Control apparatus, program, system and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11137777-B2
Application number	US-202117213244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2021
Priority date	Oct 15, 2018
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a control apparatus for controlling a plurality of flying bodies including a first flying body having an antenna for forming a communication area by a beam irradiated toward the ground to provide wireless communication service for a user terminal in the communication area. The control apparatus comprises a selection unit configured to select a flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body from the plurality of flying bodies; and a flying body control unit configured to control combination of the first flying body and the flying body of a combination target.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control apparatus for controlling a plurality of flying bodies including a first flying body having an antenna for forming a communication area by a beam irradiated toward the ground to provide wireless communication service for a user terminal in the communication area, the control apparatus comprising:
a selection unit configured to select a flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body from the plurality of flying bodies; and
a flying body control unit configured to control combination of the first flying body and the flying body of a combination target,
wherein the plurality of flying bodies includes a plurality of types of flying bodies, and
the selection unit is configured to select the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body from the plurality of types of flying bodies, based on at least any of a situation in the communication area, a position of the first flying body, a situation in a ground area that the first flying body covers by the communication area and a situation in a flight area where the first flying body flies.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of flying bodies includes a second flying body having an antenna for forming a communication area by a beam irradiated toward the ground to provide wireless communication service for a user terminal in the communication area, and
the selection unit selects the second flying body as the flying body of a combination target when a communication situation in the communication area of the first flying body satisfies a predetermined condition.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of flying bodies includes a third flying body having an antenna for forming a communication area by a beam irradiated toward the ground to provide wireless communication service for a user terminal in the communication area, and
the selection unit selects the third flying body as a flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body and the second flying body when a communication situation in a communication area formed by the first flying body and second flying body combined with each other satisfies a predetermined condition.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fourth flying body having an antenna for forming a communication area by a beam irradiated toward the ground to provide wireless communication service for a user terminal in the communication area and configured to provide wireless communication service having a communication capacity greater than the wireless communication service provided by the second flying body, and
the selection unit selects the second flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when a communication situation in the communication area of the first flying body satisfies a predetermined first condition and selects the fourth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the communication situation in the communication area of the first flying body satisfies a predetermined second condition.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when a latitude of the first flying body satisfies a predetermined condition.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when a latitude of the first flying body satisfies a predetermined condition.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flying body has a battery,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto,
the control apparatus comprises a remaining battery level acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining battery level of the battery of the first flying body, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the remaining battery level is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the first flying body has a battery,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto,
the control apparatus comprises a remaining battery level acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining battery level of the battery of the first flying body, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the remaining battery level is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flying body has a solar cell panel,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto,
the control apparatus comprises an electric power generation amount acquisition unit configured to acquire an electric power generation amount by the solar cell panel, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the electric power generation amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the first flying body has a solar cell panel,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto,
the control apparatus comprises an electric power generation amount acquisition unit configured to acquire an electric power generation amount by the solar cell panel, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the electric power generation amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flying body has a solar cell panel,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a fifth flying body having an electric power supplying unit configured to supply electric power to another flying body combined thereto,
the control apparatus comprises a light-receiving amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a light-receiving amount by the solar cell panel, and
the selection unit selects the fifth flying body as the flying body of a combination target to be combined with the first flying body when the light-receiving amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flying body has a thrust mechanism configured to generate a thrust force,
the plurality of flying bodies includes a sixth flying body having

Assignees

• Hapsmobile Inc

Inventors

• Miyakawa Junichi
• Shimazaki Yoshihito
• Yamamoto Atsushi

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2201/102

  adapted for flying in formations · CPC title

• G05D1/104 Primary

  involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00) · CPC title

• H04B7/18534 Primary

  for enhancing link reliablility, e.g. satellites diversity · CPC title

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title