Base station multi-vehicle coordination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540102-B2
Application number	US-201313800391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for base station multi-vehicle coordination. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a base station, may: (i) effectuate one or more communications with at least a first UFV and a second UFV; or (ii) transmit to a first UFV at least one command based at least partially on one or more communications with at least a first UFV and a second UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A base station comprising:
at least one electronic device including at least:
circuitry configured for effectuating one or more communications with at least a first unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) and a second UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving at least one message from at least the second UFV, the at least one message including at least a notification indicative that the second UFV has autonomously determined an inability to accomplish at least one portion of at least one mission without assistance;
circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including at least analyzing the notification indicative that the second UFV has autonomously determined an inability to accomplish at least one portion of at least one mission without assistance included in the at least one message, determining at least one mission modification based at least partially on the analysis, and formulating the at least one command based at least partially on the at least one mission modification; and
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command.

2. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one message from at least the second UFV comprises:
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one hazard discovered by the second UFV.

3. The base station of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one hazard discovered by the second UFV comprises:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one code representative of the at least one hazard discovered by the second UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV a location of at least one object that is detected by the second UFV; or
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one message including at least one atmospheric harbinger indicative of one or more weather elements that are detected by the second UFV.

4. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one message from at least the second UFV comprises:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one status of the second UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one heading of the second UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of a fuel level associated with the second UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one mission status associated with the second UFV; or
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one estimated delay for a mission associated with the second UFV.

5. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for receiving at least one message from at least the second UFV comprises:
circuitry configured for receiving from the second UFV at least one indication of at least one status of a third UFV.

6. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command comprises:
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV at least one flight control command.

7. The base station of claim 6 , wherein the circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV at least one flight control command comprises:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one flight control command to instruct the first UFV to adjust at least one flight path; or
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one flight control command responsive at least partially to at least one indication of at least one flight path of the second UFV.

8. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command comprises:
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command to update at least one mission associated with the first UFV.

9. The base station of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command to update at least one mission associated with the first UFV comprises:
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command to utilize one or more identified sensors of the first UFV as part of at least one mission associated with the first UFV.

10. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command comprises:
circuitry configured for transmitting to the first UFV the at least one command via routing the at least one command through at least a third UFV.

11. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including at least analyzing the notification indicative that the second UFV has autonomously determined an inability to accomplish at least one portion of at least one mission without assistance included in the at least one message, determining at least one mission modification based at least partially on the analysis, and formulating the at least one command based at least partially on the at least one mission modification further comprises:
circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including analyzing a notification of at least one condition indicative of a determination by the at least one second UFV of attainment of at least one mission objective included in the at least one message, determining at least one mission modification to join the second UFV in a new mission based at least partially on the analysis, and formulating the at least one command based at least partially on the at least one mission modification.

12. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including at least analyzing the notification indicative that the second UFV has autonomously determined an inability to accomplish at least one portion of at least one mission without assistance included in the at least one message, determining at least one mission modification based at least partially on the analysis, and formulating the at least one command based at least partially on the at least one mission modification further comprises:
circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including analyzing a notification of at least one condition indicative of a determination by the at least one second UFV of a condition of the second UFV which would benefit from assistance included in the at least one message, determining at least one mission modification to assist the second UFV in at least one mission based at least partially on the analysis, and formulating the at least one command based at least partially on the at least one mission modification.

13. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of the first UFV including at least analyzing the notification indicative of the least one inability to accomplish at le

Assignees

• Elwha Llc A Ltd Liability Corp State Delaware
• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Levien Royce A
• Lord Robert W
• Lord Richard T
• Malamud Mark A
• Rinaldo Jr John D
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• B64U2201/102

  adapted for flying in formations · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• G05D1/0027 Primary

  involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00) · CPC title

• G08G5/0091

  Physics · mapped topic