Deployment mechanism, communication and operation for a host-parasite drone system
A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
1. A carrier aerial vehicle system, comprising:
a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight;
a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight;
a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles; and
a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
2. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is detachable from the carrier aerial vehicle system.
3. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein the retention mechanism includes an embedded proximity tag that contains a list of proximity identifiers on the retention mechanism ordered by position on the retention mechanism.
4. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein the retention mechanism is coupled to a deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles via a collar.
5. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 4 , wherein the collar includes a keyed face.
6. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising a second communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wirelessly communicate with a ground control station.
7. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein the communication component is configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles via a first frequency and the second communication component is configured to wirelessly communicate with the ground control station via a second frequency.
8. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the communication component is configured to send to a deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles a command to release from the retention mechanism.
9. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 8 , wherein in response to receiving the command, the deployable parasite aerial vehicle is configured to detach itself from the retention mechanism.
10. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 9 , wherein the deployable parasite aerial vehicle is configured to wait a period of time before engaging propulsion components associated with the deployable parasite aerial vehicle.
11. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 8 , wherein the command is sent to the deployable parasite aerial vehicle based on a placement location of the deployable parasite aerial vehicle on the retention mechanism with respect to one or more other deployable parasite aerial vehicles of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
12. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the communication component is configured to receive corresponding proximity identifiers from each of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
13. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the position on the retention mechanism for each of the deployable parasite aerial vehicles based on the corresponding proximity identifiers.
14. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to update a data structure to indicate the position on the retention mechanism for each of the deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
15. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a plurality of attachment openings.
16. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 15 , wherein a deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles is attached to the retention mechanism via an attachment opening of the plurality of attachment openings.
17. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 16 , wherein the deployable parasite aerial vehicle is attached to the attachment opening via a release pin.
18. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a plurality of proximity tags.
19. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 18 , wherein each of the proximity tags is associated with a corresponding proximity identifier.
20. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is coupled to the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles including by having the retention mechanism inserted through corresponding collars of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
21. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein corresponding radios associated with the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are configured to be in a reduced radio power state when being transported to a deployment location.
22. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are configured to communicate with the communication component using a reduced data rate when being transported to a deployment location.
23. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein corresponding propulsion components of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are configured to be in a disengaged propeller state when being transported to a deployment location.
24. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the deployable parasite aerial vehicles include corresponding release mechanisms.
25. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the deployable parasite aerial vehicles include corresponding sets of holes, hollow areas, or recessions.
26. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein corresponding global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals associated with the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are attenuated when the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are coupled to the carrier aerial vehicle system.
27. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles are configured to use their corresponding GNSS signals after being released from the carrier aerial vehicle system.
28. The carrier aerial vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles includes a corresponding proximity tag.