Determination of flight path for unmanned aircraft in event of in-flight contingency
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian J. Tillotson, Charles B. Spinelli, Robert P. Lutter
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Abstract
An enhanced control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle adds constraints to the process of choosing a flight path in the event of an in-flight contingency, such as engine out or an encounter with jamming, which forces a diversion or unplanned landing. The constraints are: (1) ensure communications are available when needed during contingency operations; and (2) ensure signals from a global positioning system (or other navigation system) are available when needed during contingency operations.
Claims20
A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in response to an in-flight contingency, comprising:
- performing operations by a computer system onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, including:
- (a) determining whether a current flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle should be changed;
- (b) determining a different flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle which satisfies signal reception constraints in response to a determination that the current flight path should be changed;
- and
- (c) controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly said different flight path.
A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in response to an in-flight contingency, the method comprising:
- performing operations by a computer system onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, including:
- (a) determining whether signal reception conditions dictate that a current orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle should be changed;
- (b) determining a different orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle which satisfies signal reception constraints in response to a determination that the current orientation should be changed;
- and
- (c) controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to reorient to a selected different orientation.
A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in response to an in-flight contingency, the method comprising:
- performing operations by a computer system onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, including:
- (a) determining whether a flight-critical component of the unmanned aerial vehicle is operating well enough to continue flight;
- (b) creating a list of reachable landing sites in response to a determination that the flight-critical component is not operating well enough to continue flight;
- (c) determining whether at least one path to at least one of the reachable landing sites satisfies signal reception constraints;
- and
- (d) controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to follow said at least one path.
A system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in response to an in-flight contingency, comprising:
- a computer system and computer memory storing an RF environment model;
- a geometric engine;
- and
- RF constraint logic,
- wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations in accordance with a first routine of said RF constraint logic, including:
- determining whether a current flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle should be changed;
- determining a different flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle which satisfies signal reception constraints using said RF environment model and said geometry engine in response to a determination that the current flight path should be changed;
- and
- controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly a selected different flight path.
A system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in response to an in-flight contingency, comprising:
- a computer system and computer memory storing an RF environment model;
- a geometric engine;
- and
- RF constraint logic, said computer system being capable of performing operations in accordance with said RF constraint logic, including:
- determining whether a flight-critical component of the unmanned aerial vehicle is operating well enough to continue flight;
- creating a list of reachable landing sites in response to a determination that the flight-critical component is not operating well enough to continue flight;
- determining whether at least one path to at least one of the reachable landing sites satisfies signal reception constraints using said RF environment model and said geometry engine;
- and
- controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to follow said at least one path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.