The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 2025

Filed:

Feb. 12, 2024
Applicant:

Skydio, Inc., San Mateo, CA (US);

Inventors:

Bernard J. Michini, Plymouth Meeting, PA (US);

Logan Kaminski, San Francisco, CA (US);

Edward Dale Steakley, Cupertino, CA (US);

Assignee:

Skydio, Inc., San Mateo, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01); B64U 101/26 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); G05D 1/222 (2024.01); G05D 1/226 (2024.01); G05D 1/606 (2024.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 39/024 (2013.01); G05D 1/0022 (2013.01); G05D 1/0033 (2013.01); G05D 1/106 (2019.05); G05D 1/222 (2024.01); G05D 1/226 (2024.01); G05D 1/606 (2024.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01); B64U 2101/26 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01);
Abstract

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.


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