Systems and methods for flight simulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016091894-A1
Application number	US-201514936532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Mar 31, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for training a user to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an environment. The systems and methods provide a simulation environment to control a UAV in a virtual environment. The virtual environment closely resembles a real flight environment. The controller used to transmit flight commands and receive flight state data can be used in both simulation and flight modes of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a receiver, configured to receive a UAV mode signal indicative of whether the UAV is to be in a flight mode or simulation mode; a flight control system configured to:
receive flight control data from a remote controller;
generate flight data in response to the flight control data; and
instruct one or more propulsion units in the UAV to activate when the UAV is in a flight mode or instruct one or more propulsion units in the UAV to remain dormant when the UAV is in a simulation mode.

2 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided from a display device comprising a visual display, wherein the visual display is configured to show simulated flight state information of the UAV when the UAV is in a simulation mode.

3 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided from the remote controller.

4 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided by a user interacting with hardware of the UAV.

5 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV has the flight mode as a default and the UAV mode signal indicates a change to the simulation mode.

6 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided to an output switcher configured to determine whether the flight data is or is not communicated to one or more propulsion units.

7 . The UAV of claim 6 , wherein the output switcher communicates the flight data to the one or more propulsion units when the UAV is in the flight mode.

8 . The UAV of claim 6 , wherein the output switcher communicates the flight data to a physical model comprising physical parameter information about the UAV, and wherein the physical model provides physical simulation data in response to the flight data.

9 . The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the physical parameter information about the UAV includes dimensions of the UAV.

10 . The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the physical parameter information about the UAV includes aerodynamic properties of the UAV.

11 . The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the physical simulation data is provided to one or more virtual sensors configured to generate virtual sensor data based on the physical simulation data.

12 . The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the virtual sensor data is provided to an inertial measurement unit configured to generate flight state information from the virtual sensor data and communicate the flight state information to the flight control system.

13 . The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to receive real sensor data and generate flight state information from the real sensor data and communicate the flight state information to the flight control system.

14 . The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the flight control system communicates simulated flight data to a display device comprising a visual display when the UAV is in the simulation mode.

15 . A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
receiving a UAV mode signal indicative of whether the UAV is to be in a flight mode or simulation mode; receiving flight control data from a remote controller; generating flight data in response to the flight control data; and communicating the flight data to one or more propulsion units of the UAV when the UAV is in the flight mode, or not communicating the flight data to the one or more propulsion units when the UAV is in the simulation mode.

16 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a receiver, configured to receive a UAV mode signal indicative of whether the UAV is to be in a flight mode or simulation mode; one or more sensors configured to collect real sensor data; a flight control system configured to:
receive flight control data from a remote controller; and
generate flight data in response to the flight control data and one of the following: the real sensor data when the UAV is in flight mode, or virtual sensor data generated by one or more processors when the UAV is in the simulation mode.

17 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided from a display device comprising a visual display, wherein the visual display is configured to show simulated flight state information of the UAV when the UAV is in a simulation mode.

18 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided from the remote controller.

19 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided by a user interacting with hardware of the UAV.

20 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the UAV has the flight mode as a default and the UAV mode signal indicates a change to the simulation mode.

21 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the UAV mode signal is provided to an output switcher configured to determine whether the flight data is or is not communicated to the one or more propulsion units.

22 . The UAV of claim 21 , wherein the output switcher communicates the flight data to the one or more propulsion units when the UAV is in the flight mode.

23 . The UAV of claim 21 , wherein the output switcher communicates the flight data to a physical model comprising physical parameter information about the UAV, and wherein the physical model provides physical simulation data in response to the flight data.

24 . The UAV of claim 23 , wherein the physical parameter information about the UAV includes dimensions of the UAV.

25 . The UAV of claim 23 , wherein the physical parameter information about the UAV includes aerodynamic properties of the UAV.

26 . The UAV of claim 23 , wherein the physical simulation data is provided to one or more virtual sensors configured to generate virtual sensor data based on the physical simulation data.

27 . The UAV of claim 26 , wherein the virtual sensor data is provided to an inertial measurement unit configured to generate flight state information from the virtual sensor data and communicate the flight state information to the flight control system.

28 . The UAV of claim 27 , wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to receive real sensor data and generate flight state information from the real sensor data and communicate the flight state information to the flight control system.

29 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the flight control system communicates simulated flight data to a display device comprising a visual display when the UAV is in the simulation mode.

30 . A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
receiving a UAV mode signal indicative of whether the UAV is to be in a flight mode or simulation mode; receiving flight control data from a remote controller; and generating flight data based on the flight control data and one of the following: the real sensor data when the UAV is in the flight mode, or the virtual sensor data when the UAV is in the simulation mode.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Liutao
• Pan Xuyang
• Li Shunnian
• Chen Chaobin

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• G09B9/24 Primary

  including display or recording of simulated flight path · CPC title

• B64C2201/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G05D1/0011 Primary

  associated with a remote control arrangement · CPC title

• B64C2201/024

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic