Autonomous security drone system and method

• US 10,496,107 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Pattison, Mark Anthony, Warner, Gavin Francis, Orisich, John Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldemaryam, Assres H
• Application Number:
  US15/407,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20180203470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/04 the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A drone aircraft for personal assistance or protection. When a driver'"'"'s car is located in a parking lot at night, the driver can summon a drone stored in the vehicle which flies to the driver and leads the driver to the vehicle by projecting a spot of light onto the ground. The drone makes a video recording of events occurring at this time and transmits the recording to a remote storage location.

Claims

1. A drone for assisting a driver who is located remote from a vehicle, the drone comprising:

a primary light source; and

processing circuitry configured to

fly the drone towards the driver in response to a summons issued by a communication system;

fly the drone towards the vehicle using a path identified to avoid an obstacle;

illuminate the path using the primary light source of the drone; and

project light from the primary light source of the drone to act as reverse lighting when a reverse gear of the vehicle is activated.

2. The drone according to claim 1, further comprising:

i) a navigation system which (A) deduces current latitude and longitude of said drone, (B) receives a destination, indicated by a latitude and a longitude, from said communication device, and (C) pilots said drone toward said destination;

ii) one or more movable spotlights which can illuminate terrestrial regions;

iii) at least one of a still camera or a video camera which can capture images of terrestrial regions;

iv) a transmitter for transmitting said images to a remote storage location; and

v) a detector for detecting moving terrestrial entities.

3. The drone according to claim 1, further comprising a camera, the primary light source being adapted to provide a spotlight that provides illumination which assists said camera in capturing images.

4. The drone according to claim 1, in which said primary light source comprises a first spotlight that illuminates a first area and a second spotlight that illuminates a second area.

5. The drone according to claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect a moving object or person and said second spot is directed at or near said object or person.

6. The drone according to claim 1, in which, prior to receipt of said summons, said drone is stowed in said vehicle.

7. The drone according to claim 1, wherein prior to receipt of said summons, said drone is located on or in a stationary building or structure outside said vehicle.

8. The drone according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle transmits its coordinates to the drone;

and the drone guides said driver toward said vehicle based on said coordinates.

9. The drone according to claim 1, wherein the drone flies toward said driver and guides said driver toward said vehicle by energizing the primary light source lighting the path for said driver.

10. The drone according to claim 1, wherein the communication device transmits at least one of a set of coordinates of said driver or a deployment signal to the drone.

11. The drone according to claim 1, wherein said communication device is at least one of a smart phone application, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a key fob or a standard joystick-type remote control.

12. The drone according to claim 1, further comprising:

i) a navigation system which (A) deduces current latitude and longitude of said drone, (B) receives a destination, indicated by a latitude and a longitude, from said communication device, and (C) pilots said drone toward said destination;

ii) one or more movable spotlights which can illuminate terrestrial regions;

iii) at least one of a still camera or a video camera which can capture images of terrestrial regions; and

iv) a break-away type connector to couple to an electrical system of the vehicle for charging.

13. A system for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an aircraft or drone comprising;

a propulsion system for maintaining said aircraft or drone airborne;

a receiver for receiving at least one location signal indicating a location of a driver;

at least one light source;

a control system for directing said at least one light source toward either said driver or a vicinity of said driver;

wherein the control system projects light from the primary light source of the drone to act as reverse lighting when a reverse gear of the vehicle is activated,

a navigation system which enables said aircraft or drone to fly autonomously from a storage location toward the driver in response to a summons from a transmitter under control of said driver and

a storage container configured to be detachably mounted on the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein at least one signal comprises a drone release or deployment signal and a driver location or coordinate signal.

15. The system according to claim 13, in which said vehicle comprises a storage area or bay for storing said aircraft or drone, said storage area or bay releases said aircraft or drone in response to a release or deployment signal from said transmitter.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter is at least one of a smart phone application, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a key fob or a standard joystick-type remote control.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said at least one light source lights a pathway to the vehicle for the driver.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the storage container includes a cradle having a plurality of guard arms.

18. A method for assisting a user who is located remote from a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, using processing circuitry of a drone, an input from the user indicating that the drone is summoned;

determining, using the processing circuitry, a path to the vehicle to be taken by the user, the path being identified to avoid a detected object;

fly the drone towards the user;

illuminating the path using a primary light source of the drone;

fly towards the vehicle using the path; and

projecting light from the primary light source of the drone to act as reverse lighting in response to detecting that a reverse gear of the vehicle is activated.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether the drone is in route as summoned;

determining whether systems of the drone are functioning correctly; and

transmitting a confirming message to the user indicating that the drone is in route as summoned.