The Boeing Company

Hugo Eduardo Teomitzi

Michael Christian Büddefeld

Jonas Schulze

Garoe Gonzalez

Anna-Lisa Mautes

Micro-weather risk mapping for very low-level aerial vehicles includes receiving data indicating a first geographic area and obtaining meteorologic data for a second geographic area. The first geographic area is smaller than and entirely bounded by the second geographic area. Mapping includes determining topographic parameters associated with the first geographic area. Mapping includes performing a comparison of the topographic parameters associated with the first geographic area to topographic parameters associated with a plurality of predetermined micro-weather models. Mapping includes selecting a micro-weather model from among the plurality of predetermined micro-weather models based on the comparison. Mapping includes determining, based on the meteorologic data for the second geographic area and the micro-weather model, risk data indicative of risk of particular meteorological conditions in the first geographic area.

Micro weather risk mapping for very low-level aerial vehicles

A system and method for conducting preflight planning for autonomous flight missions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system includes use of a controller to conduct quantitative risk assessments of available digital data to predict low risk flight routes based on estimated flight risk profiles. The flight risk profiles may be based upon flight safety-critical information, including real time regulatory, airspace, obstacle, and infrastructure data sets. Among other data sets, the flight risk profiles may also account for current weather, current population and traffic data, and aircraft operational data specific to the UAV involved. Each risk assessment can generate a flight risk profile dependent on proposed times of travel, from which a low risk route may be predicted for any impending autonomous aircraft flight. Such risk assessments may enhance chances of expeditious regulatory acceptance of flight plans for such predetermined flight routes.

UAV risk-based route planning system

A method includes separating a flight plan of a vehicle into a number of portions with each portion including a particular length that is determined based on a complexity of an environment where the flight plan takes place. The complexity of the environment is based on at least one of a set of factors including at least one of a terrain of the environment, one or more obstacles, one or more no-fly zones, or one or more no-landing zones within the environment. The method also includes determining an escape route for each portion of the flight plan. The escape route includes a route to a safe landing site in response to a failure of a system onboard the vehicle. The method additionally includes generating an escape route plan for the flight plan in response to all portions of the flight plan being assigned at least one escape route.

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Darmstadt, Germany

Hugo Eduardo Teomitzi