US 11,686,556 B2
Operational section of armored vehicles communicating with a fleet of drones
Bernard Clermont, Fleron (BE)
Assigned to JOHN COCKERILL DEFENSE SA, Loncin (BE)
Appl. No. 17/427,668
Filed by JOHN COCKERILL DEFENSE SA, Loncin (BE)
PCT Filed Dec. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/086080
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 2, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/160828, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19155196 (EP), filed on Feb. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0136807 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. F41H 11/02 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); F41H 7/02 (2006.01); B64U 101/20 (2023.01)
CPC F41H 11/02 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 2101/20 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01); F41H 7/02 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for performing a collaborative and smart mission assigned over a determined area, the system comprising:
a plurality of land bases configured to communicate with one another by communication, analysis, and/or examination means; and
at least one satellite drone associated with each base of the plurality of land bases, each satellite drone of the at least one satellite drone being configured to perform the assigned mission or part of the assigned mission, such that different drones of the at least one satellite drone form a flotilla whose members are configured to communicate with each other and directly or indirectly with the plurality of land bases by communication, analysis, and/or examination means respectively assigned to relations of the different drones with each other and of the plurality of land bases with the different drones,
wherein the mission is assigned by the plurality of land bases to the flotilla of drones in one or several determined zones, distal from the plurality of land bases, such that, once the mission is assigned to the drones by the plurality of land bases, the communication, analysis, and/or inspection means are configured to generate a collaborative and autonomous action of the drones so as to carry out the mission in a smart and streamlined manner, the autonomous action comprising an at least temporary interruption in communication and examination with/by the plurality of land bases,
wherein the system further comprises:
an examination system configured to compile requests from the plurality of land bases and to communicate the requests to a management system of the drones, the management system being configured to optimize use, manage a deployment of the drones in order to fulfill the mission, and manage a return of requested information to the plurality land bases,
wherein the management system is:
autonomous and smart, in that the management system is configured to manage itself in whole or in part, independently of any human operator or an outside environment, and
collaborative, in that, based on a connectivity between members of the management system, the management system calls on collaboration and participation of each of its members, owing to computer tools configured to share and exchange information, such that the drones organize themselves to perform the mission.