Unmanned aircraft configured for operation in a managed airspace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016117933-A1
Application number	US-201414501343-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

First claim

1 . An unmanned aircraft configured for operation on a mission in an airspace comprising flyway segments managed by a management system of the airspace comprising:
(a) a profile for the aircraft used for registration of the aircraft with the management system before operation in the airspace; (b) an identifier for the aircraft used for monitoring of the aircraft by the management system during operation in the airspace; (c) a license for the aircraft used by the system to manage the operation of the aircraft in the airspace;
so that the aircraft can be operated according to terms of the license during the mission in the airspace;
wherein the aircraft can be registered by the management system before the mission and monitored by the management system during the mission.

2 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the aircraft can be charged a rate for use of the airspace determined by terms of the license and data obtained by the management system from data sources.

3 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is stored by the system.

13 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is stored on the aircraft.

14 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license comprises a code associated with the identifier.

15 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is transacted before operation of the aircraft in the airspace.

16 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license comprises priority rights for the aircraft.

17 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the rights comprise status and priority for the aircraft.

18 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is at a rate.

19 . The aircraft of claim 18 wherein the rate is a function of rights under license and use of the airspace.

20 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license comprises a set of rights and privileges for the aircraft.

27 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the mission comprises a route in the airspace.

28 . (canceled)

29 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein terms of a license comprise a set of rates for use of the airspace.

30 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein terms of a license require compliance with rules for operation in the airspace.

31 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein rules comprise speed limit for aircraft.

32 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the airspace comprises a set of flyway segments and a set of zones.

33 . (canceled)

34 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is obtained in a transaction with the management system.

35 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is used by the management system for billing the aircraft for use of the airspace.

36 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is used by the management system for routing of aircraft.

37 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is used by the management system for administrating the airspace.

38 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license is used by the management system for directing aircraft.

39 - 41 . (canceled)

42 . The aircraft of claim 32 wherein the license authorizes the aircraft to operate in a specified set of zones in the airspace.

43 . The aircraft of claim 32 wherein the rate is a function of each zone used by the aircraft and the time of the aircraft in each zone.

44 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the license comprises rights for the aircraft in the airspace.

45 . The aircraft of claim 44 wherein rights comprise status and priority of the aircraft.

46 - 53 . (canceled)

54 . The aircraft of claim 2 wherein aircraft can be charged a rate for use of the airspace determined by terms of the license and data obtained by the management system from data sources.

55 - 139 . (canceled)

140 . An unmanned aircraft configured for operation on a mission in an airspace comprising flyway segments managed by a management system for the airspace comprising:
(a) a profile for the aircraft used for registration of the aircraft with the management system before operation in the airspace; (b) an identifier for the aircraft used for monitoring of the aircraft by the management system during operation in the airspace; (c) rights for the aircraft obtained by transaction and used by the management system to manage the operation of the aircraft in the airspace;
wherein the aircraft is to be operated according to rights obtained to perform the mission in the airspace;
wherein the aircraft is registered by the management system before the mission and monitored by the management system during the mission and charged a rate for use of the airspace determined by terms of the transaction and data obtained by the management system from data sources.

141 - 247 . (canceled)

248 . A method of configuring an unmanned aircraft for operation on a mission in an airspace comprising flyway segments managed by a management system for the airspace comprising the steps of:
(a) creating a profile for the aircraft used for registration of the aircraft with the management system before operation in the airspace; (b) providing an identifier for the aircraft used for monitoring of the aircraft by the management system during operation in the airspace; (c) transacting a license for the aircraft used by the management system to manage the operation of the aircraft in the airspace;
wherein the aircraft is to be operated according to terms of the license during the mission in the airspace;
wherein the aircraft is registered by the management system before the mission and monitored by the management system during the mission.

249 - 562 . (canceled)

563 . A method of configuring an unmanned aircraft for operation on a mission in an airspace comprising flyway segments managed by a management system for the airspace comprising the steps of:
(a) creating a profile for the aircraft used for registration of the aircraft with the management system before operation in the airspace; (b) providing an identifier for the aircraft used for monitoring of the aircraft by the management system during operation in the airspace; (c) transacting a transaction for the aircraft to obtain rights for the operation of the aircraft in the airspace;
so that the aircraft can be operated according to rights obtained to perform the mission in the airspace.

564 - 899 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Elwha Llc
• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Chan Alistair K
• Cheatham Iii Jesse R
• Duncan William David
• Hwang Eun Young
• Hyde Roderick A
• Pan Tony S
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• G08G5/727

  from a ground station · CPC title

• G08G5/76

  for monitoring atmospheric conditions · CPC title

• G08G5/74

  for monitoring terrain · CPC title

• G08G5/59

  in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones · CPC title

• G08G5/53

  for cruising · CPC title