US 12,223,846 B2
Method for planning the operation of an aerial vehicle, control unit for an aerial vehicle and aerial vehicle with such a control unit
Markus Ortlieb, Karlsruhe (DE); and Florian-Michael Adolf, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Assigned to Volocopter GmbH, Bruchsal (DE)
Filed by Volocopter GmbH, Bruchsal (DE)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/699,246.
Claims priority of application No. 102021106868.1 (DE), filed on Mar. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0301446 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G08G 5/00 (2006.01); G08G 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 5/0034 (2013.01) [G08G 5/0013 (2013.01); G08G 5/0056 (2013.01); G08G 5/006 (2013.01); G08G 5/0069 (2013.01); G08G 5/045 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for planning an operation of an aerial vehicle, said operation being divided into different flight phases each having an individualized planning methodology, the flight phases including at least two of a takeoff phase, a landing phase, a final approach phase, and a corridor phase, each individualized planning methodology being individually validatable and inspectable, the method comprising:
pre-processing data on a ground-located computer basis before takeoff of the aerial vehicle to generate one or more flight paths for each flight phase of the different flight phases, wherein the pre-pre-processing includes preparing available data records and preplanning of a set of flight paths for each flight phase that is as complete as possible of all flight paths relevant during operation;
taking along pre-planned results of the one or more flight paths for each flight phase as a database on board the aerial vehicle;
combining the pre-planned results for the different flight phases using a computer-based decision logic with planning steps at a time of flying in accordance with a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors for generating a current flight path based on the one or more flight paths for the different flight phases; and
controlling the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.