Protective Controls in Drone Operation
92 patents in this list
Updated:
Modern drone operations face multiple safety challenges across their flight envelope. Field data shows that battery failures, mechanical malfunctions, and environmental hazards account for over 60% of reported incidents, with loss of control and navigation errors comprising the remainder. These risks are amplified in urban environments where drone failures can affect populated areas.
The fundamental challenge lies in developing comprehensive safety systems that can predict, prevent, and respond to failures while maintaining operational efficiency and accessibility for operators.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including intelligent battery management systems, environment-aware emergency protocols, detachable warning devices, and simplified emergency control interfaces. These and other approaches focus on creating multiple layers of protection while keeping drone operations practical and cost-effective for commercial applications.
1. Robot Control Device with Machine Learning-Based Bidirectional Motion Inference
Hitachi, Ltd., 2025
Robot control device that enables autonomous recovery motion in case of abnormalities using machine learning. The device generates reverse data from forward sensor data to learn the association between forward and reverse motion directions. It then uses this learned association along with current sensor data to infer both forward and reverse motions. This allows the robot to autonomously execute recovery actions when normal motions fail due to abnormalities.
2. Rib Flanges with Spar Openings and Cable Fastening Holes for Load Distribution in Aerial Vehicle Wings
AEROVIRONMENT, INC., 2025
Rib flanges for aerial vehicle wings that improve durability and longevity of the wings. The rib flanges have specific features like spar openings, cable fastening holes, and panel connecting holes that allow optimized load transfer between the spars, ribs, and bracing cables. This configuration prevents excessive stress concentrations and fatigue failures in the wing structure. The rib flanges connect the wing ribs to the spars and provide attachment points for the bracing cables. The design distributes loads more evenly and efficiently through the wing structure for improved wing life and reliability.
3. Personal Aircraft with Fixed Non-Planar Rotors and Actuated Folding Wings
Wisk Aero LLC, 2025
Personal aircraft configuration that provides safe, quiet, efficient, and easy-to-control vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. The aircraft has multiple fixed, non-planar oriented rotors attached to the fuselage sides. This allows vertical takeoff, landing, and transition to forward flight without changing attitude. The rotor orientations provide lateral and fore/aft control without cyclic blade variation. It also enables folding the wings vertically during takeoff/landing to reduce gust response. An actuator unfolds the wings once airborne.
4. Parachute with Impact Buffer and Shape Holding Sections Featuring Trapezoidal Fabric Configuration
NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, 2025
Parachute design for quick deployment in emergency situations, like drone crashes, to reduce altitude loss and prevent falling accidents. The parachute has an impact buffer section near the top that absorbs forces when deployed, and a lower shape holding section. The buffer section is made of trapezoidal base fabrics joined with centers along the warp and weft threads. The holding section joins trapezoidal fabrics below the buffer. This configuration allows faster parachute deployment compared to conventional designs because the buffer section deploys first and allows the parachute to unfold more quickly. The holding section maintains the shape after deployment.
5. Robotic Arm System with Adjustable Haptic Constraints and Multi-Tool Accommodation for Orthopedic Surgery
MAKO Surgical Corp., 2025
Robotic system for orthopedic joint replacement surgery that allows precise implant positioning while accommodating multiple tools with different functions and configurations. The system has a robotic arm with a force feedback system that provides haptic constraints to prevent overstepping predefined cutting boundaries. The constraints are adjustable based on the specific tool being used. This allows tools like reamers and impactors to be used without modifying the robot. It also allows precise implant alignment by constraining tool movement during implantation.
6. Quick Release Rotational Coupling Device for Propellers on UAVs with Interlocking Teeth and Spring-Biased Locking Plate
ideaForge Technology Limited, 2025
Quick release device for coupling and decoupling propellers on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) without screws or bolts for faster assembly/disassembly. The device has a base fixed to the motor and a holder fixed to the propeller. The holder engages teeth on the base and recesses on the base prevent rotation. An inner plate biased outwards locks the holder. Pressing the plate moves it inwards to release. This allows quick rotational coupling/decoupling of the propeller without fasteners.
7. Dual-Controller System with Detector and Corrector for Measurement Error Compensation in Dynamic Systems
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, 2025
Stabilizing control of a dynamic system like a motor when external factors cause measurement errors. The control system has two controllers, a detector, and a corrector. One controller generates a command based on its measured value and the other controller generates the output to the system based on its measured value and the first controller's command. The detector detects changes in the second measured value due to external factors. When detected, the corrector generates a correction value to replace the second measured value in the second controller. This allows the second controller to compensate for external factors and stabilize control.
8. Vehicle Power Distribution System with Dissimilar Controller Redundancy and Signal Comparison Logic
Textron eAviation Inc., 2025
Power distribution control system for vehicles like electric aircraft that provides redundant power distribution without using identical controllers that can fail simultaneously. The system uses dissimilar controllers that send different commands to converters. The converters generate separate command signals. A logic circuit compares the signals and generates a final command based on the comparison. This final command is used to operate the switching devices. If a controller fails, the converter's dissimilar command is used instead, avoiding complete loss of power distribution.
9. Drone with Parachute, Airbag Deployment System, and Adjustable Suspension Landing Gear
YUBIN PARK, 2025
Drone with stable landing and shock absorbing capabilities that can mitigate impact during crashes. The drone has a parachute for primary emergency landing, but if the parachute fails, upper and lower airbags deploy to cushion landing. The drone also has a landing gear with adjustable suspension to prevent ground strikes on uneven surfaces. The landing gear has sensors to detect abnormal flight posture and trigger the airbag deployment. The wing body has foam cushioning to protect against impacts. The drone has a control unit with sensors to monitor flight conditions and communicate wirelessly with a remote controller.
10. Antenna Module with Separate Sensing and Transmission Antenna Groups for Dynamic Power Adjustment Based on Proximity Detection
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., 2025
Antenna module for wireless devices that reduces RF exposure to nearby objects by adjusting transmission power based on distance measurements. The module has separate antenna groups for sensing location and transmitting signals. When an object is detected close by, it lowers the power of the transmit antennas compared to the maximum allowed. This avoids overexposure to nearby people or objects without degrading communication quality for distant targets.
11. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Multi-Sensor Data Fusion for Environmental Mapping
SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2025
Improving unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) functionality like navigation, object recognition, and obstacle avoidance by combining data from different types of sensors like vision and proximity. The UAV carries multiple sensors like cameras and ultrasonic sensors. It uses them to generate an environmental map by fusing the data. This map provides accurate location info and obstacle positions. The UAV can then use the map for tasks like autonomous flight, return to base, and obstacle avoidance. The sensor fusion improves accuracy compared to using just one sensor type.
12. Rotating UAV Takeoff and Landing Pad with Automated Wind-Facing Adjustment and Mooring Mechanism
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., 2025
A rotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) takeoff and landing pad that reduces the influence of wind during takeoff by automatically rotating the pad to face into the wind. The pad has a mooring mechanism to hold the UAV in place, a drive source to rotate the pad, and a controller to coordinate operation of the mooring and drive systems. The controller uses wind direction sensors to rotate the pad so the UAV's nose faces into the wind for stable takeoff.
13. Electric Aircraft Propulsor Fault Detection and Control System with Predictive Observer and Torque Command Mixer
BETA AIR LLC, 2025
Fault detection and control system for electric aircraft like eVTOLs that allows safe operation if a propulsor fails. The system has sensors to monitor propulsor performance, an observer to predict propulsor behavior, and a mixer to generate commands based on sensor vs prediction differences. If the prediction deviates significantly from the sensor, indicating a propulsor fault, the mixer prioritizes torque commands to other propulsors to compensate. This allows continued flight with reduced performance instead of catastrophic failure if a propulsor fails.
14. UEFI Shell-Based Secure Boot Mechanism for UAVs with Network-Downloaded Cryptographic Permission Validation
ARINC Incorporated, 2024
Securely booting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to ensure compliance with aviation regulations like flight permitting. The UAV boots a UEFI shell that downloads a permission file from a server over the network. The shell validates the file using cryptography before booting the operating system. The shell passes the validated permissions to the OS, which enforces them on applications like flight control. This prevents unauthorized UAV flight by requiring permission download and validation before booting the OS.
15. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System with Pre-Flight Diagnostic State for Safety Assessment
Niravox Corporation, NILEWORKS INC, 2024
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that improves safety for autonomous drones, especially for agricultural spraying. The UAV system has a diagnostic state where the drone checks itself and the environment before takeoff. If the drone or environment is not safe, it prevents takeoff. This ensures the drone doesn't fly if it's malfunctioning or in a dangerous area. The diagnostic state also includes checking battery capacity of the drone and the ground station to prevent emergency situations mid-flight.
16. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Control with Neural Network-Based Collision Avoidance and Path Compliance
HUZHOU SHENGTU INFORMATION TECH DEVELOPMENT CO LTD, HUZHOU SHENGTU INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO LTD, 2024
Safe flight control for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using deep learning to prevent collisions and ensure compliance with flight paths. The method involves obtaining motion data and echo signals from the UAV over a time period. This data is used to train a neural network to predict the UAV's position and avoid obstacles based on the initial motion and echoes. The network also checks if the predicted path matches the planned one. If not, it alerts the UAV to correct course to avoid violations. This autonomous collision avoidance and path compliance system uses past motion and sensor data to safely guide UAV flight.
17. System and Method for Dynamic Battery Electricity Management in Drones Based on Real-Time Position Analysis
SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2023
Intelligent method and system for managing battery electricity in drones to prevent accidents and improve battery utilization. It calculates the required electricity to land or return based on current position, and if battery is low, prompts or automatically triggers landing or return. This provides real-time, intelligent protection rather than fixed voltage thresholds.
18. Integrated UAV Detection and Defense System with Software-Defined Radio, RF Transceiver, and Multi-Antenna Configuration
Hebei Jizhen Technology Co., Ltd., HEBEI JIZHEN TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2023
Integrated UAV detection and attack defense system using software radio technology. The system has a controller, RF transceiver, detection antenna, suppression antenna, and decoy antenna. It detects UAVs in a set area using the detection antenna, then attacks them using the suppression antenna and deceives them using the decoy antenna. This addresses the reliability issue of UAV defense systems by selectively targeting intruding UAVs while protecting legitimate ones.
19. Object-Responsive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Landing and Takeoff Control System with Sensor-Based Object Type and Position Detection
RAKUTEN GROUP, INC., 2023
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing and takeoff control system that balances safety and flexibility by allowing restricted landings and takeoffs based on object type and position. The system uses onboard sensors to detect objects near the landing/takeoff zone. It identifies object type (static vs moving) and restrictions are applied based on that. For example, landing is allowed if the object is a package that can be moved. Restrictions are further refined based on UAV flight mode, distance, user presence, etc.
20. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Tail-Mounted Laser and Underside Radar Sensors for Proximity Detection
GUANGZHOU SOUTH SATELLITE NAVIGATION INSTR CO LTD, GUANGZHOU SOUTH SATELLITE NAVIGATION INSTRUMENT CO LTD, 2023
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design to ensure safety of people around it during takeoff and landing. The UAV has sensors like a laser module at the tail and a radar module below. Before takeoff, the laser sensor checks behind for people and prompts them to move if needed. During landing, the radar sensor checks below for people and alerts them. This warns people to avoid areas where the UAV will move.
Deployable warning alarm devices in drones release crash prevention alerts by detecting any obstacle having the potential to cause a collision. This safety feature ensures a more reliable drone operation, which is also safe and secure for the people and property.
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