Unmanned aerial vehicle entry into a geofenced area
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a propulsion system, a processor, a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to perform operations. The operations include, in response to a determination that the unmanned aerial vehicle is near a boundary of a geofenced area associated with a destination location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, sending an access request, via the transmitter, to an access controller associated with the geofenced area. The operations include receiving, via the receiver in response to the access request, access permission. The operations also include, responsive to receiving the access permission, engaging the propulsion system to proceed across the boundary.
1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a propulsion system;
a processor;
a transmitter coupled to the processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
in response to a determination that the unmanned aerial vehicle is near a boundary of a geofenced area associated with a destination location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, send an access request and first identification information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, via the transmitter, to an access controller associated with the geofenced area, wherein the access request includes a passcode associated with a service to be performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle, second identification information associated with a service provider, and third identification information associated with a provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the access controller determines whether to grant access based on the passcode, the first identification information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the second identification information associated with the service provider, and the third identification information associated with the provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
receive, via the receiver, access permission to the geofenced area; and
responsive to receipt of the access permission, engage the propulsion system to proceed across the boundary.
2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a location system coupled to the processor and configured to provide location data to the processor.
3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to add an identifier of the geofenced area to an exception list based on receipt of the access permission, and wherein presence of the identifier in the exception list enables the unmanned aerial vehicle to enter the geofenced area.
4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the passcode enables entry past the boundary during a particular time window.
5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to generate an alert based on a determination that arrival at the geofenced area would occur during a prohibited time period associated with the passcode.
6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein particular geofence data associated with the boundary is received by the receiver from the access controller.
7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein particular geofence data associated with the boundary is received by the receiver from a geofence database based on a location of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
8 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to, in response to the determination that the unmanned aerial vehicle is near the boundary of the geofenced area, cause the propulsion system to stop forward motion of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the access permission is received at the receiver from a device associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.
10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to remove a geofence identifier from an exception list after an authorization time elapses.
11 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a payload, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to release the payload in response to arrival at the destination location.
12 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a camera system, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to take surveillance images via the camera system in response to arrival at the destination location.
13 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the access permission includes an updated destination location, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to replace the destination location with the updated destination location.
14 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the access permission further includes an entry path to the destination location, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the propulsion system to proceed to the destination location via the entry path.
15 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the access permission further includes an exit path away from the destination location, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the propulsion system to proceed away from the destination location via the exit path.
16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by one or more processors of an unmanned aerial vehicle to:
in response to a determination that the unmanned aerial vehicle is near a boundary of a geofenced area associated with a destination location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, cause a transmitter to send an access request and first identification information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle to an access controller associated with the geofenced area, wherein the access request includes a passcode associated with a service to be performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle, second identification information associated with a service provider, and third identification information associated with a provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the access controller determines whether to grant access based on the passcode, the first identification information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the second identification information associated with the service provider, and the third identification information associated with the provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
receive access permission to the geofenced area; and
in response to receipt of the access permission, engage a propulsion system of the unmanned aerial vehicle to proceed across the boundary.
17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to add an identifier of the geofenced area to an exception list based on receipt of the access permission, wherein presence of the identifier in the exception list enables the unmanned aerial vehicle to enter the geofenced area.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to receive regional geofence data from a regional geofence database.
19 . A method comprising:
receiving, at an access controller associated with a geofenced area, first identification information broadcast by an unmanned aerial vehicle;
receiving, at the access controller, an access request from the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the access request includes a passcode associated with a service to be performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle, second identification information associated with a service provider, and third identification information associated with a provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
determining, by the access controller based on the passcode, the first identification information broadcast by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the second identification information associated with the service provider, and the third identification information associated with the provider of the unmanned aerial vehicle, whether to grant the unmanned aerial vehicle access to the geofenced area; and
sending, from the access controller to the unmanned aerial vehicle, access permission based on the determination to grant access.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising, based on a determination to deny the unmanned aerial vehicle access to the geofenced area, sending an access denial alert to a representative associated with the geofenced area.