IP Library Granted Patent US 10,657,830
Granted Patent B2
US 10,657,830 · App. 15/082,176 · Granted May 19, 2020

Operation of an aerial drone inside an exclusion zone

Inventors: Michael S. Gordon (Yorktown Heights, NY); James R. Kozloski (New Fairfield, CT); Ashish Kundu (New York, NY); Peter K. Malkin (Ardsley, NY); Clifford A. Pickover (Yorktown Heights, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G08G5/006B64C39/024G05D1/101G05D1/106G06F21/00G08G5/0013G08G5/0069B64C2201/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,657,830
App. No.
15/082,176
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, and/or computer program product controls operations of an aerial drone within a predetermined airspace. A drone controller device detects a presence of an aerial drone. The drone controller device and the aerial drone negotiate permission to fly within a predetermined airspace under a predefined aerial drone state. In response to successfully negotiating the permission, the drone controller device enables a drone on-board computer to operate the aerial drone within the predetermined airspace in accordance with the predefined aerial drone state.

Claims (36)

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a drone controller device, a presence of an aerial drone;

negotiating, between the drone controller device and the aerial drone, permission to fly within a predetermined airspace under a predefined aerial drone state, wherein the predefined aerial drone state is an operational state of the aerial drone;

in response to successfully negotiating the permission, the drone controller device enabling a drone on-board computer to operate the aerial drone within the predetermined airspace in accordance with the predefined aerial drone state;

determining that a light on the aerial drone is currently producing more than a predefined amount of light; and

in response to determining that the light on the aerial drone is currently producing more than a predefined amount of light, allowing the aerial drone to continue to operate within the predetermined airspace.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, from the aerial drone to the drone controller device, a private authorization signal that triggers the drone controller device enabling the drone on-board computer to operate the aerial drone within the predetermined airspace.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined airspace is around a moving vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the drone controller, that the moving vehicle is carrying a payload of dangerous cargo; and

in response to determining that the moving vehicle is carrying the payload of dangerous cargo, maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the aerial drone and the moving vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, by the drone controller device, that the aerial drone has entered the predetermined airspace; and

in response to detecting that the aerial drone has entered the predetermined airspace, directing, by the drone controller device, the aerial drone to decelerate based on a physical size of the aerial drone.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

negotiating, by one or more processors, the permission based on an agreement that the aerial drone will perform a specified aerobatic trick within the predetermined airspace.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises: determining a noise level generated by the aerial drone is greater than a predetermined level due to the aerial drone being propelled by an internal combustion engine; and in response to determining that the noise level generated by the aerial drone is greater than the predetermined level, shutting down the internal combustion engine and turning on an electric motor to propel the aerial drone.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

allowing the aerial drone to operate with the predetermined airspace only if the aerial drone operates at a speed that is greater than a predefined speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling a chemical sensor on the aerial drone while disabling a camera on the aerial drone while the aerial drone is operating within the predetermined airspace.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by a drone controller device, a presence of an aerial drone;

negotiating, between the drone controller device and the aerial drone, permission to fly within a predetermined airspace under a predefined aerial drone state, wherein the predefined aerial drone state is an operational state of the aerial drone;

in response to successfully negotiating the permission, the drone controller device enabling a drone on-board computer to operate the aerial drone within the predetermined airspace in accordance with the predefined aerial drone state; and

enabling a chemical sensor on the aerial drone while disabling a camera on the aerial drone while the aerial drone is operating within the predetermined airspace.

10. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer readable memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to detect a presence of an aerial drone;

program instructions to negotiate permission to fly within a predetermined airspace under a predefined aerial drone state, wherein the predefined aerial drone state is an operational state of the aerial drone;

program instructions to, in response to successfully negotiating the permission, enable a drone on-board computer to operate the aerial drone within the predetermined airspace in accordance with the predefined aerial drone state; and

program instructions to enable a chemical sensor on the aerial drone while disabling a camera on the aerial drone while the aerial drone is operating within the predetermined airspace.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , further comprising:

program instructions to detect a moving mobile entity; and

program instructions to define the predetermined airspace as a predetermined range of changing airspace around the moving mobile entity.

12. The computer system of claim 10 , further comprising:

program instructions to negotiate the permission by sending a signal to a remuneration control system in order to enable a predefined financial agreement with an entity associated with the aerial drone.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: GORDON, MICHAEL S.; KOZLOSKI, JAMES R.; KUNDU, ASHISH; MALKIN, PETER K.; PICKOVER, CLIFFORD A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038111/0730 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170278404A1 · Sep 28, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,706,955