Geographic survey system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10534372-B2
Application number	US-201715841042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request having: a first geographic coverage area; and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area; planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod; and deploying the UAV pod.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, comprising:
receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request comprising:
a first geographic coverage area; and
a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area;

planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request;
uploading flight mission data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a two-rotor UAV;
deploying the two-rotor UAV;
providing the two-rotor UAV with the flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions;
launching the two-rotor UAV to perform the one of the first plurality of flight missions;
landing the two-rotor UAV; and
receiving a first flight survey data obtained from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data request further comprises one of: a ground resolution and a ground surface distance (GSD).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the first flight survey data from the two-rotor UAV.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the two-rotor UAV with a second flight mission data representing a second one of the first plurality of flight missions;
autonomously launching the two-rotor UAV to perform the second one of the first plurality of flight missions;
landing the two-rotor UAV after completing the second one of the first plurality of flight missions; and
receiving a second flight survey data obtained from the second one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV;
wherein the launching and landing of the two-rotor UAV to accomplish the second one of the first plurality of flight missions happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
providing the second flight survey data from the two-rotor UAV.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving the first and second flight survey data from the two-rotor UAV.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving the first and second flight survey data from the two-rotor UAV comprises receiving the first and second flight survey data wirelessly at a remote operational support center.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving the first and second flight survey data from the two-rotor UAV comprises removing a physical memory from the two-rotor UAV.

9. The method of 6 , further comprising:
performing data analysis of the first and second flight survey data; and
providing the data analysis to the customer.

10. The method of 9 , further comprising:
providing the two-rotor UAV with a third flight mission data representing a third one of the first plurality of flight missions.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
retrieving the two-rotor UAV;
uploading a fourth flight mission data representing a second plurality of flight missions into the two-rotor UAV to accomplish a second data request; and
re-deploying the two-rotor UAV.

12. A method of migrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations between geographic survey areas, comprising:
uploading a first plurality of flight missions into a two-rotor UAV;
deploying the two-rotor UAV in a first geographic survey area;
autonomously launching the two-rotor UAV from the first geographic survey area a plurality of times to perform the first plurality of flight missions;
providing first survey data from the two-rotor UAV;
autonomously migrating the two-rotor UAV from the first geographic survey area to a second geographic survey area;
receiving a second plurality of flight missions for the two-rotor UAV in the second geographic survey area;
autonomously launching the two-rotor UAV from the second geographic survey area a plurality of times to perform the second plurality of flight missions; and
providing a second survey data from the two-rotor UAV;
wherein the autonomous migrating of the two-rotor UAV to accomplish the first and second survey data happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
performing data analysis of the first and second survey data; and
providing the data analysis to a customer.

14. A system comprising:
a two-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
a processor having addressable memory in communication with the two-rotor UAV, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a first data request from a customer, the first data request comprising:
a first geographic coverage area; and
a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area;

plan a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request;
transmit flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions to the two-rotor UAV; and
receive a first flight survey data from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the two-rotor UAV further comprises:
a UAV processor having addressable memory, the UAV processor configured to:
receive the flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the UAV processor is further configured to:
launch the two-rotor UAV;
perform the one of the first plurality of flight missions; and
land the two-rotor UAV.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the UAV processor is further configured to:
transmit the first flight survey data obtained from the one of the first plurality of flight missions.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first data request further comprises one of: a ground resolution and a ground surface distance (GSD).

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transmit the received first flight survey data.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transmit a second flight mission data representing a second one of the first plurality of flight missions to the two-rotor UAV; and
receive a second flight survey data from the second one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV;
wherein a launching and a landing of the two-rotor UAV to accomplish the second one of the first plurality of flight missions happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Mukherjee Jason Sidharthadev
• Lott William Arden

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U80/70

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64F1/005

  Protective coverings for aircraft not in use · CPC title

• G06Q30/016

  After-sales · CPC title

• B64C29/02

  having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded · CPC title