IP Library Granted Patent US 11,693,400
Granted Patent B2
US 11,693,400 · App. 16/642,372 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicle control system, unmanned aerial vehicle control method, and program

Inventors: Junji Torii (Tokyo, JP); Jun Takizawa (Chino, JP)
Assignee: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
G05D1/0022B64C39/024G05D1/0016G05D1/101B64U10/13B64U2201/10B64U2201/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,693,400
App. No.
16/642,372
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

To ensure stability of flying by an unmanned aerial vehicle, first acquisition means of an unmanned aerial vehicle control system acquires first information, which is at least one piece of information for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle that is flying or information on a result of detecting an operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Second acquisition means acquires second information for operating the unmanned aerial vehicle after switching of control of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Flight control means restricts, in accordance with the first information and the second information, switching to control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second information.

Claims (27)

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle control system, comprising at least one processor configured to:

execute first control of an unmanned aerial vehicle based on first instruction information from a first wireless operation device;

acquire first information, which is at least one piece of the first instruction information or information based on a result of detecting an operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

wherein the first information includes information on at least one of a first movement direction and first movement speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

acquire second instruction information for operating the unmanned aerial vehicle from a second wireless operation device;

wherein the second instruction information includes information on at least one of a second movement direction and second movement speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

compare the first movement direction or first movement speed of the first information and the corresponding second movement direction or second movement speed of the second instruction information and then determine whether or not the first information and the second instruction information match each other or are similar to each other;

wherein the processor

permit switching from the first control to a second control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second instruction information without switching to an autonomous flight mode, if it is determined that the first information and the second instruction information match each other or are similar to each other; and

restrict switching from the first control to the second control if it is not determined that the first information and the second instruction information match each other or are similar to each other.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

acquire the first instruction information as the first information, and

restrict switching based on the first instruction information and the second instruction information.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to restrict switching based on whether the first instruction information and the second instruction information match each other.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

switch control from the first control to the second control when the control is enabled to be switched to control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second instruction information and a predetermined switching request is acquired from a wireless operation device, and

issue a predetermined notification in the wireless operation device when the control is enabled to be switched to the control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second instruction information.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to issue a predetermined notification in the first wireless operation device or the second wireless operation device when control is switched to control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second information.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to notify, when switching is restricted, information for canceling the restriction in the first wireless operation device or the second wireless operation device.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to restrict switching when a predetermined switching request for switching to control of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the second instruction information is acquired.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first wireless operation device and the second wireless operation device to make a phone call to each other when the first control is to be switched to the second control.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to gradually switch to the second control.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes the at least one processor.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein autonomous flight mode comprises any operation without being given an instruction by a user.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle flies according to the first instruction information before the at least one processor acquires the second instruction information.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 13, 2021
From: RAKUTEN, INC.
To: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 056845/0831 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2020
From: NYARO COMPUTER, INC.
To: RAKUTEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 052759/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2020
From: TORII, JUNJI; TAKIZAWA, JUN
To: RAKUTEN, INC.; NYARO COMPUTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 052093/0111 →
Continuity (1)
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