Drone-enhanced vehicle external lights

• US 10,391,922 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael S., Kozloski, James Robert, Pickover, Clifford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US15/994,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/002 Emergency driving lights in the event of failure of the principal lighting circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/02 Motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/002 unmanned
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• 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 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/32 generated by fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/80 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 : where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

Techniques for drone device control are provided. In one example, the technique includes monitoring, by a drone device operatively coupled to a processor and allocated to a vehicle in operation, one or more conditions associated with the vehicle. The technique also includes, in response to identifying, by the drone device, a defined condition of the one or more conditions: moving, by the drone device, to a position relative to the vehicle and determined based on the defined condition; and performing, by the drone device, an indication operation determined based on the defined condition.

Claims

1. A drone device, comprising:

a memory that stores computer executable components; and

a processor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory, wherein the computer executable components comprise;

a monitoring component that monitors one or more conditions associated with a vehicle; and

a response component that, in response to identification of a defined condition of the one or more conditions;

moves the drone device to a defined position relative to the vehicle and determined based on the defined condition, wherein the defined condition comprises an activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, the defined position is relative to an external brake indicator signal; and

initiates the drone device to perform an indication operation determined based on the defined condition, wherein the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via a display device of the drone device, of the activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle in operation.

2. The drone device of claim 1, wherein the defined condition further comprises a malfunction of an external brake indicator signal of the vehicle, the defined position is also relative to the external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises an external brake indication signal of the vehicle.

3. The drone device of claim 1, wherein the defined condition further comprises black ice on a surface of a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing, the defined position is also relative to an external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the black ice on the surface of the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

4. The drone device of claim 1, wherein the defined condition further comprises a defined traffic condition on a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing, the defined position is also relative to a rear portion of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the defined traffic condition on the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

5. The drone device of claim 1, wherein the defined condition further comprises an animal in a second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation, the defined position is also relative to a rear portion of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the animal in the second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation.

6. The drone device of claim 1, wherein the defined condition further comprises a determined level of visibility of the operator of the vehicle in operation, the defined position is also relative to an external headlight of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a projecting a light with a defined hue determined to provide a defined level of visibility to the operator of the vehicle in operation.

7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

monitoring, by a drone device operatively coupled to a processor and allocated to a vehicle in operation, one or more conditions associated with the vehicle; and

in response to identification of a defined condition of the one or more conditions, wherein the defined condition comprises black ice on a surface of a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing;

moving, by the drone device, the drone device to a defined position relative to the vehicle and determined based on the defined condition, wherein the defined position is relative to an external brake indicator signal; and

performing, by the drone device, an indication operation determined based on the defined condition, wherein the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via a display device of the drone device, of the black ice on the surface of the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined condition further comprises a malfunction of an external brake indicator signal of the vehicle, the defined position is also relative to the external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises an external brake indication signal of the vehicle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined condition further comprises an activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, the defined position is also relative to an external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle in operation.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined condition further comprises a defined traffic condition on a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing, the defined position is also relative to a rear portion of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the defined traffic condition on the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined condition further comprises an animal in a second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation, the defined position is also relative to a rear portion of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the animal in the second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined condition further comprises a determined level of visibility of the operator of the vehicle in operation, the defined position is also relative to an external headlight of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a projecting a light with a defined hue determined to provide a defined level of visibility to the operator of the vehicle in operation.

13. A computer program product facilitating enhancing operation of a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a drone device to cause the drone device to:

monitor one or more conditions associated with a vehicle; and

in response to identification of a defined condition of the one or more conditions wherein the defined condition comprises a defined traffic condition on a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing;

move the drone device to a defined position relative to the vehicle and determined based on the defined condition, wherein the defined position is relative to a rear portion of the vehicle; and

initiate the drone device to perform an indication operation determined based on the defined condition, wherein the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via a display device of the drone device, of the defined traffic condition on the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the defined condition further comprises a malfunction of an external brake indicator signal of the vehicle, the defined position is also relative to the external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises an external brake indication signal of the vehicle.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the defined condition further comprises an activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, the defined position is also relative to an external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the activation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle in operation.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the defined condition further comprises black ice on a surface of a road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing, the defined position is also relative to an external brake indicator signal, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the black ice on the surface of the road on which the vehicle in operation is traversing.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the defined condition further comprises an animal in a second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation, the defined position is also relative to a rear portion of the vehicle, and the indication operation comprises a visual indication, via the display device of the drone device, of the animal in the second defined position relative to the vehicle in operation.

18. A drone device, comprising:

a memory that stores computer executable components; and

a processor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory, wherein the computer executable components comprise;

a monitoring component that monitors one or more conditions associated with a vehicle; and

a response component that, in response to identification of a defined condition of the one or more conditions;

moves the drone device to a defined position relative to the vehicle and determined based on the defined condition, wherein the defined condition comprises a determined level of visibility of the operator of the vehicle in operation, the defined position is relative to an external headlight of the vehicle; and

initiates the drone device to perform an indication operation determined based on the defined condition, wherein the indication operation comprises a projecting a light with a defined hue determined to provide a defined level of visibility to the operator of the vehicle in operation.