Vehicle system and method for providing services

• US 10,185,320 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyRyse, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SkyRyse, Inc.
• Inventors: Groden, Mark, Adler, Mitch, Harell, Nur
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US15/661,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20180217596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3, 701 4, 701 14
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2220/10 Aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/001 Vehicles provided with medical equipment to perform operations or examinations
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids taxiing aids B64F1/002
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/652 Take-off delivering or retrieving payloads G05D1/667
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/654 Landing docking at a base station G05D1/661
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/81 Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 : Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 : Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 : Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 : Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 : using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 : with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 : Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 : Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 : in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• 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 5/0095 : Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 : Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.

Claims

1. A method for providing services to a user, comprising:

receiving a service request associated with a user location;

selecting a vehicle, located at an initial location, from a plurality of vehicles based on the user location and the initial location;

determining a first operation plan for controlling the vehicle to move to a region containing the user location;

controlling the vehicle to move to the region, comprising;

at a sensor of the vehicle, sampling a first set of operation data; and

at a processor of the vehicle, autonomously controlling the vehicle to move to the region based on the first operation plan and the first set of operation data;

selecting a waypoint stopping location within the region;

stopping the vehicle at the waypoint stopping location, comprising;

sampling a set of waypoint stopping location data;

determining a safety status of the waypoint stopping location based on the set of waypoint stopping location data;

in response to determining the safety status, at the processor, at least one of autonomously controlling the vehicle and receiving control inputs that direct the vehicle to stop at the waypoint stopping location;

at the vehicle, receiving the user;

determining a second operation plan for controlling the vehicle to move from the region to a destination; and

at the vehicle, transporting the user to the destination, comprising;

at the sensor, sampling a second set of operation data; and

at the processor, autonomously controlling the vehicle to move to the destination based on the second operation plan and the second set of operation data, wherein the vehicle contains the user during movement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the vehicle comprises:

sampling a set of vehicle inspection data by a set of inspection sensors of the initial location; and

based on the set of vehicle inspection data, determining that the vehicle is safe for operation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the set of inspection sensors comprises;

a camera, an active sonar system, and a thermal sensor;

sampling the set of vehicle inspection data comprises;

at the camera, capturing a photograph of the vehicle;

at the active sonar system, sampling a set of sonar data indicative of a mechanical state of the vehicle; and

at the thermal sensor, sampling a set of thermal data indicative of a thermal state of the vehicle; and

determining that the vehicle is safe for operation comprises;

determining that the mechanical state is safe based on the photograph and the sonar data; and

determining that the thermal state is safe based on the thermal data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

before selecting the vehicle, receiving a second service request;

based on the set of vehicle inspection data, determining that the vehicle is fit to provide services associated with the service request and unfit to provide services associated with the second service request; and

based on the determination that the vehicle is unfit to provide services associated with the second service request, selecting a second vehicle from the plurality to provide services associated with the second service request;

wherein the vehicle is selected based further on the determination that the vehicle is unfit to provide services associated with the second service request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before selecting the waypoint stopping location within the region:

selecting a candidate stopping location within the region, the candidate stopping location different from the waypoint stopping location;

sampling a set of candidate stopping location data; and

determining, based on the set of candidate stopping location data, that the candidate stopping location is not acceptable for stopping;

wherein the waypoint stopping location is selected in response to determining that the candidate stopping location is not acceptable for stopping.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically inspecting systems of the vehicle after completion of at least one of:

the first operation plan and the second operation plan.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting vehicle operation data and personnel data from the vehicle during execution of at least one of:

the first operation plan and the second operation plan.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle comprises an aircraft;

controlling the vehicle to move comprises controlling the aircraft to fly; and

autonomously controlling the vehicle to stop at the waypoint stopping location comprises autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the waypoint stopping location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the service request is associated with at least one of a search and rescue operation, surveillance, a fire response service, a rescue operation, and an emergency first responder service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically generating a declaration of a status report associated with operation of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically submitting the status report to a controlling agency.

12. A method for providing services to a user, comprising:

receiving a service request associated with a user location;

selecting a vehicle, located at an initial location, from a plurality of vehicles based on the user location and the initial location;

determining an operation plan for controlling the vehicle to move to a region containing the user location;

at the vehicle, transporting a service provider to the region, comprising;

at a sensor of the vehicle, sampling a first set of operation data; and

at a processor of the vehicle, controlling the vehicle to move based on the operation plan and the first set of operation data, wherein the vehicle contains the service provider during movement;

selecting a stopping location within the region; and

stopping the vehicle at the stopping location, comprising;

sampling a set of stopping location data;

determining a safety status of the stopping location based on the set of stopping location data;

at the sensor, sampling a second set of operation data; and

in response to determining the safety status, at least one of autonomously controlling the vehicle and receiving control inputs that direct the vehicle to stop at the stopping location based on the second set of operation data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the safety status of the stopping location is further based on a stopping approval input received from the service provider.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the service request comprises an emergency service request received from an emergency dispatcher.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the service request comprises a response deadline, wherein selecting the vehicle comprises determining that the vehicle is capable of stopping within the region before the response deadline.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein transporting the service provider to the region further comprises:

while controlling the vehicle to move, receiving weather information via a wireless communication module of the vehicle, the weather information indicative of an unfavorable weather condition in an area, wherein a planned route of the operation plan intersects the area;

based on the weather information and the operation plan, determining a modified operation plan comprising a modified route, wherein the modified route does not intersect the area;

at the sensor, sampling a third set of operation data; and

at the processor, controlling the vehicle to move based on the modified operation plan and the third set of operation data, wherein the vehicle contains the service provider during movement.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle comprises an aircraft;

controlling the vehicle to move comprises controlling the aircraft to fly; and

autonomously controlling the vehicle to stop at the stopping location comprises autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the stopping location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the aircraft does not contain a licensed pilot during flight and does not receive direct inputs from a licensed pilot during flight.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein stopping the vehicle at the stopping location further comprises outputting a landing warning observable at the stopping location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the landing warning comprises a visual warning projected onto the stopping location and an auditory warning emitted by the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after stopping the vehicle at the stopping location:

based on the service request, automatically performing a service for the user with onboard equipment;

determining a second operation plan for flying the aircraft from the stopping location to an aircraft base; and

autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the second operation plan.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sampling a set of aircraft base data by a base sensor of the aircraft base;

determining a base safety status of the aircraft base based on the set of aircraft base data;

at the sensor, sampling a third set of operation data; and

in response to determining the base safety status, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the aircraft base based on the third set of operation data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the aircraft base comprises the initial location.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the service request is associated with at least one of a search and rescue operation, surveillance, a fire response service, a rescue operation, and an emergency first responder service.

25. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically generating a declaration of a status report associated with operation of the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising automatically submitting the status report to a controlling agency.