# US 11,307,598 B2 · Autonomous aircraft control systems and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,598 B2 - Document ID: US11307598B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/519,953 - Filed: 2019-07-23 - Published: 2020-01-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-27 - Assignees: Ahmad Fareed AlDarwish - Applicants: Ahmad Fareed Aldarwish - Inventors: Ahmad Fareed Aldarwish - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307598B2 ## CPC - B64D 45/04: Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface - B64D 47/08: Arrangements of cameras - B64C 39/02: characterised by special use - B64D 45/08: optical - G05D 1/104: {involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00)} - G05D 1/695: for maintaining a fixed relative position of the vehicles, e.g. for convoy travelling or formation flight - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - B64U 2201/102: adapted for flying in formations - G01S 1/08: Systems for determining direction or position line - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract An aircraft assistance method for reducing drag on the aircraft. The method includes flying an autonomous aircraft near the aircraft. An optimal position where vortices created by the autonomous aircraft or the aircraft interact with the other aircraft and/or autonomous aircraft to reduce drag and/or increase lift on the aircraft is determined. The autonomous aircraft is positioned in the optimal position. The method may include a landing assistance system with at least one autonomous aircraft configured to provide the aircraft with information regarding a desired position relative to a runway. The at least one autonomous aircraft may be configured to communicate with the aircraft through a processor and/or a display in the aircraft. The autonomous aircraft may be subject to a drone control system for a plurality of drones configured to position the plurality of drones in a formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft assistance method comprising: flying an autonomous aircraft in an area preceding an aircraft; determining an optimal position for the autonomous aircraft relative to the aircraft such that vortices created by the autonomous aircraft interact with the aircraft to reduce drag on the aircraft; adjusting the optimal position through a feedback loop that compares one or more of thrust, air resistance and drag from the aircraft; and positioning the autonomous aircraft in the optimal position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous aircraft is not remotely controlled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position and a magnitude of the vortices is with image data from a heat camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the optimal position with a modeling algorithm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback loop compares a drag measurement from the aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a plurality of autonomous aircraft in independently optimal positions such that the vortices of each of the plurality of autonomous aircraft interact with the aircraft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the optimal position to the aircraft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein providing the optimal position to the aircraft comprises displaying a visual representation of the optimal position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous aircraft further comprises an impact protection system comprising: an electrical power source; a proximity sensing device configured to produce a signal when a threshold distance between the autonomous aircraft and the aircraft is reached; and a compressible container containing the electrical power source configured to crush the electrical power source upon receiving the signal from the proximity sensing device. ### Claim 10 A flight assistance system comprising: an autonomous aircraft configured to fly at a speed and altitude similar to an associated aircraft; at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the autonomous aircraft to: receive data from the associated aircraft; receive atmospheric data from one or more atmospheric sensors; calculate an optimal position of the autonomous aircraft relative to the associated aircraft to minimize drag on the associated aircraft; adjust the optimal position through a feedback loop that compares one or more of thrust, air resistance and drag from the aircraft; and transmit the optimal position to one or more of the autonomous aircraft and the associated aircraft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flight assistance system of claim 10, wherein the instructions of the autonomous aircraft, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the autonomous aircraft to calculate the optimal position of the autonomous aircraft relative to the associated aircraft to induce ground effect on the associated aircraft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flight assistance system of claim 11, wherein the associated aircraft comprises one or more wings defining a wingspan and the optimal position of the autonomous aircraft is a distance below the one or more wings equivalent to between about 0.1 wingspan and about 1 wingspan.