How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle
This patent describes a method where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies ahead of a mobile base station, like a boat or ground vehicle, by predicting the base station's future path and scouting the area in advance.
Original patent title: “Leading drone method”
This patent describes a method where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies ahead of a mobile base station, like a boat or ground vehicle, by predicting the base station's future path and scouting the area in advance. Owned by Pinnacle Vista with 17 claims and 12 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a method for a 'leading drone' to move ahead of a 'base station' that travels on ground or water. The drone first identifies the moving base station and then determines where the base station will go in the future, creating a 'base station path' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The drone then figures out its own 'drone path' relative to the base station's path and flies along it *before* the base station arrives (Claim 1). For example, a boat could use a drone to fly ahead, collecting sensor data along the boat's planned route to map the seabed or identify obstacles (Claim 4). The drone's path is at a different altitude than the base station's path (Claim 1).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover a drone that simply follows behind or stays alongside the base station.
- Does not cover a base station that is stationary or travels in the air, such as another drone or an airplane.
- Does not cover a leading drone that is not an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
- Does not cover scenarios where the drone and the base station travel at the same altitude.
- Does not cover a drone that does not determine a future location or path for the base station.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the drone actively anticipating and moving along a path *ahead* of a mobile base station, rather than merely following it. This allows for proactive data collection and task performance, providing a forward-looking perspective.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Autonomous maritime vessels using drones for ahead-of-ship reconnaissance
Ground-based robotic vehicles deploying drones to scout terrain
Search and rescue operations using drones to survey areas before ground teams arrive
Logistics operations where drones map routes for autonomous delivery vehicles
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This method is significant for autonomous reconnaissance and logistics. It allows a mobile platform to gain advance information about its route, improving safety and efficiency. This could be crucial for operations in unknown or hazardous environments, enabling better decision-making before the main vehicle enters an area.
Filed
May 5, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies involved in autonomous systems, drone technology, and logistics are likely exploring or implementing similar concepts. This includes major drone manufacturers like DJI, defense contractors developing unmanned systems, and logistics firms looking to automate delivery and reconnaissance. Companies focused on maritime autonomy and ground robotics would also find this relevant.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing field of autonomous multi-agent systems, where different robotic platforms cooperate to achieve a goal. It enables new operational paradigms for reconnaissance, surveillance, and environmental monitoring, potentially reducing risks for human operators and increasing efficiency in various industries. The concept supports the development of more sophisticated autonomous vehicle fleets.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a method for a 'leading drone' to move ahead of a 'base station' that travels on ground or water. The drone first identifies the moving base station and then determines where the base station will go in the future, creating a 'base station path' (Claim 1). The drone then figures out its own 'drone path' relative to the base station's path and flies along it *before* the base station arrives (Claim 1). For example, a boat could use a drone to fly ahead, collecting sensor data along the boat's planned route to map the seabed or identify obstacles (Claim 4). The drone's path is at a different altitude than the base station's path (Claim 1).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the drone actively anticipating and moving along a path *ahead* of a mobile base station, rather than merely following it. This allows for proactive data collection and task performance, providing a forward-looking perspective.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover a drone that simply follows behind or stays alongside the base station.
- Does not cover a base station that is stationary or travels in the air, such as another drone or an airplane.
- Does not cover a leading drone that is not an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
- Does not cover scenarios where the drone and the base station travel at the same altitude.
- Does not cover a drone that does not determine a future location or path for the base station.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
22/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$56K – $180K
Midpoint $112K · 10.7 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Tu, H. How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle (U.S. Patent No. 20,180,321,681). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180321681/leading-drone-method
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle cover?
This patent describes a method where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies ahead of a mobile base station, like a boat or ground vehicle, by predicting the base station's future path and scouting the area in advance.
Who owns patent US 20180321681?
This patent is owned by Pinnacle Vista.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 5, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20180321681 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 12 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This method is significant for autonomous reconnaissance and logistics. It allows a mobile platform to gain advance information about its route, improving safety and efficiency. This could be crucial for operations in unknown or hazardous environments, enabling better decision-making before the main vehicle enters an area.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover a drone that simply follows behind or stays alongside the base station.
Same assignee
More from Pinnacle Vista
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