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SonyPatent applicationRobots & automationInterest 6/10

Sony patents drone method to safely return along its original path

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Sony describes a method for drones that records the exact path taken to reach a current location. When a return is needed, the system picks a point along that recorded path and guides the drone back to it, rather than flying a straight line home.

Why it mattersThis approach could help drones navigate back to a safe spot in complex environments where a direct flight path might be blocked or dangerous.

In the filing’s own words

A moving body that has moved to a certain position is simply, accurately, and safely returned to a desired position. In one embodiment, a movement route recording step of recording a moved route until a drone reaches the current position, a return designation position determination step of determining a return designation position between the start point of the moved route and the current position of the drone, and a return route generation step of setting the current position of the drone in the moved route as a return reference position and generating a return route for causing the drone to move a portion from the return reference position to the return designation position in the moved route are performed.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An information processing method comprising: a movement route recording step of recording a moved route until a moving body reaches a current position; a return designation position determination step of determining a return designation position between a start point of the moved route and the current position of the moving body; and a return route generation step of setting the Current position of the moving body in the moved route as a return reference position and generating a return route for causing the moving body to move a portion from the return reference position to the return designation position in the moved route.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
Publication number
US20260309500A1
Application number
19483864
Filed
Apr 17, 2024
Published
Oct 8, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
13

Classified under

G01C 21/20 Physics & computingG05D 1/229 Physics & computingG05D 2109/254 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.