Ruggedized autonomous helicopter platform

A system for controlling an unmanned helicopter, the system comprising:

• an external communications module coupled with a processor for receiving a task and a location data for additional assets in proximity to a location;
• an imaging system coupled with the processor;
• the processor configured to:
• receive the task, wherein the task is to look at the location;
• dynamically determine a route for the unmanned helicopter for the task, the route being based on the task, geography for the route, and terrain along the route, wherein the unmanned helicopter includes a fuselage for retaining flight electronics therein, a tail section coupled with the fuselage, a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage, and a payload rail coupled to the fuselage;
• perform ray tracing from the location to at least one possible vantage point for the imaging system using terrain data, the ray tracing indicating a number and size of obstructions between the at least one vantage point and the location;
• select a vantage point from the at least one possible vantage point having an optimal number and an optimal size of obstructions;
• determine the route as being from a current location to the vantage point, the route excluding locations of additional assets;
• and
• autonomously perform the task including flying along at least a portion of the route;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions for determining the route and performing the task.

A system for controlling an unmanned helicopter, the system comprising:

• an external communications module coupled with a processor for receiving a task;
• an imaging system coupled with the processor;
• and
• the processor configured to:
• receive the task, wherein the task is to follow an object;
• dynamically determine a route for the unmanned helicopter for the task, the route being based on the task, geography for the route, and terrain along the route, wherein the unmanned helicopter includes a fuselage for retaining flight electronics therein, a tail section coupled with the fuselage, a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage, and a payload rail coupled to the fuselage;
• dynamically estimate the location of the object in real time based upon inputs from the imaging system;
• dynamically determine the route such that the location remains in a field of view of the imaging system;
• and
• in response to the object passing out of the field of view of the imaging system, searching a region including a last known location at which the object was in the field of view of the imaging system;
• and
• autonomously perform the task including flying along at least a portion of the route;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions for determining the route and performing the task.

A system for controlling an unmanned helicopter, the system comprising:

• a global positioning module for receiving a global positioning location of the unmanned helicopter;
• a processor configured to
• receive an additional task, wherein the additional task is to remain visually undetectable;
• dynamically determine a route for the unmanned helicopter for the task, the route being based on the task, geography for the route, and terrain along the route, wherein the unmanned helicopter includes a fuselage for retaining flight electronics therein, a tail section coupled with the fuselage, a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage, and a payload rail coupled to the fuselage;
• autonomously perform the task including flying along at least a portion of the route;
• determine a time and a sun location based on the global positioning data;
• determine a line between the sun location and an object of interest;
• and
• determine the route to include an altitude and a direction from the object such that the unmanned helicopter is positioned on the line.

A method for controlling an unmanned helicopter, comprising:

• receiving a task, wherein the task is to search a pre-defined geographic area for an object;
• dynamically determining, using a processor, a route for an unmanned helicopter for the task, the route being based on the task, geography for the route, and terrain along the route, wherein the unmanned helicopter includes a fuselage for retaining flight electronics therein, a tail section coupled with the fuselage, a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage, and a payload rail coupled to the fuselage;
• and
• autonomously performing the task including flying along at least a portion of the route;
• determine a standoff distance and a standoff angle for the unmanned helicopter based on the object;
• select one of a spiral path and a lawnmower path for the route based on the terrain, the object, a wind direction, a wind speed, the standoff distance, the standoff angle, and a route completion time;
• analyze a plurality of images captured by the imaging system along the route to recognize the object;
• and
• in response to the object being recognized in one of the plurality of images, providing a notification to the external communications module for transmission to an external receiver.

A computer program product for controlling an unmanned helicopter, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• receiving a task, wherein the task is to search a pre-defined geographic area for an object;
• dynamically determining a route for the unmanned helicopter for the task, the route being based on the task, geography for the route, and terrain along the route, wherein the unmanned helicopter includes a fuselage for retaining flight electronics therein, a tail section coupled with the fuselage, a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage, and a payload rail coupled to the fuselage;
• and
• autonomously performing the task including flying along at least a portion of the route;
• determine a standoff distance and a standoff angle for the unmanned helicopter based on the object;
• select one of a spiral path and a lawnmower path for the route based on the terrain, the object, a wind direction, a wind speed, the standoff distance, the standoff angle, and a route completion time;
• analyze a plurality of images captured by the imaging system along the route to recognize the object;
• and
• in response to the object being recognized in one of the plurality of images, providing a notification to the external communications module for transmission to an external receiver.