Unmanned aerial vehicles and related methods and systems

• US 10,332,394 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gomez Gutierrez, David, Campos Macias, Leobardo Emmanuel, Parra Vilchis, Jose Ignacio, De La Guardia Gonzalez, Rafael, Aldana Lopez, Rodrigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US15/806,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20190051169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 340908
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/24 for use as flying displays, e.g. advertising or billboards
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 7/00 Traffic control systems for simultaneous control of two or more different kinds of craft

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles and related methods and systems are disclosed. An example unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising: a body and a propulsion source to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight; and a display carried by the unmanned aerial vehicle to display a message to coordinate traffic, the display actuatable between a deployed position to enable the message to be conveyed and a stowed position in which aerodynamics of the unmanned aerial vehicle are enhanced.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a body and a propulsion source to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight;

a display carried by the unmanned aerial vehicle to display a message to coordinate traffic, the display actuatable between a deployed position to enable the message to be conveyed and a stowed position in which aerodynamics of the unmanned aerial vehicle are enhanced, the display foldable onto itself in the stowed position; and

a pulley carried by a support arm that receives a cable, the cable to be received through apertures included on sides of the display to enable the display to be moved toward the stowed position when the cable moves in a first direction and for the display to be moved toward the deployed position when the cable moves in a second direction.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further including a spindle and a motor, the motor to drive the spindle to wind or unwind the cable about the spindle to move the display.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of an unmanned aerial vehicle on or adjacent an emergency vehicle route to, at least:

identify a first vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route;

provide a first message to instruct the first vehicle to move relative to the emergency vehicle route;

generate an alert in response to the first vehicle not obeying the instructions of the first message, the alert accessible by an emergency vehicle traversing the emergency vehicle route; and

after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message;

identify a second vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route; and

provide a second message to the second vehicle.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the processor to coordinate traffic a threshold distance from the emergency vehicle.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to provide the first message to the first vehicle on a display oriented at the first vehicle.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to select the first message from a plurality of messages based on at least one of one or more tasks assigned to the first vehicle or a characteristic of the first vehicle, the characteristic includes a direction that the first vehicle is traveling on the emergency vehicle route.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the first message is at least one of a visual message or an audio message.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to control a direction of a display of the unmanned aerial vehicle to present the visual message in a direction to enable the first vehicle or a passenger therein to receive the first message.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to cause traffic signals on the emergency vehicle route to be coordinated to reduce traffic on the emergency vehicle route or to enable the emergency vehicle to traverse the emergency vehicle route to reach a destination in a shorter time period.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the processor is to coordinate traffic by enabling the emergency vehicle to receive a right of way to pass through an intersection on the emergency vehicle route and to at least one of encourage traffic to exit or not to enter the emergency vehicle route.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an emergency vehicle route identifier to access one or more tasks to be performed by an unmanned aerial vehicle on or adjacent an emergency vehicle route;

a vehicle identifier to identify a first vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route;

a visual messenger controller to provide a first message to instruct the first vehicle to move relative to the emergency vehicle route;

a vehicle responsiveness identifier to identify a second vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message, the visual messenger controller to provide a second message to the second vehicle after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message; and

an alerter to generate an alert in response to the first vehicle not obeying the instructions of the first message, the alert accessible by an emergency vehicle traversing the emergency vehicle route.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is to coordinate traffic a threshold distance from the emergency vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the visual message controller is to provide the first message to a display oriented at the first vehicle.

12. A method, comprising:

accessing, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, one or more tasks to be performed by an unmanned aerial vehicle on or adjacent an emergency vehicle route;

identifying a first vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route;

providing a first message to instruct the first vehicle to move relative to the emergency vehicle route;

generating an alert in response to the first vehicle not obeying the instructions of the first message, the alert accessible by an emergency vehicle traversing the emergency vehicle route; and

after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message;

identifying a second vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route; and

providing a second message to the second vehicle.

13. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

means for accessing an emergency vehicle route, the accessing means to access one or more tasks to be performed by an unmanned aerial vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route;

means for identifying a vehicle, the identifying means to identify a first vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route;

means for providing a visual message, the providing means to provide a first message to instruct the first vehicle to move relative to the emergency vehicle route;

means for determining vehicle responsiveness, the determining means to identify a second vehicle on or adjacent the emergency vehicle route after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message, the providing means to provide a second message to the second vehicle after the first vehicle obeys the instructions of the first message; and

means for generating alerts, the generating means to generate an alert in response to the first vehicle not obeying the instructions of the first message, the alert accessible by an emergency vehicle traversing the emergency vehicle route.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is to coordinate traffic a threshold distance from the emergency vehicle.

15. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the providing means is to provide the first message to a display oriented at the first vehicle.

16. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, further including a means for selecting a message, the selection means to select the first message from a plurality of messages based on at least one of one or more tasks assigned to the first vehicle or a characteristic of the first vehicle, the characteristic includes a direction that the first vehicle is traveling on the emergency vehicle route.

17. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first message is at least one of a visual message or an audio message.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 17, further including a means for controlling a display, the controlling means to control a direction of the display of the unmanned aerial vehicle to present the visual message in a direction to enable the first vehicle or a passenger therein to receive the first message.

19. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, further including a means for communicating, the communicating means to cause traffic signals on the emergency vehicle route to be coordinated to reduce traffic on the emergency vehicle route or to enable the emergency vehicle to traverse the emergency vehicle route to reach a destination in a shorter time period.

20. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, further including a means for communicating, wherein the communicating means is to coordinate traffic by enabling the emergency vehicle to receive a right of way to pass through an intersection on the emergency vehicle route and to at least one of encourage traffic to exit or not to enter the emergency vehicle route.