Methods and systems for autonomous generation of shortest lateral paths for unmanned aerial systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for autonomous generation of shortest lateral paths for unmanned aerial systems are described. An example method includes defining an area between a source point and a target point; identifying a first no flight zone within the area; identifying a second no flight zone outside of the area; estimating a first computation time to determine a first lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the first no flight zone, the estimating not to consider the second no flight zone; comparing the first computation time to a reference computation time; in response to the first computation time not satisfying a threshold of the reference computation time, modifying the first no flight zone to be a third no flight zone; and estimating a second computation time to determine a second lateral path between the source point and the target point, the estimating to consider the third no flight zone.