{
  "patent_number": "US 10133281",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Drone Can Fly Ahead of a Moving Vehicle",
  "original_title": "Leading drone system",
  "summary": "This patent describes a system where a drone flies a non-linear path, deliberately spaced from a moving ground or water vehicle, using the vehicle's future path information to stay ahead or in a specific relative position.",
  "what_it_does": "This system involves a 'leading drone' that flies a non-linear path relative to a 'base station' which is a vehicle moving on the ground or water. The base station automatically sends its planned non-linear route and future location to the drone (Claim 1). The drone then calculates and follows its own non-linear path, maintaining a deliberate distance from the base station in real-time (Claim 1). For example, the drone might fly ahead of the base station, reaching a future location while the base station is still lagging behind (Claim 2). The drone can also collect sensor data, like with a directional radar, and update geographical maps as it flies (Claims 8, 10, 15).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover systems where the base station is an airborne vehicle; it must be on the ground or water surface (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover scenarios where the base station or the drone follows a straight-line path; both paths must be non-linear (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover a drone that flies directly above the base station's path; its path must be parallel but not directly 'attitudinally above' (Claim 5).",
    "Does not cover a base station that manually provides its path information; it must automatically send this data (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover drones that simply follow the base station without maintaining a deliberate, pre-calculated spacing along a relative path."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-05-05",
  "granted": "2018-11-20",
  "expires": "2037-05-05",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Pinnacle Vista",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/pinnacle-vista",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Haofeng Tu",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/haofeng-tu"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 2,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "automotive",
    "telecommunications",
    "robotics",
    "aerospace"
  ],
  "abstract": "Systems and methods are provided for least one leading drone configured to move to a leading drone future location based on a future location of a base station. A set of base station future locations may form a base station path for the base station to traverse. Also, a set of leading drone future locations may form a leading drone path for the leading drone to traverse. The base station's future location may be anticipated from a prediction or a predetermination. The leading drone, navigating along the leading drone path, may collect sensor data and/or perform tasks. Accordingly, the leading drone may move ahead of the base station in motion, as opposed to following or remaining with the base station.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10133281/leading-drone-system",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10133281/leading-drone-system/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10133281",
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      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle",
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  ]
}