Augmentative control of drones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018239356-A1
Application number	US-201815961339-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Apr 26, 2016
Publication date	Aug 23, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method may include monitoring location information associated with a drone. The method may also include comparing the location information with an authorized zone. The method may also include, based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone. The method may include, in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone. The location information may include at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method comprising:
monitoring location information of a drone; identifying an authorized zone based on the location information; confirming that the authorized zone is associated with a digital signature indicating that the authorized zone is established by an authorized entity; determining, based on the location information, that the drone has or will commit a violation of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone, wherein the location information includes at least one of a current location of the drone or predicted future location of the drone.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein augmenting the control comprises adjusting the flight path.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein adjusting the flight path comprises routing the drone to reach an original destination of the flight path while avoiding the authorized zone.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a drone operation controller controls the operation of the drone, and augmenting the control comprises overriding the drone operation controller.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein augmenting the control comprises grounding the drone.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein augmenting the control comprises causing the drone to hover.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a geographically addressed message comprising an indication of the authorized zone.

9 . A drone comprising:
a processor; and memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that cause the processor to effectuate functions comprising:
operating flight of the drone using a drone operation controller;
monitoring location information of the drone indicative of a predicted future location of the drone;
identifying an authorized zone based on a comparison of the authorized zone and the location information;
determining, based on the predicted future location, that the drone will commit a violation a rule associated with the authorized zone unless an operation of the drone is altered; and
overriding the drone operation controller to alter the operation of the drone.

10 . The drone of claim 9 , wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone, and wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises altering the flight path.

11 . The drone of claim 10 , wherein altering the flight path comprises directing the drone on a direct path to avoid the authorized zone.

12 . The drone of claim 9 , further comprising receiving a geographically addressed message identifying the authorized zone.

13 . The drone of claim 12 , wherein the geographically addressed message is received from a second drone.

14 . The drone of claim 9 , wherein identifying the authorized zone comprises selecting the authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones.

15 . The drone of claim 9 , wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises causing the drone to hover.

16 . A method comprising:
monitoring location information associated with a drone; identifying an authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones based on a relative location of the authorized zone and the location information, wherein each authorized zone comprises an authorized signature; determining that the drone has committed a violation of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein altering the operation of the drone is based on a rule associated with the authorized zone.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein altering the operation comprises grounding the drone.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein altering the operation comprises causing the drone to hover.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising comparing the authorized signature with a list of authorized parties to confirm that the authorized zone was sanctioned by an authorized party.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Hall Robert J

Classifications

• G08G5/006

  Physics · mapped topic

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C2201/141

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G08G5/0069

  Physics · mapped topic

• B64C2201/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic