# Drone Navigation Using Cameras and Echolocation > This 2017 patent describes a drone navigation system that uses both cameras and echolocation sensors to detect obstacles and find its way, with echolocation taking priority for immediate threats. - **Patent:** US 9562773 - **Original title:** Autonomous vehicle navigation system and method - **Owner:** Aurora Flight Sciences - **Granted:** 2017 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 12 - **Field:** aerospace, automotive, consumer_electronics, ai_ml, robotics ## What it does This patent details a navigation system for aerial vehicles, like drones. It combines a GPS transceiver for general location, an optical system (cameras) providing a wide 180-degree view to spot visible obstacles, and an acoustic system (echolocation) with a narrower 10-degree view to detect obstacles, especially smaller ones not visible to cameras. A central processor uses all this data to plot a course to a destination. If the acoustic system detects an obstacle directly in the path, it overrides the GPS and camera data to command an immediate dodging maneuver. Once the obstacle is clear, the drone returns to its original path. The optical system can even provide a full 360-degree view, and the acoustic system can cover up to 45 degrees. ## What it does NOT cover - Navigation systems that only use cameras and no echolocation sensors. - Navigation systems that only use echolocation sensors and no cameras. - Navigation systems where GPS data always overrides sensor data for obstacle avoidance. - Navigation systems that do not have a processor to calculate dodging maneuvers. - Systems for ground-based vehicles; this patent is specifically for aerial vehicles. ## The clever bit The core innovation is how the system prioritizes immediate, short-range acoustic sensor data over GPS and camera data when an obstacle is detected. This ensures rapid reaction to close-proximity threats, which is crucial for preventing collisions in dynamic environments. ## Real-world examples 1. Aurora Flight Sciences drones 2. Modern autonomous drone navigation systems 3. Advanced aerial vehicle guidance systems ## Why it matters This patent addresses a key challenge in autonomous flight: reliable obstacle detection and avoidance in diverse conditions. By combining multiple sensor types with a prioritized processing logic, it enables drones to navigate more safely and effectively, even when encountering unexpected or hard-to-see objects. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Drone Navigation Using Cameras and Echolocation cover? This 2017 patent describes a drone navigation system that uses both cameras and echolocation sensors to detect obstacles and find its way, with echolocation taking priority for immediate threats. ### Who owns patent US 9562773? Aurora Flight Sciences owns this patent, granted in 2017. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on March 13, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 9562773 cited by? This patent has been cited by 12 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent addresses a key challenge in autonomous flight: reliable obstacle detection and avoidance in diverse conditions. By combining multiple sensor types with a prioritized processing logic, it enables drones to navigate more safely and effectively, even when encountering unexpected or hard-to-see objects. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Navigation systems that only use cameras and no echolocation sensors. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9562773/autonomous-vehicle-navigation-system-and-method **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9562773 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Vehicles and Drones Find Their Way Using Many Sensors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10107627/adaptive-navigation-for-airborne-ground-and-dismount-applications-anagda) — This patent describes a layered computer system that combines data from many different sensors and an Inertial Measurement Unit to precisely determine a mobile platform's position, velocity, and orientation, even in challenging environments. - [How a Drone Can Fly Ahead of a Moving Vehicle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10133281/leading-drone-system) — 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. - [How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180321681/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. - [How Autonomous Air Taxis Use Hand Gestures and 3D Mapping](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11513606/universal-control) — A system for operating air taxis that uses hand gestures for control and crowd-sourced 3D mapping to navigate urban environments. - [Using a Smartphone to Autonomously Control a Vehicle's Direction](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9518821/vehicle-control-system) — This patent describes a system where a smartphone, rigidly mounted to a vehicle, uses its internal sensors to track the vehicle's orientation and then autonomously sends signals to control the vehicle's movement.