Jason C Coffman

US Patent:

20120280087, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

May 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/099955

Inventors:

Jason R. Coffman - Herndon VA, US
Lee Solomon - Fairfax VA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G05D 1/00
G05D 1/10

US Classification:

244175

Abstract:

In accordance with particular embodiments, a system includes a path creation module configured to create future flight paths for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Each future flight path comprises one or more branch points marking changes in the UAV's flight path. The system also includes a display that is configured to present a graphical user interface that may include a 3D view of a geographic area; flight paths; and a menu of commands. The system also includes a gamepad that may include two thumb-sticks to adjust the displayed geographic area and the perspective of the displayed geographic area. The gamepad also includes time buttons configured to scroll through a flight time that begins with a current actual time and ends with the end of the UAV's flight. The gamepad further includes buttons configured to select a command from the menu and to select a first future flight path of the one or more future flight paths to be sent to the UAV.