Modular Flight Management System Incorporating An Autopilot

A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:

• a controller module including a processor, one or more sensors configured to provide vehicle-state information, and a connector;
• wherein the controller module is configured for removable coupling, at different times, to each of a first carrier module and a second carrier module of a family of carrier modules, the first carrier module and the second carrier module each including at least one payload interface configured to couple payload electronics to the controller module;
• wherein the first carrier module and the second carrier module have different payload-interface configurations and further differ from one another in at least one of connector configuration, regulated power available to payload electronics, navigation device configuration, radio modem configuration, form factor, or presence of an auxiliary host computer;
• and
• wherein the controller module is configured, responsive to coupling of a selected one of the first carrier module or the second carrier module, to determine capabilities of the selected carrier module including information regarding the at least one payload interface of the selected carrier module, configure one or more interface functions associated with the connector based on the determined capabilities, and navigate the unmanned vehicle.

A method of configuring a flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a common controller module configured to control a plurality of different carrier modules of a family of carrier modules;
• selecting, from the family of carrier modules, a selected carrier module based on at least one of a mission requirement, a payload requirement, a power requirement, or a vehicle type;
• electrically coupling the selected carrier module to the common controller module;
• mechanically coupling the selected carrier module to the common controller module to form a flight management system;
• determining capabilities of the selected carrier module including information regarding at least one payload interface of the selected carrier module;
• configuring one or more signal lines or ports associated with the common controller module based on the determined capabilities;
• coupling payload electronics to the selected carrier module through the at least one payload interface;
• and
• navigating the unmanned vehicle using the common controller module.

A plurality of carrier modules configured for selective use with a common controller module of a flight management system, comprising:

• a first carrier module including a first payload-interface configuration for a first class of payload electronics;
• and
• a second carrier module including a second payload-interface configuration different from the first payload-interface configuration for a second class of payload electronics;
• wherein each of the first carrier module and the second carrier module includes a mating connector configured to couple to the common controller module;
• and
• wherein the first carrier module and the second carrier module differ from one another in at least one of connector count, connector type, regulated power available to payload electronics, navigation-device configuration, radio-modem configuration, form factor, or presence of an auxiliary host computer.

A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:

• a common controller module including one or more sensors and a first computer system configured to navigate the unmanned vehicle;
• a second computer system configured to execute an operating system and perform mission-processing operations separate from the first computer system;
• a selected carrier module removably coupled to the common controller module, the selected carrier module being selected from a family of different carrier modules and including at least one payload interface;
• and
• a camera payload coupled to the flight management system through the at least one payload interface of the selected carrier module,
• wherein different carrier modules of the family are configured for different camera payloads or different classes of imaging payloads, and
• wherein the common controller module is configured to determine capabilities of the selected carrier module including information regarding the at least one payload interface and configure operation of the flight management system based on the determined capabilities.