Virtual radar system for unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

In various embodiments, a safety system for an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) enable the safe operation of the UAV within an airspace by or exampe initiating various actions based on the position of the UAV relative to one or more flight zones and/or relative to other aircraft in the airspace.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A safety system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operable within an airspace, the system comprising:
 a computer processor;   a memory;   one or more sensors for sensing at least one of a position of the UAV, a velocity of the UAV, or a heading of the UAV;   a hybrid surveillance module for monitoring radio transmissions from aircraft in proximity to the UAV;   a plurality of radio transceivers each operating on a different frequency; and   a failsafe trigger module for operating a disabling mechanism configured to disable the UAV during operation thereof,   wherein the computer processor is configured to, when the UAV is in motion within the airspace, (i) form a wireless ad hoc network with one or more other UAVs that are in motion within the airspace, and (ii) only when the UAV is designated as a master node in the wireless ad hoc network, broadcast collision alerts to other aircraft (a) within the airspace and (b) not within the wireless ad hoc network.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node or a slave node in the wireless ad hoc network based on, at least in part, proximity to an aircraft within the airspace. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node when the UAV is the closest UAV to the other aircraft. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node or a slave node in the wireless ad hoc network based on, at least in part, a size of the UAV relative to sizes of the one or more other UAVs. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node or a slave node in the wireless ad hoc network based on, at least in part, a transmission power of at least one of the radio transceivers of the UAV relative to transmission powers of radio transceivers, if present, of the one or more other UAVs. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node or a slave node in the wireless ad hoc network based on, at least in part, a remaining power supply of the UAV relative to remaining power supplies of the one or more other UAVs. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as the master node in the wireless ad hoc network when at least one of the one or more other UAVs lack capability to broadcast collision alerts to the other aircraft. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more other UAVs lacks capability to broadcast collision alerts to the other aircraft. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to determine whether the other aircraft are UAVs or manned aircraft. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to broadcast collision alerts to other aircraft only when the other aircraft are within a predetermined distance from the UAV or from at least one said other UAV. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to, when the collision alert is broadcast from the UAV, decrease a transmission power of the collision alert so that the collision alert is receivable only within a predetermined distance from the UAV. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to designate the UAV as a slave node in the wireless ad hoc network when the hybrid surveillance module and/or at least one radio transceiver is damaged or inoperable. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the UAV is configured to be operated by a first operator. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the computer processor is configured to form the wireless ad hoc network with the one or more other UAVs only when the one or more other UAVs are operated by the first operator. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the computer processor is configured to form the wireless ad hoc network with the one or more other UAVs when at least one of the one or more other UAVs are operated by a second operator different from the first operator. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of a global positioning system unit, a camera, or an inertial measurement unit. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the hybrid surveillance module comprises at least one of:
 an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) transceiver operating at a frequency of 1090 MHz; or   a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) transceiver.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of radio transceivers comprises at least one of:
 a cellular radio transceiver;   a VHF radio transceiver;   a UHF radio transceiver; or   a data link for communicating with other UAVs.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the data link operates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the disabling mechanism comprises at least one of a kill switch or a parachute.