Unmanned aerial vehicle privacy controls
Disclosed in this specification are methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on non-transitory computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight operation and privacy controls. Based on geofence types, and UAV distance from a geofence, sensors and other devices connected to a UAV are conditionally operational. Image data collected during a UAV flight may be obfuscated by the UAV while in flight, or via a post-flight process using log data generated by the UAV.
1. A method, comprising:
determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle, while the unmanned aerial vehicle navigates along a flight path, that the unmanned aerial vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a geofence boundary;
disabling, by the unmanned aerial vehicle, use of one or more hardware components of the unmanned aerial vehicle while the unmanned aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance;
determining, while the use of the one or more hardware components is disabled, that the unmanned aerial vehicle has moved outside of the predetermined distance; and
enabling the use of the one or more hardware components based on the unmanned aerial vehicle being outside of the predetermined distance.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the geofence boundary comprises:
periodically determining, while an unmanned aerial vehicle navigates along a flight path, whether the unmanned aerial vehicle will intersect with the geofence boundary based on a current trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hardware components include a sensor, and wherein disabling the use of the one or more hardware components while the unmanned aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance comprises:
performing a privacy operation to preclude use of the sensor while the unmanned aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance.
4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
logging, in connection with the performance of the privacy operation, one or more of a name of the sensor, an identifier of the sensor, a current date, a current time, or current geospatial coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
obtaining, by the unmanned aerial vehicle, data indicative of a geofence associated with the geofence boundary prior to a navigation of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle obtains the data indicative of the geofence from one of a ground control station in communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle or a flight planning system associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle obtains the data indicative of the geofence by wirelessly accessing, over a network, a site that contains privacy geofences.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle obtains the data indicative of the geofence by generating the geofence.
9. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
determine, based on an aerial vehicle being within a predetermined distance of a geofence boundary while the aerial vehicle navigates along a current flight path, whether to maintain the current flight path;
disable, based on a determination to maintain the current flight path, use of one or more hardware components of the aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance; and
enable, based on the aerial vehicle moving outside of the predetermined distance, the use of the one or more hardware components.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
calculate, based on a determination not to maintain the current flight path, a new flight path for the aerial vehicle to avoid a geofence associated with the geofence boundary.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein, to determine whether to maintain the current flight path, the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
determine a geofence type associated with the geofence boundary using geofence data stored within a computer system of the aerial vehicle.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
obtain the geofence data prior to a navigation of the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein, to determine whether to maintain the current flight path, the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
compare a current location of the aerial vehicle and a location of the geofence boundary against a current trajectory of the aerial vehicle.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the comparison is periodically performed while the aerial vehicle navigates along the current flight path.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein disabling the use of the one or more hardware components prevents a capture, by the aerial vehicle, of an image of a structure within a geofence associated with the geofence boundary.
16. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a sensor;
a storage configured to store data associated with a geofence; and
a computer system configured to:
disable, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle being within a predetermined distance of a geofence boundary associated with the geofence while the unmanned aerial vehicle navigates along a flight path, use of the sensor; and
determine, while the use of the sensor is disabled, that the unmanned aerial vehicle has moved outside of the predetermined distance; and
enable, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle being outside of the predetermined distance, the use of the sensor.
17. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the computer system is configured to:
determine, while the unmanned aerial vehicle navigates along the flight path, that the unmanned aerial vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the geofence boundary based on a current trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
18. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the computer system is configured to:
determine whether to maintain the flight path or calculate a new flight path to avoid the geofence.
19. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the computer system is configured to:
obtain the data associated with the geofence from a source external to the unmanned aerial vehicle.
20. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the sensor is a camera and the computer system is configured to disable the use of the sensor by causing the camera to point away from the geofence.