# US 12,223,849 B2 · System and method for optimized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) spectrum planning via dynamic airspace and spectrum allocation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,849 B2 - Document ID: US12223849B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/361,893 - Filed: 2021-06-29 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30 - Assignees: Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Applicants: Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Inventors: George Tyler Barney; Nicholas Liberko; Boe A. Svatek; Kevin McElroy; David Fogerty; Corrie E. Block - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223849B2 ## CPC - G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)} - G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft - G05D 1/104: {involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00)} - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G08G 5/22: located on the ground - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G08G 5/30: Flight plan management - G08G 5/32: for flight plan preparation - G08G 5/56: for two or more aircraft - G08G 5/57: for unmanned aircraft - H04W 72/541: using the level of interference - B64U 2101/20: for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms - G08G 5/59: in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - 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}) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) control apparatus is disclosed. In embodiments, the UAS control apparatus is embodied in a control station to manage command and control (C2) functions for UAS operations in a designated coverage volume including a geofenced interference region proximate to the control station, controlling each UAS via connections on a spectrum of C2 channels. The UAS control apparatus generates flight plans for UAS operations, providing separation and keeping UAS operations away from the control station to minimize RF interference with other UAS C2 connections. Should a UAS be required to operate proximate to the control station, the UAS control apparatus employs dynamic spectrum management with respect to other concurrently operating UAS to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate RF interference resulting from the encroaching UAS. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) control apparatus, comprising: one or more antenna elements coupled to a control station, each antenna element configured to transmit to at least one portion of a coverage volume associated with the antenna elements, the coverage volume associated with 1) three or more unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating therewithin and 2) a control spectrum of command and control (C2) channels, the coverage volume including at least one geofenced volume proximate to the control station; and at least one control processor coupled to the one or more antenna elements, the at least one control processor configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory, the set of program instructions configured to cause the at least one control processor to: generate one or more flight plans through the coverage volume, the one or more flight plans configured for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) execution by a first UAS of the three or more UAS, wherein the first flight plan includes an interference portion that, when flown by the first UAS, will cause interference with the other two or more UAS, the first flight plan configured to: provide physical separation between the first UAS and at least one of the other two or more UAS; dynamically reallocate the control spectrum as the first UAS enters the interference portion of the coverage volume; and establish a C2 connection for the first UAS at a first end of the control spectrum; based on the first flight plan, establish C2 connections for the other two or more UAS, the C2 connections corresponding to a single non-interference channel C2 channel at a second end of the control spectrum; and transmit one or more C2 messages to the three or more UAS. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one control processor is configured to restrict a count of the other two or more UAS operating within the coverage volume to no more than a count of the one or more second C2 channels comprising the non-interference portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control processor is configured for one of expanding or restricting a bandwidth corresponding to at least one second C2 channel within the at least one non-interference portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control processor is configured to transmit the one or more C2 messages to the first UAS via the C2 connection within the interference portion of the control spectrum at a reduced power level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the interference portion is associated with a first end of the control spectrum; and the at least one non-interference portion is associated with a second end of the spectrum, the second end opposite the first end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coverage volume is a first coverage volume and the control apparatus is a first control apparatus, and the at least one control processor is configured to: switch at least one of the other two or more UAS over to a second control apparatus associated with a second coverage volume adjacent to the first coverage volume. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coverage volume is a first coverage volume and the control apparatus is a first control apparatus, and the at least one control processor is configured to: reassign at least one portion of the control spectrum to at least one second control apparatus associated with a second coverage volume. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more antenna elements include one or more directional antenna elements configured to transmit to at least one subset volume within the coverage volume. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The UAS control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other two or more UAS receive C2 communications via alternating timeslots.