Patent Assignment

1.      Methods for adaptive control in a UAV (drone) carrying a hanging load

a.      1000000800044

b.      with a feedback linearization controller (FLC)

2.      A micro-aerial vehicle with built-in methods for running on land, landing, takeoff, and flying

a.      US 20140319266 A1

3.      Method for automatically changing the altitude of a drone in anticipation of doing a flip, and then doing the flip

a.      US 20130006448 A1

4.      Method to send drone information to users connected via iOS devices

a.      US 20120299751 A1

5.      A device with a touchscreen used to communicate with the drone, and it’s appropriate methods

a.      US 20110221692 A1

6.      An application that allows user to receive real-time aerial imagery from drones

a.      US 20120299751 A1

7.      A modular drone

a.      US 20140277854 A1

8.      Method for deploying a parachute on a drone

a.      7643887

9.      A type of drone made for investigating closed environments

a.      51752823

10.   A device for launching and recovering a drone, and a drone designed to complement the device

a.      US 20120292430 A1

11.   Generic drone control system

a.      25449387

12.   System for sending virtual shots between drones fitted with ID beacons

a.      US 20110299732 A1

b.      the victim recognizes itself in the image of the attacker

13.   A device shaped like a ring which absorbs vibrations of the drone and can hold a sensory device within it

a.      US 20120234969 A1

14.   A drone designed for railway maintenance

a.      US 20130220162 A1

15.   Control system for drones using a pair of stick controls

a.      25021972

16.   Controlling drone’s acceleration through feedback from another accelerating object

a.      22577543

17.   Target Seeking Simulator

a.      25503929

18.   Fire Detection System Using AI

a.      24206901

19.   Precision parachute recovery system

a.      24961033

20.   Methods and apparatus for vision-based object-tracking

a.      US 20130272570 A1

b.      library of images

c.      optical flow module

d.      decision forest module

e.      color tracking module

21.   Systems and methods for vision-based target tracking, designed for use by a UAV

a.      54290321

22.   Methods and systems for swapping the battery in a drone, using an energy station

a.      54106948

23.   Methods for having a UAV extract energy from a transmission line (power line?)

a.      39596616

24.   Abstract idea for resources to be passed from a self-sacrificing drone to a main drone (i.e. a power supply)

a.      US 20130132317 A1

25.   Methods, systems, and apparatus for simulating swarm behaviour in drones

a.      US patent: 9,104,201

b.      also supports controlling the drones to move along a path while maintaining the formation through a minimum-distance-to-other-drones requirement

AREAS OF FUTURE INNOVATION

1.   Reference #23 and #22 remind me of the recent ideas relating to charging a battery remotely (probably something with a strong magnetic field around it). I’m not sure exactly how it works, but I think this method of wireless charging could be used to help drones fly without having to land

2.   References #20,  #21,  #12, and #25 suggest that UAVs could collectively send data to a single control center, which could create maps, etc. with the total data and send individualized controls to each of the drones based upon what the center knows about the environment. Basically, the drones could use each other's video feeds to know what they cannot see.

3.   In general, a problem with drones seems to be the low amount of power they can store. Future innovation could offer energy-reducing methods for flying the drone, like

a.      making it lighter

i.       lighter materials

ii.      perhaps incorporate a form of induced positive buoyancy, like attaching a small zeppelin-like component filled with helium

b.      lessening motor friction

c.      shrinking components

d.      creating a more efficient battery