Cooperative target execution system for unmanned aerial vehicle networks

1. An integrated decision making and communication system comprising a first device and a plurality of other functionally similar devices communicatively linked to the first device:

wherein the first and each of the plurality of other functionally similar devices contains:

a memory to store a list of targeting resources necessary to execute a mission;

a transceiver to send and receive targeting, resource availability and allocation, and flight status data between communicatively linked devices; and

a processor to enable the first device to:

identify a set of available targeting resources capable of executing the mission based on the data received from the devices;

compare the list of targeting resources necessary to execute the mission from the memory with the set of available targeting resources; and

identify a combination of the devices to execute the mission based on the comparison of the list of targeting resources necessary to execute the mission, device flight status, the set of available targeting resources, and a trust factor of the plurality of other functionally similar devices, wherein the trust factor comprises a reputation of each of the functionally similar devices based on their performance on prior missions and the extent to which the first device can trust that any of the plurality of functionally similar devices can execute the mission;

wherein the first device is configured to autonomously store, transceive, and process the targeting, resource availability and allocation, and flight status data without control by a centralized base station;

wherein the integrated decision making and communications system does not rely on the control of the centralized base station; and

wherein the transceiver of the first device further:

transmits a proposal to the plurality of other functionally similar devices to request the plurality of other functionally similar devices to combine their available targeting resources to execute the mission; and

receives responses from the plurality of other functionally similar devices of whether they agree to utilize their available targeting resources to execute the mission, or disagree, and elect to retain their available targeting resources for subsequent missions; and

wherein each of the plurality of other functionally similar devices' received responses in agreement or disagreement to execute the mission are cumulated so as to identify the trust factor for selection in future missions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor instructs the transceiver to send messages to the identified combination of the devices to execute the mission.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the first device groups the plurality of other functionally similar devices based on possible combinations of devices comprising targeting resources capable of executing the mission.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor of the first device selects the group of the plurality of other functionally similar devices comprising a most efficient utilization of the available targeting resources to execute the mission in a predetermined period of time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the devices comprise unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

6. A non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed cause a processor of a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to:

determine targeting resources used to execute a mission;

generate a set of available targeting resources capable of executing the mission from a group of UAVs in communication with the first UAV;

compare the targeting resources used for executing the mission with the set of available targeting resources;

identify a combination of the UAVs to assist in executing the mission based on the comparison of the targeting resources used for executing the mission, the set of available targeting resources, each UAV's agreement to assist in executing the mission, and a trust factor of each UAV based on each UAV's agreement or disagreement to assist in previous mission executions, wherein the trust factor comprises a reputation of each UAV based on their performance on prior missions and the extent to which the first UAV can trust that any of the group of UAVs can execute the mission; and

wherein the processor does not rely on the control of a centralized base station.

7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

identify the group of UAVs; and

transmit a request to the group of UAVs to send to the first UAV the available targeting resources for each of the UAVs in order to generate the set of available targeting resources capable of executing the mission.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to generate the set of available targeting resources capable of executing the mission based on an assessment of which combination of the available targeting resources from the group of UAVs best maximizes an efficiency in executing the mission.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to filter out any UAVs from the group of UAVs based on a past performance of executing other missions.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to filter out any UAVs from the group of UAVs based on a real-time assessment of a performance of any of the UAVs utilization of its available targeting resources in executing the mission.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to filter out any UAVs from the group of UAVs that decline to offer available targeting resources in executing the mission.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

select the combination of the UAVs to assist in executing the mission; and

transmit a coalition message to the selected UAVs to execute the mission.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

generate the set of available targeting resources capable of executing the mission based on assigning a predetermined value to each of the available targeting resources provided by each of the UAVs; and

determine which combination of UAVs corresponds to the predetermined value of the available targeting resources to complete the mission without overspending the available targeting resources.

14. A method of autonomously assessing a cooperative performance of a task, the method comprising:

operating a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to search for a target;

upon locating the target, assessing a requirement for the first UAV to perform the task relating to the target;

transmitting a first electronic message to other UAVs capable of assisting the first UAV in performing the task;

receiving at least one second electronic message from the other UAVs identifying available resources from each of the other UAVs to perform the task; and

determining which combination of the other UAVs is best capable of assisting the first UAV in performing the task based on a predefined criterion;

wherein the predefined criterion includes a trust factor of each UAV based on each UAV's agreement or disagreement to assist in previous mission executions, wherein the trust factor comprises a reputation of each UAV based on their performance on prior missions and the extent to which the first UAV can trust that any of the group of UAVs can execute the mission; and

determining which of the other UAVs is willing to assist in performing the task; and

wherein the autonomously assessing the cooperative performance of a task does not rely on the control of a centralized base station.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

selecting the combination of the other UAVs that is best capable of assisting, trusted to assist, and willing to assist the first UAV in performing the task; and

transmitting a third electronic message to the other UAVs requesting the selected combination of the other UAVs to assist the first UAV in performing the task.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising performing the task using the first UAV with the selected combination of the other UAVs.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the combination of the other UAVs based on any of a time required to perform the task, resource allocation capable of being provided by the other UAVs, the trust factor associated with the other UAVs, a likelihood of performance of the task based on the available resources from each of the other UAVs, and a willingness to assist in the performance of the task.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the other UAVs comprise a different available resource to assist the first UAV in performing the task.