Link level wind factor computation for efficient drone routing using 3d city map data
AssigneeHERE Global B.V.
InventorsMarko Tuukkanen, Jerome Beaurepaire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments include apparatus and methods for determining link level wind factors and providing routes for drones based on the wind factors. At least a portion of the route corresponds to airspace above a road network. Wind factor values are assigned to a range of altitudes of drone air space above a road link of the road network based on a wind model and stored in a database. The wind model is applied to a location based on wind condition data and three-dimensional (3D) features from 3D map data associated with the location. The route is optimized based on the determined wind factors.
Claims26
A method of determining link level wind factors for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) routing, the method comprising:
- accessing, by a processor, three-dimensional (3D) features from 3D map data for a location and road link data for a road link network associated with the location;
- accessing, by the processor, wind condition data for the location;
- applying, by the processor, a wind model for the location based on the 3D features and the wind condition data;
- assigning, by the processor, wind factor values for a plurality of altitudes of UAV air space above a link of the road link network based on the wind model;
- associating, by the processor, the wind factor values and the road link data for the link of the road link network;
- and
- storing the wind factor values in a database.
A method for providing a route for a drone, the method comprising:
- providing in response to a routing request, with a processor, a route from a starting location to a destination, wherein at least a portion of the route corresponds to airspace above a road network in a geographic region;
- for the portion of the route that corresponds to airspace above a road network, using a wind factor value database, wherein the wind factor value database includes factors for wind speed, wind direction and altitude above the road network;
- and optimizing the route for a selected criterion.
An apparatus for determining link level wind factors for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) routing, the apparatus comprising:
- a database configured to store three-dimensional (3D) features and map data for a location, the map data including road link data for a road link network associated with the location;
- and
- a controller configured to apply a wind model for the location based on the 3D features and wind condition data for the location and associate wind factor values with the road link data for a link of the road link network, wherein the wind factor values are for a plurality of altitudes of UAV air space above the link of the road link network based on the wind model.
An apparatus for providing a route for a drone, the apparatus comprising:
- a wind factor value database configured to store factors for wind speed, wind direction and altitude above a road network and associated with road link data for the road network;
- a communication interface configured to receive a routing request;
- and
- a processor configured to calculate, in response to the routing request, a route from a starting location to a destination, wherein at least a portion of the route corresponds to airspace above the road network in a geographic region selected based on the factors from the wind factor value database and a selected criterion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.