Navigating a UAV with obstacle avoidance algorithms

A system for navigating a UAV, the system comprising:

• means for piloting the UAV, under control of a navigation computer, in accordance with a navigation algorithm;
• means for reading from a GPS receiver a sequence of GPS data;
• means for anticipating a future position of the UAV in dependence upon the sequence of GPS data;
• means for identifying an obstacle in dependence upon the future position;
• means for selecting an obstacle avoidance algorithm;
• and
• means for piloting the UAV in accordance with the selected obstacle avoidance algorithm.

A computer program product for navigating a UAV, the computer program product comprising:

• a recording medium;
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for piloting the UAV, under control of a navigation computer, in accordance with a navigation algorithm;
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for reading from a GPS receiver a sequence of GPS data;
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for anticipating a future position of the UAV in dependence upon the sequence of GPS data;
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying an obstacle in dependence upon the future position;
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an obstacle avoidance algorithm;
• and
• means, recorded on the recording medium, for piloting the UAV in accordance with the selected obstacle avoidance algorithm.