Authentication systems and methods for generating flight regulations
Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.
1. A system for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said system comprising:
one or more communication units configured to:
receive authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receive authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV; and
receive information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an application that is configured to, with aid of one or more processors, generate a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the one or more communication units,
wherein the one or more communication units are further configured to transmit said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.
2. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors on an air control unit, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
at the air control unit:
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;
receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;
generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and
transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.
3. A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a payload onboard, comprising:
at an air control unit:
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;
receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;
receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;
generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and
transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises rendering the payload inoperational.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein rendering the payload inoperational comprises powering off the payload.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload without any restrictions.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload with one or more restrictions.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more restrictions are generated in accordance with one or more regulations.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the payload is an image capture device configured to capture static and/or dynamic images.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of: (i) recordation of one or more images and (ii) transmission of one or more images.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of: (i) a resolution at which the image capture device captures images, (ii) a zoom level of the image capture device, (iii) an aperture size of the image capture device, and (iv) a focus of the image capture device.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the image capture device from using a flash.
13. The method of claim 9 , the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a mode of the image capture device to at least one of: (i) a lighting mode, (ii) a color mode, and (iii) a static or dynamic image capture mode.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the payload is an audio capture device.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound recordation.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting audio capture device sensitivity.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined decibel range.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined frequency range.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a microphone directionality of the audio capture device.
20. The method of claim 7 , wherein the payload is a light source, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the light source to operate below a threshold intensity.
21. The method of claim 7 , wherein the payload is a speaker, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the speaker from transmitting sound.
22. The method of claim 3 , wherein the UAV comprises:
one or more propulsion units that effect flight of the UAV;
a communication module configured to receive the location-dependent payload usage parameter; and
a flight control unit configured to generate flight control signals that are delivered to the one or more propulsion units, wherein the flight control signals are generated in accordance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at a translational velocity that is at least one of:
greater than a predetermined minimum threshold velocity; and
less than a predetermined maximum threshold velocity.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at an altitude that is at least one of:
greater than a predetermined minimum threshold altitude; and
less than a predetermined maximum threshold altitude.
25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining at the air control unit that the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone, wherein:
the location-dependent payload usage parameter reflects said determination; and
the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of the UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly to a second geographical location outside the flight-restricted zone.
26. The method of claim 3 , wherein the geographical location is within an allocated space comprising an allocated volume and/or an allocated region, and wherein one or more regulations apply within the allocated space.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the flight-restricted zone is within a predetermined distance from at least one of: an airport, a public gathering place, a government property, a military property, a school, a private residence, and a power plant.
29. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving an authentication of an identity of a UAV remote controller.
30. The method of claim 3 , wherein the authentication of the identity of the UAV provides information regarding whether the UAV has been tampered or not to the air control unit.