Selection between explore mode and control mode for aerial vehicle

A method comprising:

• determining, by a control system, flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, the control system making a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the control system (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the control system (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, the control system operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining a level of uncertainty related to respective wind conditions at at least one respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined level of uncertainty, and wherein determining the level of uncertainty comprises:
• determining a first set of data representative of most recently recorded respective wind conditions at the at least one respective altitude;
• determining a second set of data representative of one or more of the following conditions:
• (i) historical respective wind conditions at the at least one respective altitude and (ii) predicted future respective wind conditions at the at least one respective altitude;
• comparing the first set of data to the second set of data;
• and
• determining the level of uncertainty based on the comparison.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a control system, flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, the control system making a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the control system (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the control system (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, the control system operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining capability of the particular aerial vehicle to move in a particular direction, and wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined capability of the particular aerial vehicle to move in the particular direction.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a control system, flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, the control system making a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the control system (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the control system (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, the control system operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining capability of the particular aerial vehicle to move at a particular velocity, and wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined capability of the particular aerial vehicle to move at the particular velocity.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a control system, flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, the control system making a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the control system (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the control system (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, the control system operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining a level of energy stored in an energy storage device of the particular aerial vehicle, wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined level of energy, and wherein making the selection based at least in part on the determined level of energy comprises:
• determining whether the level of energy is below a threshold level of energy or whether the level of energy is above the threshold level of energy;
• if the determination is that the level of energy is below the threshold level of energy, then responsively selecting the second mode;
• and
• if the determination is that the level of energy is above the threshold level of energy, then responsively selecting the first mode.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a control system, flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, the control system making a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the control system (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the control system (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, the control system operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operating the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining service currently being provided by the particular aerial vehicle in a current coverage area of the particular aerial vehicle, and wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined service currently being provided by the particular aerial vehicle in the current coverage area of the particular aerial vehicle.

A control system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to:
• determine flight data for a particular aerial vehicle in an aerial network comprising a plurality of aerial vehicles;
• based at least in part on the flight data, make a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the one or more processors (i) directing the particular aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the one or more processors (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the particular aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining a fixed schedule that indicates (i) one or more first time frames during which the control system is to operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode and (ii) one or more second time frames during which the control system is to operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode, and wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined fixed schedule.

An aerial vehicle comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to:
• determine flight data for the aerial vehicle;
• based at least in part on the flight data, make a selection between a first mode and a second mode, wherein operation in the first mode comprises the one or more processors (i) directing the aerial vehicle to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude of the plurality of altitudes, and wherein operation in the second mode comprises the one or more processors (i) selecting at least one altitude based at least in part on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude;
• and
• based on the selection, operate the aerial vehicle according to the first mode or operate the aerial vehicle according to the second mode,
• wherein determining the flight data comprises determining a fixed schedule that indicates (i) one or more first time frames during which the control system is to operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the first mode and (ii) one or more second time frames during which the control system is to operate the particular aerial vehicle according to the second mode, and wherein making the selection is based at least in part on the determined fixed schedule.