IP Library Granted Patent US 12,512,788
Granted Patent B2
US 12,512,788 · App. 18/337,412 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Control device, computer readable storage medium, system, and control method

Inventor: Koji Fujimoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SoftBank Corp.
H02S50/15B64D41/00B64U50/31G05D1/106H02S10/40H02S50/00B64D27/353B64U2101/10B64U2101/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,512,788
App. No.
18/337,412
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a control device that controls a power supply flight vehicle, the control device including a control unit which controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted. Provided is a control method to control a power supply flight vehicle, which is executed by a computer, the control method including controlling the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted.

Claims (54)

1 . A control device which controls a power supply flight vehicle, comprising:

a control unit which controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted; and

an information acquisition unit which acquires posture information of the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein the posture information is transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein on a basis of the posture information, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit, and

wherein the posture information comprises a pitch, a roll, and a yaw of the power supply target flight vehicle.

2 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the power supply target flight vehicle functions as a stratospheric platform, and

the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause the light irradiation unit to radiate light toward the solar cell panel while flying following the flight of the power supply target flight vehicle in stratosphere.

3 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the information acquisition unit acquires area information indicating a status of a flight area in which the power supply target flight vehicle is flying, the area information being transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle, and

on a basis of the area information, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit.

4 . The control device according to claim 3 , wherein

the information acquisition unit acquires power generation status information indicating a status of power generation by the solar cell panel of the power supply target flight vehicle, the power generation status information being transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle, and

on a basis of the power generation status information, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit.

5 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the information acquisition unit acquires power generation status information indicating a status of power generation by the solar cell panel of the power supply target flight vehicle, the power generation status information being transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle, and

on a basis of the power generation status information, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit.

6 . The control device according to claim 1 , comprising

an image acquisition unit which acquires a captured image of the power supply target flight vehicle captured by a camera included in the power supply flight vehicle, wherein

on a basis of the captured image, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit.

7 . The control device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit determines a status of the solar cell panel of the power supply target flight vehicle on a basis of the captured image, and controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit according to a determination result.

8 . The control device according to claim 1 , comprising

a distance acquisition unit which acquires a distance between the power supply flight vehicle and the power supply target flight vehicle, the distance being measured by a radar included in the power supply flight vehicle, wherein

on a basis of the distance, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit.

9 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause the light irradiation unit to radiate light toward the solar cell panel while flying on a larger circular flight route with respect to the power supply target flight vehicle circulating on a circular flight route.

10 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the power supply target flight vehicle has the solar cell panel on an upper surface of a wing portion, and

the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause the light irradiation unit to radiate light toward the solar cell panel while flying on an upper side of the power supply target flight vehicle.

11 . The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to adjust a positional relationship with the power supply target flight vehicle such that an irradiation direction of the light deviates from a predetermined area on ground.

12 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the power supply target flight vehicle has the solar cell panel on a lower surface of a wing portion, and

the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause the light irradiation unit to emit light toward the solar cell panel while flying under the power supply target flight vehicle.

13 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause the light irradiation unit to radiate light to a plurality of the power supply target flight vehicles in order.

14 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is mounted on the power supply flight vehicle.

15 . A system comprising:

the control device according to claim 1 ; and

the power supply flight vehicle.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein

the control device is arranged on ground, and

the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle by transmitting instruction data to the power supply flight vehicle.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to function as a control device which controls a power supply flight vehicle, the control device including:

a control unit which controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted; and

an information acquisition unit which acquires posture information of the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein the posture information is transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein on a basis of the posture information, the control unit controls the power supply flight vehicle to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit, and

wherein the posture information comprises a pitch, a roll, and a yaw of the power supply target flight vehicle.

18 . A control method to control a power supply flight vehicle, which is executed by a computer, the method comprising:

controlling the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted; and

acquiring posture information of the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein the posture information is transmitted by the power supply target flight vehicle,

wherein on a basis of the posture information, the controlling controls the power supply flight vehicle to adjust a direction of light radiated by the light irradiation unit, and

wherein the posture information comprises at least one of a pitch, a roll, and and/or a yaw of the power supply target flight vehicle.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: HAPSMOBILE INC.
To: SOFTBANK CORP.
Reel/Frame 066048/0600 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2023
From: FUJIMOTO, KOJI
To: HAPSMOBILE INC.
Reel/Frame 064005/0159 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-216695 · Dec 25, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021046356 · Dec 15, 2021
Related Publication 20230333573A1 · Oct 19, 2023
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