Flight path determination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023195112-A1
Application number	US-202217929832-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 6, 2022
Priority date	Nov 14, 2016
Publication date	Jun 22, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle, includes controlling the aerial vehicle to fly along a first route, identifying, during the flight along the first route and with aid of one or more processors, a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location, in response to identifying the change, determining, by the one or more processors, a second location different from the first location, determining a second route to the second location, and controlling, by the one or more processors, the aerial vehicle to fly to and land at the second location. The change of the state of signal transmission indicates an abnormal state in a signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and a control device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
controlling the aerial vehicle to fly along a first route; identifying, during the flight along the first route and with aid of one or more processors, a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location, the change of the state of signal transmission indicating an abnormal state in a signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and a control device; in response to identifying the change, determining, by the one or more processors, a second location different from the first location; determining a second route to the second location; and controlling, by the one or more processors, the aerial vehicle to fly to and land at the second location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the abnormal state includes a loss or weakening of a signal during the signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and the control device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second route to the second location includes:
determining the second location from one or more points designated by a user.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining and marking in a map one or more usual landing points.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location includes a service point providing one or more services to the aerial vehicle, the one or more services including at least one of a part replacement service, a check-up service, a tune-up service, or a repair service.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determining that the signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and the control device at the second location is changed from the abnormal state to a normal state, determining a third route:
to return to the first route;
to a starting point of the aerial vehicle; or
based on a command from a user.

7 . A method of determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
identifying, during flight and with aid of one or more processors, a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location, the change of the state of signal transmission indicating an abnormal state in a signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and a control device; in response to identifying the change, selecting a first destination within a proximity of a second location, wherein a state of signal transmission at the second location during a previous flight is different from the state of signal transmission at the first location; determining a first flight path to reach the first destination; upon reaching the first destination by the aerial vehicle, assessing in real time the state of signal transmission at the first destination; and determining a second flight path to a second destination based on the assessment.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the change in the state of signal transmission includes a loss or weakening of a signal transmitted between the aerial vehicle and the control device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the second flight path includes, in response to the signal transmission being lost or weakened at the first destination, including in the second flight path a location undetected by a sensor of the aerial vehicle during the previous flight.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the second flight path includes, in response to the signal transmission being lost or weakened at the first destination, including in the second flight path a location detected by a sensor of the aerial vehicle during the previous flight.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the second flight path includes, in response to the state of the signal transmission at the first destination changing from the abnormal state to a normal state, including in the second flight path a location undetected by a sensor of the aerial vehicle during the previous flight.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the first flight path includes, not including in the second flight path a location undetected by a sensor of the aerial vehicle during the previous flight.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first flight path includes a reverse of a last flight path of the aerial vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the first destination is selected based on at least one of a user input, an operational status of a sensor onboard the aerial vehicle, or a current condition of a flight environment.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the first destination is proximal to the second location with a preset distance; or the first destination is at the second location.

16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the second location is a location detected by a sensor onboard the aerial vehicle during the previous flight.

17 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second destination is selected based on a user input at the control device or based on real-time information.

18 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, prior to or concurrent with selecting the second destination:
controlling the aerial vehicle to hover for a predetermined period of time to gather data in real time.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a starting point of the flight is selected as the second destination in response to no user input being received within the predetermined period of time.

20 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second destination includes at least one of:
a location undetected by a sensor during the previous flight, a predetermined location for the aerial vehicle to reach before identifying the change in the state of signal transmission occurring at the first location, a starting point of the flight, or a service point providing services to restore a normal operational status, wherein the second flight path is determined based on a flying distance to the service point.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Litian
• Hu Xiao
• Liu Ang

Classifications

• G05D1/0061

  for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa · CPC title

• B64C39/024

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

• G01C21/20

  Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05D1/0022 Primary

  characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00) · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title