Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Privacy Controls

A method implemented by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

• storing, in memory of the UAV, data associating each of a plurality of sensor types of sensors or payload devices connected to the UAV with a corresponding threshold distance from a privacy geofence and a corresponding above-ground limit for the privacy geofence;
• determining a geospatial position of the UAV relative to the privacy geofence;
• determining a sensor type of a selected sensor or payload device connected to the UAV;
• determining, based on the data associating the plurality of sensor types with the corresponding threshold distances and corresponding above-ground limits, whether the geospatial position of the UAV is within the corresponding threshold distance from a boundary of the privacy geofence, above the corresponding above-ground limit over the privacy geofence, or within the privacy geofence for the sensor type of the selected sensor or payload device;
• and
• in response to determining that at least one of the corresponding threshold distance, corresponding above-ground limit, or within-the-privacy-geofence condition is satisfied for the selected sensor or payload device, inhibiting operation of the selected sensor or payload device.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a sensor or payload device;
• a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver;
• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the UAV to:
• store data associating each of a plurality of sensor types with a corresponding threshold distance from a privacy geofence and a corresponding above-ground limit for the privacy geofence;
• determine a geospatial position of the UAV relative to the privacy geofence using the GNSS receiver;
• determine a sensor type of the sensor or payload device;
• determine, based on the data associating the plurality of sensor types with the corresponding threshold distances and corresponding above-ground limits, whether the geospatial position of the UAV is within the corresponding threshold distance from a boundary of the privacy geofence, above the corresponding above-ground limit over the privacy geofence, or within the privacy geofence for the sensor type of the sensor or payload device;
• and
• in response to determining that at least one of the corresponding threshold distance, corresponding above-ground limit, or within-the-privacy-geofence condition is satisfied for the sensor or payload device, inhibit operation of the sensor or payload device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a flight planning system or a ground control system, cause the flight planning system or the ground control system to:

• store or access data associating each of a plurality of sensor types of sensors or payload devices configured for a UAV with a corresponding threshold distance from a privacy geofence and a corresponding above-ground limit for the privacy geofence;
• determine a flight path for the UAV within a flight boundary geofence;
• determine that the flight path passes through or near the privacy geofence and that a selected sensor type configured for the UAV is to be inhibited or oriented based on the corresponding threshold distance or corresponding above-ground limit associated with the selected sensor type;
• generate the flight path to include a first waypoint before the UAV enters the privacy geofence, the first waypoint having an associated sensor command to inhibit the selected sensor type or orient the selected sensor type such that the selected sensor type cannot obtain sensor information describing anything within the privacy geofence;
• and
• generate the flight path to include a second waypoint after the UAV exits the privacy geofence, the second waypoint having an associated sensor command to allow the selected sensor type to resume obtaining sensor information or to reorient the selected sensor type.