Ad hoc dynamic data link repeater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12221201-B2
Application number	US-202017071880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2015
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

In one possible embodiment, a system capable of a self-propagating data link includes an unmanned vehicle having a data link transceiver and at least one deployable data link transceiver. The unmanned vehicle having a deployment means for deploying the at least one deployable data link transceiver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for ensuring communication between a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a remote UAV controller, the method comprising:
a) launching a UAV comprising a visual sensor and a data link transceiver and a deployable data link transceiver, the deployable data link transceiver comprising a visual sensor;
b) deploying the deployable data link transceiver from the UAV in a line of sight position with a UAV controller;
c) flying the UAV into a non-line of sight position with respect to the remote UAV controller; and
d) using the deployable data link transceiver visual sensor in addition to the UAV visual sensor to provide visual information to the UAV controller, and using the deployable data link transceiver to relay the UAV visual sensor data to the remote UAV controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the deployable data link transceiver in a line of sight position with a remote UAV controller comprises deploying an expendable data link transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising at least partially inhibiting a functionality of the deployable data link transceiver after the deployable data link has completed its mission.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein at least partially inhibiting a functionality of the deployable data link transceiver comprises erasing sensitive mission data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein flying the UAV into a non-line of sight position with respect to the remote UAV controller comprises flying to a terminal phase of a mission.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising inhibiting a descent of the deployable data link transceiver after deployment of the deployable data link transceiver, and receiving, transmitting, and relaying the UAV visual sensor data to the remote UAV controller while the deployable data link transceiver is in descent.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Michael Gil

Classifications

• B64B1/40 Primary

  Balloons (B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10) · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U2101/20

  for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms · CPC title

• H04B7/185

  Space-based or airborne stations; {Stations for satellite systems}(H04B7/204 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B1/3822

  specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title