System and method for analyzing drone flight risk

Abstract

A system for analyzing risk for operating drones, the system comprising a mobile device comprising program code that when executed by a programmable processor causes the mobile device to determine a location of a user of the mobile device by accessing a location tracking system, transmit the location to a server, receive, from the server, geospatial data and temporal data for a surrounding area of the location, calculate risks of operating a drone for a duration of time in a given coverage area within the surrounding area using at least the geospatial data and temporal data, generate a quote for an insurance policy for operating the drone for the duration of time in the given coverage area based on the calculated risks, facilitate a purchase of the insurance policy with the server, and generate a timer for the duration of time for operating the drone in the given coverage area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for analyzing risk for operating drones, the system comprising:
 a mobile device comprising program code that when executed by a programmable processor causes the mobile device to:   determine a location of a user of the mobile device by accessing a location tracking system;   transmit the location to a server;   receive, from the server, geospatial data and temporal data for a surrounding area of the location;   calculate risks of operating a drone for a duration of time in a given coverage area within the surrounding area using at least the geospatial data and temporal data;   generate a quote for an insurance policy for operating the drone for the duration of time in the given coverage area based on the calculated risks;   facilitate a purchase of the insurance policy with the server; and   generate a timer for the duration of time for operating the drone in the given coverage area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device:
 monitors the location of the mobile device; 
 determines the location of the mobile device is outside the given coverage area; and 
 generates a warning to indicate that the location of the mobile device is outside the given coverage area. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the geospatial data includes aviation data, aeronautical data, weather data, highway and traffic data, building locations data, and stadia data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device calculates the risks of operating the drone for the duration of time in the given coverage area based on environmental conditions, time of day, nearby geospatial objects, drone/vehicle attributes, and operator attributes. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the insurance policy is an episodic insurance policy. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the duration of time is for a duration of at least a plurality of minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising retrieving the location of the user of the mobile device from Global Positioning System (“GPS”) satellites. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the location of the user of the mobile device is retrieved from at least one of communication from the drone, and a tracking device attached to the drone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the temporal data includes times of days that vary risk associated with geospatial objects. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the temporal data includes temporary flight restrictions and special use airspaces. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device retrieves tables associated with a plurality of carriers, the tables including risk models having a list of risk score rules to calculate geospatial data risk scores by factors including weather, wind, and proximity to geospatial objects within a minimum and maximum range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the mobile device:
 generates the quote for the insurance policy by inputting the calculated risks into the risk models; 
 calculates a pricing for the plurality of carriers; 
 selects a rate from a given carrier; and 
 determines a final rate based on the selected rate. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the given coverage area is a pre-defined radius of a circle around the location. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the given coverage area is a user-defined polygon including three or more vertices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device further:
 receives a start time for operating the drone; 
 generates the quote for the insurance policy to begin at the start time; and 
 activates the timer at the start time. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device further:
 identifies a limit condition associated with operating the drone; and 
 verifies authorized operation of the drone under the limit condition. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the limit condition comprises operating the drone in proximity to a building structure. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the limit condition comprises operating the drone in a restricted time of day. 
     
     
         19 . Non-transitory computer readable media comprising program code that when executed by a programmable processor causes execution of a method for analyzing risk for operating drones, the computer readable media comprising:
 computer program code for determining a location of a user of the mobile device by accessing a location tracking system;   computer program code for transmitting the location to a server;   computer program code for receiving, from the server, geospatial data and temporal data for a surrounding area of the location;   computer program code for calculating risks of operating a drone for a duration of time in a given coverage area within the surrounding area using at least the geospatial data and temporal data;   computer program code for generating a quote for an insurance policy for operating the drone for the duration of time in the given coverage area based on the calculated risks;   computer program code for facilitating a purchase of the insurance policy with the server; and   computer program code for generating a timer for the duration of time for operating the drone in the given coverage area.