Skydio, Inc.

Logan Kaminski

Bernard J Michini

Edward Dale Steakley

Fabien Blanc-Paques

Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations. In an embodiment, a flight planning system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can identify handoff zones along a UAV flight corridor for transferring control of the UAV between ground control stations. The start of the handoff zones can be determined prior to a flight or while the UAV is in flight. For handoff zones determined prior to flight, the flight planning system can identify suitable locations to place a ground control station (GCS). The handoff zone can be based on a threshold visual line of sight range between a controlling GCS and the UAV. For determining handoff zones while in flight, the UAV can monitor RF signals from each GCS participating in the handoff to determine the start of a handoff period.

Unmanned aerial vehicle beyond visual line of sight control

A flight plan of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for inspecting a structure that includes an RF transmitter is received. The structure is surveyed based on the flight plan to collect RF signal data. An RF map associated with the structure is generated based on the collected RF signal data. The flight plan is adjusted based on the generated RF map to account for detected RF signal strengths. The UAV is navigated according to the adjusted flight plan.

Adjusting a UAV flight plan based on radio frequency signal data

In some implementations, a UAV flight system can dynamically adjust UAV flight operations based on radio frequency (RF) signal data. For example, the flight system can determine an initial flight plan for inspecting a RF transmitter and configure a UAV to perform an aerial inspection of the RF transmitter. Once airborne, the UAV can collect RF signal data and the flight system can automatically adjust the flight plan to avoid RF signal interference and/or damage to the UAV based on the collected RF signal data. In some implementations, the UAV can collect RF signal data and generate a three-dimensional received signal strength map that describes the received signal strength at various locations within a volumetric area around the RF transmitter. In some implementations, the UAV can collect RF signal data and determine whether a RF signal transmitter is properly aligned.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Logan Kaminski