Systems and methods for configurable user interfaces

Abstract

A user interface presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be presented to facilitate the ease of operation of the UAV. The information displayed in the user interface may be customized by the operator to display selected data. The display configuration data may be saved and imported into other systems for future use. Various entities related to one or more UAVs may be presented in a hierarchical tree structure illustrating the relationship between the entities. Electronic checklists may be presented to a user to facilitate addressing common and emergency situations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 presenting a first user interface to a user, the first user interface comprising:
 a first section having a first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data, the first plurality of selectable fields related in a first manner; 
   a second section having a second plurality of selectable fields associated with the UAV flight data, the second plurality of selectable fields related in a second manner;   accepting first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, and second user selected fields of the second plurality of selectable fields;   accepting a user command to move at least one of the first section and the second section within the user interface to a user determined location;   accepting a user command in the user interface to save the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location;   in response to the accepted user command, accepting a name for the user interface in a text box presented in the first user interface and saving user interface attributes including the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location in association with the name for the user interface;   presenting a second user interface to the user, the second user interface comprising:
 the first section having the user selected first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 the second section having the user selected second plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 wherein the at least one of the first section and the second section is disposed at the user determined location; 
   controlling the UAV at least in part using the second user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface attributes further comprise display color and text characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface attributes are saved in a configuration data file. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an export control; and   the method further comprises:
 accepting a user selection of the export control; and 
 in response to the user selection of the export control, exporting the user interface attributes to for use by another user interface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an import control; and   the method further comprises:
 accepting a user selection of the import control; and 
 in response to the user selection of the import control, importing other user interface attributes from another user interface. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of selectable fields are related to UAV autopilot set points. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of selectable fields are related an approach of an autopilot of the UAV. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 means for presenting a first user interface to a user, the first user interface comprising:
 a first section having a first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data, the first plurality of selectable fields related in a first manner; 
 a second section having a second plurality of selectable fields associated with the UAV flight data, the second plurality of selectable fields related in a second manner; 
   means for accepting first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, and second user selected fields of the second plurality of selectable fields;   means for accepting a user command to move at least one of the first section and the second section within the user interface to a user determined location;   means for accepting a user command in the user interface to save the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location;   means for, in response to the accepted user command, accepting a name for the user interface in a text box presented in the first user interface and saving user interface attributes including the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location in association with the name for the user interface;   means for presenting a second user interface to the user, the second user interface comprising:
 the first section having the user selected first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 the second section having the user selected second plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 wherein the at least one of the first section and the second section is disposed at the user determined location; 
   means for controlling the UAV at least in part using the second user interface.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface attributes further comprise display color and text characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface attributes are saved in a configuration data file. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an export control; and   the apparatus further comprises:
 means for accepting a user selection of the export control; and 
 means for, in response to the user selection of the export control, exporting the user interface attributes to for use by another user interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an import control; and   the apparatus further comprises:
 means for accepting a user selection of the import control; and 
 means for in response to the user selection of the import control, importing other user interface attributes from another user interface. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of selectable fields are related to UAV autopilot set points. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of selectable fields are related an approach of an autopilot of the UAV. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a processor;   a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions comprising instructions for:
 presenting a first user interface to a user, the first user interface comprising:
 a first section having a first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data, the first plurality of selectable fields related in a first manner; 
 a second section having a second plurality of selectable fields associated with the UAV flight data, the second plurality of selectable fields related in a second manner; 
 
 accepting first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, and second user selected fields of the second plurality of selectable fields; 
 accepting a user command to move at least one of the first section and the second section within the user interface to a user determined location; 
 accepting a user command in the user interface to save the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location; 
 in response to the accepted user command, accepting a name for the user interface in a text box presented in the first user interface and saving user interface attributes including the first user selected fields of the first plurality of selectable fields, the second user selected fields, and the user determined location in association with the name for the user interface; 
 presenting a second user interface to the user, the second user interface comprising:
 the first section having the user selected first plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 the second section having the user selected second plurality of selectable fields associated with UAV flight data replaced with UAV flight data associated with each user selected field; 
 wherein the at least one of the first section and the second section is disposed at the user determined location; 
 
 controlling the UAV at least in part using the second user interface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface attributes further comprise display color and text characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface attributes are saved in a configuration data file. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an export control; and   the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 accepting a user selection of the export control; and 
 in response to the user selection of the export control, exporting the user interface attributes to for use by another user interface. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first user interface comprises an import control; and   the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 accepting a user selection of the import control; and 
 in response to the user selection of the import control, importing other user interface attributes from another user interface. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of selectable fields are related to UAV autopilot set points, and the second plurality of selectable fields are related an approach of an autopilot of the UAV.