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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 20, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 13, 2004
Anthony C. Mulligan, Tucson, AZ (US);
Christopher D. Troudt, Tucson, AZ (US);
Jason Michael K. Douglas, Tucson, AZ (US);
Anthony C. Mulligan, Tucson, AZ (US);
Christopher D. Troudt, Tucson, AZ (US);
Jason Michael K. Douglas, Tucson, AZ (US);
Advanced Ceramic Research, Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses provide surveillance of a convoy. At least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) obtains images around the convoy's position to provide information about potential hostile activity while the UAV follows a generally curvilinear path around the convoy as instructed by one of the convoy vehicles. Path planner algorithm software is executed by the controlling convoy vehicle in which position and velocity information regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle and the convoy are processed to determine values of control variables. The determined values are sent to the unmanned aerial vehicle over a wireless communications channel. The path of the surveillance vehicle may be changed in order to provide evasive measures to avoid an attack on the surveillance vehicle by an adversary.