Selection of networks for communicating with unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request for the flight path. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and determines scores for multiple networks with coverage areas covering a portion of the flight path. The device selects a particular network, from the multiple networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the multiple networks. The device causes a connection with the UAV and the particular network to be established, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a device, a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;   calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path;   determining, by the device, network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;   determining, by the device, scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path;   selecting, by the device, a particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;   causing, by the device, a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the particular network to be established;   generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path; and   providing, by the device and via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where determining the network requirements for the flight path comprises at least one of:
 determining the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;   determining the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;   determining the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;   determining the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;   determining the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;   determining the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks; or   determining the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where determining the scores for the plurality of networks comprises:
 assigning weights to information associated with the plurality of networks; and   calculating a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where selecting the particular networks further comprises:
 determining a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and   selecting the particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, network connectivity information associated with the particular network, during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and   determining whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 selecting the other particular network, from the plurality of networks, when the network connectivity information indicates that the connection with the particular network is not to be maintained; and   causing another connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the other particular network to be established.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 maintaining the connection with the particular network when the network connectivity information indicates that the connection with the particular network is to be maintained.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 one or more devices to:
 receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location; 
 calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path; 
 determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path; 
 determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path; 
 select a particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks; 
 cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the particular network to be established; 
 generate flight path instructions for the flight path; and 
 provide, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where, when determining the network requirements for the flight path, the one or more devices are further to at least one of:
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;   determine the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;   determine the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;   determine the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;   determine the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;   determine the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks; or   determine the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , where, when determining the scores for the plurality of networks, the one or more devices are further to:
 assign weights to information associated with the plurality of networks; and   calculate a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , where, when selecting the particular network, the one or more devices are further to:
 determine a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and   select the particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , where the one or more devices are further to:
 receive, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, network connectivity information associated with the particular network, during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and   determine whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , where the one or more devices are further to:
 select the other particular network, from the plurality of networks, when the network connectivity information indicates that the connection with the particular network is not to be maintained; and   cause another connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the other particular network to be established.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , where the one or more devices are further to:
 maintain the connection with the particular network when the network connectivity information indicates that the connection with the particular network is to be maintained.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium for storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location; 
 calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the request for the flight path; 
 determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path; 
 determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path; 
 select a particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks; 
 cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the particular network to be established; 
 generate flight path instructions for the flight path; and 
 provide, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location via the flight path. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , where the instructions to determine the network requirements for the flight path further comprise:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least one of:
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location; 
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; 
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks; 
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks; 
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks; 
 determine the network requirements for the flight path based on reliability associated with the plurality of networks; or 
 determine the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks. 
   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , where the instructions to determine the scores for the plurality of networks further comprise:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 assign weights to information associated with the plurality of networks; and 
 calculate a score, for each of the plurality of networks, based on the assigned weights. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , where the instructions to select the particular network further comprise:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and 
 select the particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, network connectivity information associated with the particular network, during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; 
 select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, when the network connectivity information indicates that the connection with the particular network is not to be maintained; and 
 cause another connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the other particular network to be established. 
   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
 one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 select a first network and a second network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks; 
 cause a first connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first network to be established until a particular point of the flight path; 
 cause a second connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the second network to be established at the particular point of the flight path; and 
 cause the first connection to be terminated after the second connection is established.