# US 2020/0401131 A1 · Dynamic race course using an aircraft system swarm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401131 A1 - Document ID: US20200401131A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/979,277 - Filed: 2019-03-08 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-09 - Assignees: Columbiad Launch Services Inc. - Applicants: Columbiad Launch Services Inc. - Inventors: Haroon B. Oqab; George B. Dietrich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401131A1 ## CPC - G05D 1/0027: {involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00)} - A63K 1/00: Race-courses; Race-tracks - A63K 3/04: Hurdles or the like - G05D 1/104: {involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00)} - G05D 1/106: {Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones} - A63H 27/12: {Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops} - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] - B64U 2201/102: adapted for flying in formations - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - F42B 4/00: Fireworks, i.e. pyrotechnic devices for amusement, display, illumination or signal purposes (signalling by explosives G08B; advertising by fireworks G09F13/46; {signalling by pyrotechnics in railway systems B61L5/20}) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - A63K: RACING; RIDING SPORTS; EQUIPMENT OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) ## Abstract An example system for racing aircraft systems includes: a plurality of autonomous synchronized unmanned aircraft systems configured to form a swarm at a race course through which the aircraft systems are to navigate; and a controller configured to be operatively coupled to at least one unmanned aircraft system of the swarm, the controller configured to control the swarm to form an element of the race course. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for racing aircraft systems comprising: a plurality of autonomous synchronized unmanned aircraft systems configured to form a swarm at a race course through which the aircraft systems are to navigate; and a controller configured to be operatively coupled to at least one unmanned aircraft system of the swarm, the controller configured to control the swarm to form an element of the race course. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the element is a gate through which the aircraft systems are to pass. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the element is an obstacle around which the aircraft systems are to navigate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the element forms a border of the race course within which the aircraft systems are to navigate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises a sensor to detect a nearby aircraft system; and the controller is further configured to receive an indication of the nearby aircraft system and in response control the swarm to acknowledge the nearby aircraft system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises a visual indicator, and the controller is further configured to activate the visual indicator to acknowledge the nearby aircraft system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises a pyrotechnics launcher, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the pyrotechnics launcher to launch pyrotechnics to form the element of the race course. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the pyrotechnics launcher is recoilless. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the pyrotechnics launcher recoils. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises an imaging device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm is combined with mixed reality components. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises a holography system configured to project a hologram forming the element of the race course. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm comprises a persistence of vision system configured to project a persistent image forming the element of the race course. ### Claim 14 A method of adapting a race course for aircraft systems comprising: controlling a swarm formed from a plurality of autonomous synchronized unmanned aircraft systems to form an element of the race course. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the element is a gate through which the aircraft systems are to pass. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the element is an obstacle around which the aircraft systems are to navigate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the element is a border of the race course. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein at unmanned aircraft systems in the swarm are combined with mixed reality components. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: receiving an indication of a nearby aircraft system; and in response to the indication, controlling the swarm to acknowledge the nearby aircraft system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the swarm to acknowledge the nearby aircraft system comprises activating a visual indicator of at least one unmanned aircraft system in the swarm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein at least one unmanned aircraft system of the swarm comprises a pyrotechnics launcher, and wherein controlling the swarm to form the element comprises controlling the pyrotechnics launcher to launch pyrotechnics to form the element. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling the swarm to form different elements during different laps of the race course.