Pre-flight self test for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsCharles Calvin Byers, Gonzalo Salgueiro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.
Claims21
A method, comprising:
- instructing, by a controller, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine;
- receiving, at the controller, sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation;
- receiving, at the controller, data indicative of an acceptable range for the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation;
- determining, by the controller, whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within the acceptable range;
- and
- causing, by the controller, the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.
A landing perch for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
- a base having a plurality of posts that extend from the base and are configured to couple with apertures of the UAV;
- one or more force sensors located on one or more of the plurality of posts;
- and
- a controller that includes:
- one or more network interfaces to communicate with a computer network;
- a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute a process;
- and
- a memory configured to store the process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
- instruct the UAV to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine prior to being launched from the landing perch;
- receive sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from the one or more force sensors, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation;
- determine whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range;
- and
- cause the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.