, the plurality of airborne UAVs;
• and
• wherein the first and second UAV-locating modes control the wireless network access point to emit different emission patterns from an antenna of the wireless network access point.