Flight path determination

Abstract

A method of determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle includes identifying during flight a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location, and, in response to identifying the change, selecting a first destination within a proximity of a second location. A state of signal transmission at the second location during a previous flight is different from a state of signal transmission at the first location. The method further includes determining a first flight path to reach the first destination. The first flight path comprises accessible locations detected by one or more sensors onboard one or more aerial vehicles. The method also includes, upon reaching the first destination by the aerial vehicle, assessing in real time a state of signal transmission at the first destination, and determining a second flight path to a second destination based on the assessment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
 identifying, during flight and with aid of one or more processors, a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location;   in response to identifying the change, selecting a first destination within a proximity of a second location, wherein a state of signal transmission at the second location during a previous flight is different from a state of signal transmission at the first location;   determining a first flight path to reach the first destination, wherein the first flight path comprises accessible locations detected by one or more sensors onboard one or more aerial vehicles;   upon reaching the first destination by the aerial vehicle, assessing in real time a state of signal transmission at the first destination; and   determining a second flight path to a second destination based on the assessment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the state of signal transmission includes a loss or weakening of signal transmitted between the aerial vehicle and a remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, when the signal transmission remains lost or weakened at the first destination, determining the second flight path comprises including a location undetected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second flight path includes a location detected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight, when the signal transmission remains lost or weakened at the first destination. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second flight path includes a location undetected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight, when the state of signal transmission of the first destination returns to a normal state at the first destination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first destination is selected based on at least one of a user input, an operational status of the one or more sensors onboard the aerial vehicle, or current condition of a flight environment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second location is a location detected by the one or more sensors onboard the one or more aerial vehicles during a previous flight or a last point where signal transmission between the aerial vehicle and the remote device was successful. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flight path is a reverse of a last flight path of the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flight path comprises no locations undetected by the one or more sensors during the previous flight. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second destination is selected based on a user input from a remote device or based on real-time information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to or concurrent with selecting the second destination:
 hovering the aerial vehicle for a predetermined period of time to gather data in real time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second flight path is determined while the aerial vehicle is hovering. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when no user input is received within the predetermined period of time, the second destination is a starting point for a current flight. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when no user input is received within the predetermined period of time, selecting the second destination includes further hovering for a second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second destination is:
 a location undetected by the one or more sensors during the previous flight,   a predetermined location for the aerial vehicle to reach before identifying the change in the state of signal transmission occurring at the first location,   a starting point for a current flight, or   a service point providing services to restore a normal operational status, wherein the second flight path is determined based on a flying distance to the service point.   
     
     
         16 . A system for determining a flight path for an aerial vehicle, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the one or more processors cause the processor to perform:
 identifying during flight a change in a state of signal transmission occurring at a first location; 
 in response to identifying the change, selecting a first destination within a proximity of a second location, wherein a state of signal transmission at the second location during a previous flight is different from a state of signal transmission at the first location; 
 determining a first flight path to reach the first destination, wherein the first flight path comprises accessible locations detected by one or more sensors onboard one or more aerial vehicles; 
 upon reaching the first destination by the aerial vehicle, assessing in real time state of signal transmission at the first destination; and 
 determining a second flight path to a second destination based on the assessment. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the change in the state of signal transmission includes a loss or weakening of signal transmitted between the aerial vehicle and a remote device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein, when the signal transmission remains lost or weakened at the first destination, determining the second flight path comprises including a location undetected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second flight path includes a location detected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight, when the signal transmission remains lost or weakened at the first destination. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second flight path includes a location undetected by any of the one or more sensors of the one or more aerial vehicles during the previous flight, when the state of signal transmission of the first destination returns to a normal state at the first destination.