Radio frequency (rf) ranging in propagation limited rf environments utilizing aerial vehicles

A method, comprising:

• operating a range detector by:
• receiving first GPS coordinates of a first unmanned aerial vehicle when hovering proximate to a first known location;
• receiving second GPS coordinates of a second unmanned aerial vehicle when hovering proximate to a second known location;
• calculating a distance between the range detector and a transponder mounted to each of the first unmanned aerial vehicle and the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on Radio Frequency (RF) signals exchanged with the transponder;
• and
• calculating a position of the range detector relative to the first known location and the second known location based on the distance calculated between the range detector and the transponder mounted to the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the first known location, the distance calculated between the range detector and the transponder mounted to the second unmanned aerial vehicle, a distance between the second GPS coordinates and the second known location, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the second GPS coordinates, and a distance between the first known location and the second known location.

A range detector, comprising:

• at least one processor coupled with a memory;
• the at least one processor configured to cause the range detector at least to:
• when an unmanned aerial vehicle is hovering proximate to a first known location, receive first GPS coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and calculate a distance between the range detector and a transponder mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle based on Radio Frequency (RF) signals exchanged with the transponder;
• when the unmanned aerial vehicle is hovering proximate to a second known location, receive second GPS coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and calculate the distance between the range detector and the transponder based on the RF signals exchanged with the transponder;
• and
• calculate a position of the range detector relative to the first known location and the second known location based on the distance calculated between the range detector and the transponder with the unmanned aerial vehicle at the first GPS coordinates, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the first known location, the distance calculated between the range detector and the transponder with the unmanned aerial vehicle at the second GPS coordinates, a distance between the second GPS coordinates and the second known location, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the second GPS coordinates, and a distance between the first known location and the second known location.

A method, comprising:

• operating a range detector by:
• when an unmanned aerial vehicle is hovering proximate to a first known location, receiving first GPS coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and calculating a first distance between the range detector and a transponder mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle based on Radio Frequency (RF) signals exchanged with the transponder;
• when the unmanned aerial vehicle is hovering proximate to a second known location, receiving second GPS coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and calculating a second distance between the range detector and the transponder based on the RF signals exchanged with the transponder;
• and
• calculating a position of the range detector relative to the first known location and the second known location based on the first distance, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the first known location, the second distance, a distance between the second GPS coordinates and the second known location, a distance between the first GPS coordinates and the second GPS coordinates, and a distance between the first known location and the second known location.