{
  "patent_number": "US 20180321681",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle",
  "original_title": "Leading drone method",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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).",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-05-05",
  "granted": null,
  "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": 12,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "automotive",
    "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/20180321681/leading-drone-method",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180321681/leading-drone-method/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180321681",
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    {
      "patentNumber": "10133281",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Drone Can Fly Ahead of a Moving Vehicle",
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}