# US 2017/0364071 A1 · Systems and methods for dual operation of unmanned aerial vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0364071 A1 - Document ID: US20170364071A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,822 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-16 - Assignees: University of North Texas - Applicants: University of North Texas - Inventors: Shengli Fu; Yan Wan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170364071A1 ## CPC - G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)} - G05D 1/00: Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) - G05D 1/0011: {associated with a remote control arrangement} - G05D 1/0088: {characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00)} - B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters - B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dual operation system and method is described. Certain embodiments include a dual operation system that receives and processes control signals from two controllers, e.g., a first controller and a second controller, and outputs a control signal to a UAV on-board pilot system to operate the UAV. In some embodiments, the dual operation system may override control signals from the first controller with the control signals received from the second controller. Further, the dual operation system may respond to various conditions when control signals from one of the controllers are lost or unstable, enabling an on-board pilot system to take over control of the UAV. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: at least one processor configured to: receive a control signal from a first controller; receive a control signal from a second controller; determine whether the first controller signal should be overridden by the second controller signal; and output, to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the determined control signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to receive a signal from an unmanned aerial vehicle sensor comprising sensor data relating to unmanned aerial vehicle flight data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the flight data includes speed, acceleration, altitude, GPS signal, heading direction, and battery life. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to monitor for one or more emergency conditions present at the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the emergency conditions include unavailability of a GPS signal, instability of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and low battery capacity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the emergency conditions include unstable communication with one or more controllers of the first and the second controllers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein emergency procedures are implemented upon one or more of the emergency conditions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the emergency procedures include an on-board pilot system taking over control, wherein the on-board pilot system includes automatically adjusting speed, heading, and landing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first controller is a slave controller configured to transmit flight control signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the second controller is a master controller configured to transmit flight control signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the master controller control signal overrides the slave controller control signal upon an override protocol being activated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the master controller control signal overrides the slave controller control signal when the master controller is manipulated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the master controller control signal overrides the slave controller control signal when communication from the slave controller is lost. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein an autopilot system controls the unmanned aerial vehicle upon lost communication from the master controller and the slave controller. ### Claim 15 A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, by at least one processing device, a control signal from a first controller; receiving, by the at least one processing device, a control signal from a second controller; determining, by the at least one processing device, based on received signals, whether the first control signal should be overridden by the second control signal; and outputting, by the at least one processing device, to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the determined control signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising monitoring for one or more emergency conditions present at the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the emergency conditions include unstable communication with one or more of the first controller and the second controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the first controller is a slave controller configured to transmit flight control signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the second controller is a master controller configured to transmit flight control signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the master controller control signal overrides the slave controller control signal upon an override protocol being activated.