Geographic survey system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9880563-B2
Application number	US-201615040957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request having: a first geographic coverage area; and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area; planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod; and deploying the UAV pod.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, comprising:
receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request comprising:
a first geographic coverage area; and
a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area;

planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request;
uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod;
deploying the UAV pod;
providing a two-rotor UAV with flight mission data for one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV pod;
launching the two-rotor UAV from the UAV pod to perform the one of the first plurality of flight missions;
receiving the two-rotor UAV on the UAV pod; and
receiving in the UAV pod a first flight survey data obtained from the one of the first plurality of flight missions from the two-rotor UAV.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data request further comprises one of a ground resolution or ground surface distance (GSD).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the first flight survey data from the UAV pod.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the UAV with a second flight mission data representing a second one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV pod;
autonomously launching the two-rotor UAV from the UAV pod to perform the second one of the first plurality of flight missions;
receiving the two-rotor UAV on the UAV pod after completing the second one of the first plurality of flight missions; and
receiving a second flight survey data in the UAV pod from the UAV;
wherein the launching and receiving of the two-rotor UAV to accomplish the second one of the first plurality of flight missions happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
providing the second flight survey data from the UAV pod.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving the first and second flight survey data from the UAV pod.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving the first and second flight survey data from the UAV pod comprises receiving the first and second flight survey data wirelessly at a remote operational support center.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving the first and second flight survey data from the UAV pod comprises removing a physical memory from the UAV pod.

9. The method of 6 , further comprising:
performing data analysis of the first and second flight survey data; and
providing the data analysis to the customer.

10. The method of 9 , further comprising:
providing the two-rotor UAV with a third flight mission data representing a third one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV pod; and
receiving the two-rotor UAV on a second UAV pod.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a second two-rotor UAV in the second UAV pod.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
retrieving the UAV pod;
uploading a fourth flight missions data representing a second plurality of flight missions into the UAV pod to accomplish a second data request; and
re-deploying the UAV pod.

13. A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, comprising:
receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request comprising:
a first geographic coverage area; and
a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area;

planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request;
uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod;
deploying the UAV pod; and
providing a second two-rotor UAV with a third flight mission data representing a third one of the first plurality of flight missions from the UAV pod.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
autonomously launching the second two-rotor UAV from the UAV pod to perform the third one of the first plurality of flight missions;
receiving the second two-rotor UAV on the UAV pod after completing the third one of the first plurality of flight missions; and
receiving a third survey data in the UAV pod from the second two-rotor UAV;
wherein the launching and receiving of the second two-rotor UAV to accomplish the third one of the plurality of flight missions happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

15. A method of migrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations between geographic survey areas, comprising:
uploading a first plurality of flight missions into a first UAV pod;
deploying the UAV pod;
autonomously launching the UAV from the UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the first plurality of flight missions;
providing first survey data from the UAV to the UAV pod;
autonomously migrating the UAV from the first UAV pod to a second UAV pod;
receiving a second plurality of flight missions in the-a second UAV pod;
providing the UAV with one of the second plurality of flight missions from the second UAV pod;
autonomously launching the UAV from the second UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the second plurality of flight missions; and
providing a second survey data from the UAV to the second UAV pod;
wherein the autonomous migrating of the UAV to accomplish the first and second survey data happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
performing data analysis of the first and second survey data; and
providing the data analysis to a customer.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Mukherjee Jason Sidharthadev
• Lott William Arden

Classifications

• B64U80/70

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · 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

• B64F1/005

  Protective coverings for aircraft not in use · CPC title

• G06Q30/016

  After-sales · CPC title

• G06F16/29

  Geographical information databases · CPC title