Patent application EP18177057A (EP), filed 2018-06-11
Publication number: EP3416015A1
Title: AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
Abstract: Described embodiments include a method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (20). The method includes receiving a signal (36) that indicates a configuration of a crane (30), computing, in response to the signal, a flight path (50) that passes under a boom (40) of the crane while circumventing the crane, and causing the UAV to follow the computed flight path, by transmitting flight instructions to the UAV. Other embodiments are also described.
IPC codes: G05D   1/    00            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: An apparatus for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); the apparatus comprising a receiver (37), a transmitter (37), and a processor (31); wherein the processor (31) is configured:
number: 2
text: The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compute the flight path by:
number: 3
text: The apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the processor is further configured:
number: 4
text: The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the portion of the crane to which the position sensor is coupled is selected from the group of portions of the crane consisting of: the boom of the crane, a trolley of the crane, and a hook that hangs from the boom of the crane.
number: 5
text: The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the processor is configured to compute the flight path by:
number: 6
text: The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to ascertain the current configuration of the crane by ascertaining an angle of rotation of the boom of the crane.
number: 7
text: The apparatus according to any one of claims 5-6, wherein the processor is configured to ascertain the current configuration of the crane by ascertaining a distance from the tower to the portion of the crane to which the position sensor is coupled.
number: 8
text: The apparatus according to any one of claims 5-7, wherein the processor is configured to compute the flight path by:
number: 9
text: The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8,
wherein the processor is further configured:
number: 10
text: A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (20), the method comprising:
number: 11
text: The method according to claim 10, wherein the signal is generated by an internal tracking system of the crane.
number: 12
text: The method according to claim 10, wherein the signal is generated by a position sensor coupled to a portion of the crane such that the signal indicates the configuration of the crane by indicating coordinates of the position sensor,
the configuration of the crane changing over time due at least to movement of the portion of the crane relative to a tower of the crane.
number: 13
text: The method according to claim 12, wherein computing the flight path comprises:
number: 14
text: The method according to claim 13, further comprising:
number: 15
text: The method according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein the portion of the crane to which the position sensor is coupled is selected from the group of portions of the crane consisting of: a boom of the crane, a trolley of the crane, and a hook that hangs from the boom of the crane.
Office action: search_report, dated 2018-12-19
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
Prior art cited: ref_id: WO2016165883A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US8144000B2
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP2520532A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: WO2009084820A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2016225267A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: WO2017208133A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2013124020A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2014149004A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2016253808A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2013124020
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2014149004
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2016253808
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: WO2017208133
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
Final disposition: pending (2018-12-19)