System and method of preventing and remedying restricted area intrusions by unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

An intrusion prevention system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a UAV controller, and a restricted area data aggregator. The restricted data aggregator collects and stores restricted area data. The UAV controller is coupled to communicate with the UAV and the restricted area data aggregator, wherein the UAV controller receives positional data from the UAV and restricted area data from the restricted area aggregator. The UAV controller determines based on the received positional data and the received restricted area data whether the UAV is currently intruding within a restricted area or is predicted to intrude within a restricted area and wherein the UAV controller initiates actions to prevent unauthorized intrusions into restricted areas.

1 . A UAV controller comprising:
 a controller interface for receiving a flight path corresponding with a UAV;   a restricted area interface configured to communicated bi-directionally with a restricted area aggregator, wherein the restricted area interface provides the flight path or information corresponding with the flight path to a restricted area aggregator and receives in response spatially relevant restricted area data from the restricted area aggregator, wherein the spatially relevant restricted area data includes information identifying notifications/permissions required to enter restricted areas; and   an intrusion prevention module configured to remedy/prevent restricted area intrusions based on the flight path and spatially relevant restricted area data, wherein the intrusion prevention module generates notification/requests for access to the restricted areas intersecting with the received flight path and communicates the notifications/requests via the restricted area interface to one or both of the restricted area aggregator and owners of the restricted areas.   
     
     
         2 . The UAV controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller interface is further configured to receive position information associated with the UAV, wherein the intrusion prevention module compares position information with spatially relevant restricted area data to detect intrusions and/or predicted intrusions, wherein the intrusion prevention module remedies detected intrusions and/or predicted intrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The UAV controller of  claim 2 , wherein remedying detected intrusions and/or predicted intrusions includes generating notification/requests for access to the restricted area corresponding with the detected intrusion and/or predicted intrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The UAV controller of  claim 2 , wherein remedying detected intrusions and/or predicted intrusions includes calculating a safe position outside of the restricted area. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the intrusion prevention module calculates remediation paths in a plurality of different directions and selects the safe position from the plurality of remediation paths, wherein the safe position is not located within a restricted area. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of directions may further include increases or decreases in altitude. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the safe position is selected based, at least in part, on distance of the safe point from a current position of the UAV. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the intrusion prevention module calculates an entry point of the UAV into the restricted area, wherein the safe position is selected based on proximity to the entry point. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the UAV controller is remotely located from the UAV, wherein calculated safe positions and/or flight path instructions based on the calculated safe position are communicated to the UAV. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the safe position is selected based on proximity to a location of the UAV controller. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV controller is located on-board the UAV. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preventing and/or remedying restricted area intrusions by unmanned aerial vehicles, the method comprising:
 receiving a flight path corresponding with a UAV;   receiving spatially relevant restricted area data from a restricted area aggregator, wherein the spatially relevant restricted area data is provided in response to the received flight path of the UAV;   comparing the flight path to the spatially relevant restricted area data to predict restricted area intrusions;   generating notification/requests based on the predicted restricted area intrusions, wherein the notification/requests are generated based on information provided in the spatially relevant restricted area data; and   communicating the notification/requests to one or both of the restricted area aggregator and owners of the restricted areas.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including:
 receiving position information associated with the UAV;   comparing the position information with the spatially relevant restricted area data to detect intrusions and/or predicted intrusions; and   remedying the intrusion and/or predicted intrusion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein remedying a predicted intrusion includes generating notification/requests based on information provided in the spatially relevant restricted area data and communicating the notification/requests to one or both of the restricted area aggregator and owner of the restricted area. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein remedying a detected intrusion includes calculating a safe position to remedy the detected intrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein calculating a safe position to remedy the detected intrusion includes calculating remediation paths in a plurality of different directions and selecting the safe position from the plurality of remediation paths, wherein the safe position is not located within a restricted area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of different directions may further include increases or decreases in altitude. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the safe position is selected based, at least in part, on distance of the safe point from a current position of the UAV. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further including:
 calculating an entry point into the restricted area, wherein the safe position is selected based on proximity to the entry point.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a UAV controller is remotely located from the UAV, wherein the safe position is selected based, in part, on proximity to a location of the UAV controller.