Automated vehicle control

• US 10,043,399 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Cruz Huertas, Luis C., Hamilton, II, Rick A., Zamora Duran, Edgar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANTONUCCI, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US15/221,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180033314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method and system for automatically controlling a vehicle is provided. The method includes generating an original route of travel for a first vehicle for travel from an original location to a destination location. The vehicle is directed from the original location to the destination location such that the vehicle initiates motion and navigates the original route of travel towards the destination location in accordance with the original route of travel. Monitored vehicular attributes of the first vehicle are received and environmental attributes associated with the original route of travel are monitored with respect the first vehicle. Navigational issues associated with the vehicle traveling along the original route of travel are determined based on the monitored vehicular attributes and results of monitoring the environmental attributes. The navigational issues are used to determine if the vehicle should continue to travel along the original route of travel.

Claims

1. An automated vehicle control method comprising:

generating, by a processor of controller, multiple differing routes of travel for a first vehicle for travel from an original location to a destination location, wherein said multiple differing routes of travel are generated based on factors comprising;

a brand of said first vehicle, a serial number of said first vehicle, a company owning said first vehicle, said original location, said destination location, an estimated time of travel from said original location to said destination location; and

weather condition related instructional data;

autonomously selecting, by said processor based on analysis of said factors, an original route of travel from said multiple differing routes of travel;

transmitting, by said processor to a plurality of ports configured to enable landing and departure functions for said first vehicle, a flight path associated with said original route of travel;

directing, by said processor in accordance with said original route of travel with respect to said plurality of ports, said vehicle from said original location to said destination location such that said vehicle initiates motion and navigates said original route of travel towards said destination location;

receiving, by said processor from said first vehicle, monitored vehicular attributes of said first vehicle, wherein said monitored vehicular attributes comprise a maximum weight supported by said first vehicle, a current load being carried by said first vehicle, and a fuel/charge for said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, environmental attributes associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said environmental attributes comprise weather conditions, air pressure conditions, altitude conditions, and wind conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, flight conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said flight conditions comprise a current speed of said first vehicle, a trajectory of said first vehicle, duration of flight with respect to said original route of travel, a frequency associated with said first vehicle, a near field detection of said first vehicle, and a current GPS signal associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

first determining, by said processor based on said monitored vehicular attributes, results of said monitoring said flight conditions, and results of said monitoring said environmental attributes, navigational issues associated with said first vehicle traveling along said original route of travel; and

second determining, by said processor based on said navigational issues, if said first vehicle should continue to travel along said original route of travel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by said processor, an alert indicating said navigational issues; and

presenting, by said processor to a user, said alert.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein results of said second determining indicate that said vehicle should continue to travel along said original route of travel, and wherein said method further comprises:

directing, by said processor, said vehicle along said original route of travel from said original location to said destination location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein results of said second determining indicate that said vehicle should not continue to travel along said original route of travel, and wherein said method further comprises:

generating, by said processor based on said navigational issues, an alternative route of travel for said first vehicle; and

directing, by said processor, said vehicle along said alternative route of travel such that said vehicle initiates motion and navigates said alternative route of travel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said alternative route of travel directs said vehicle to travel to said destination location via an alternative route differing from said original route of travel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said alternative route of travel directs said vehicle to travel to an alternative destination location via an alternative route differing from said original route of travel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing comprises said processor controlling said vehicle from said original location to said destination location via said original route of travel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing comprises transmitting, to said vehicle, a flight plan indicating said original route of travel such that said vehicle controls navigation along said original route of travel towards said destination location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitored vehicular attributes comprise attributes selected from the group consisting of mechanical attributes of said vehicle, electrical attributes of said vehicle, and fuel related attributes of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said environmental attributes comprise attributes selected from the group consisting of weather related conditions, trajectory related conditions, and additional vehicle routes of travel associated with intersecting with said original route of travel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in the control hardware, said code being executed by the computer processor to implement;

said generating, said directing, said receiving, said retrieving, said monitoring, said first determining, and said second determining.

12. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a processor of a controller implements an automated vehicle control, said method comprising:

generating, by said processor, multiple differing routes of travel for a first vehicle for travel from an original location to a destination location, wherein said multiple differing routes of travel are generated based on factors comprising;

a brand of said first vehicle, a serial number of said first vehicle, a company owning said first vehicle, said original location, said destination location, an estimated time of travel from said original location to said destination location; and

weather condition related instructional data;

autonomously selecting, by said processor based on analysis of said factors, an original route of travel from said multiple differing routes of travel;

transmitting, by said processor to a plurality of ports configured to enable landing and departure functions for said first vehicle, a flight path associated with said original route of travel;

transmitting, by said processor to a plurality of ports configured to enable landing and departure functions for said first vehicle, a flight path associated with said original route of travel;

directing, by said processor in accordance with said original route of travel with respect to said plurality of ports, said vehicle from said original location to said destination location such that said vehicle initiates motion and navigates said original route of travel towards said destination location;

receiving, by said processor from said first vehicle, monitored vehicular attributes of said first vehicle, wherein said monitored vehicular attributes comprise a maximum weight supported by said first vehicle, a current load being carried by said first vehicle, and a fuel/charge for said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, environmental attributes associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said environmental attributes comprise weather conditions, air pressure conditions, altitude conditions, and wind conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, flight conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said flight conditions comprise a current speed of said first vehicle, a trajectory of said first vehicle, duration of flight with respect to said original route of travel, a frequency associated with said first vehicle, a near field detection of said first vehicle, and a current GPS signal associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

first determining, by said processor based on said monitored vehicular attributes, results of said monitoring said flight conditions, and results of said monitoring said environmental attributes, navigational issues associated with said first vehicle traveling along said original route of travel; and

second determining, by said processor based on said navigational issues, if said first vehicle should continue to travel along said original route of travel.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

generating, by said processor, an alert indicating said navigational issues; and

presenting, by said processor to a user, said alert.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein results of said second determining indicate that said vehicle should continue to travel along said original route of travel, and wherein said method further comprises:

directing, by said processor, said vehicle along said original route of travel from said original location to said destination location.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein results of said second determining indicate that said vehicle should not continue to travel along said original route of travel, and wherein said method further comprises:

generating, by said processor based on said navigational issues, an alternative route of travel for said first vehicle; and

directing, by said processor, said vehicle along said alternative route of travel such that said vehicle initiates motion and navigates said alternative route of travel.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said alternative route of travel directs said vehicle to travel to said destination location via an alternative route differing from said original route of travel.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said alternative route of travel directs said vehicle to travel to an alternative destination location via an alternative route differing from said original route of travel.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said directing comprises said processor controlling said vehicle from said original location to said destination location via said original route of travel.

19. A controller comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the processor executes an automated vehicle control method comprising:

generating, by said processor, multiple differing routes of travel for a first vehicle for travel from an original location to a destination location, wherein said multiple differing routes of travel are generated based on factors comprising;

a brand of said first vehicle, a serial number of said first vehicle, a company owning said first vehicle, said original location, said destination location, an estimated time of travel from said original location to said destination location; and

weather condition related instructional data;

autonomously selecting, by said processor based on analysis of said factors, an original route of travel from said multiple differing routes of travel;

transmitting, by said processor to a plurality of ports configured to enable landing and departure functions for said first vehicle, a flight path associated with said original route of travel;

transmitting, by said processor to a plurality of ports configured to enable landing and departure functions for said first vehicle, a flight path associated with said original route of travel;

directing, by said processor in accordance with said original route of travel with respect to said plurality of ports, said vehicle from said original location to said destination location such that said vehicle initiates motion and navigates said original route of travel towards said destination location;

receiving, by said processor from said first vehicle, monitored vehicular attributes of said first vehicle, wherein said monitored vehicular attributes comprise a maximum weight supported by said first vehicle, a current load being carried by said first vehicle, and a fuel/charge for said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, environmental attributes associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said environmental attributes comprise weather conditions, air pressure conditions, altitude conditions, and wind conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

monitoring, by said processor, flight conditions associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle, wherein said flight conditions comprise a current speed of said first vehicle, a trajectory of said first vehicle, duration of flight with respect to said original route of travel, a frequency associated with said first vehicle, a near field detection of said first vehicle, and a current GPS signal associated with said original route of travel with respect said first vehicle;

first determining, by said processor based on said monitored vehicular attributes, results of said monitoring said flight conditions, and results of said monitoring said environmental attributes, navigational issues associated with said first vehicle traveling along said original route of travel; and

second determining, by said processor based on said navigational issues, if said first vehicle should continue to travel along said original route of travel.