SonyPatent applicationRobots & automationInterest 4/10

Sony patents software to check if drone flight plans are valid

Patent drawing from the official filing.

Sony has filed a patent for a system that helps operators verify if a plan for an autonomous vehicle, such as a drone, is safe to execute. The software displays the flight path, the specific area where the mission will take place, and extra data needed to confirm the plan works.

Why it mattersThis tool could make it easier for people to set up drone missions by automatically checking if the planned route is actually possible.

In the filing’s own words

The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system that facilitate determination of validity of an execution plan for an autonomous mobile object to execute a mission. An information processing apparatus according to the present technology includes an output control unit that controls display of execution plan information regarding an execution plan for an autonomous mobile object to execute a mission, area information regarding an execution area where the mission is to be executed, and additional information applicable to determination of validity of the execution plan. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an information processing apparatus that sets a mission to be executed by a drone.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising an output control unit that controls display of execution plan information regarding an execution plan for an autonomous mobile object to execute a mission, area information regarding an execution area where the mission is to be executed, and additional information applicable to determination of validity of the execution plan.

Facts

Company: Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title: INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM
Publication number: US20260330978A1
Application number: 19486512
Filed: May 27, 2024
Published: Oct 22, 2026
Inventors: 3
Claims: 20

Classified under

G08G 5/23 Physics & computingG08G 5/22 Physics & computingG08G 5/57 Physics & computingG08G 5/80 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.