Geographic area monitoring systems and methods through interchanging tool systems between unmanned vehicles

• US 10,514,691 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2019
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Cantrell, Robert L., Thompson, John P., Winkle, David C., Atchley, Michael D., High, Donald R., Mattingly, Todd D., McHale, Brian G., O'Brien, John J., Simon, John F., Jones, Nathan G., Taylor, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US16/372,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20190227542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• 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 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station

Abstract

In some embodiments, unmanned task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned vehicles each comprising: a control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective unmanned vehicles to move themselves; and wherein a first control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles is configured to identify a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle, and direct a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second unmanned vehicle.

Claims

1. An unmanned task system, comprising:

multiple unmanned vehicles each comprising;

an unmanned vehicle control circuit accessing a tool system database;

a motor; and

a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective unmanned vehicle to move itself; and

wherein a first unmanned vehicle control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles is configured to identify a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle, cause the first unmanned vehicle to decouple from a second tool system configured to perform a second function that is different than the first function, and direct a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to couple, using a universal coupler, with the first tool system being transferred from the second unmanned vehicle enabling the first unmanned vehicle to switch between the second tool system and the first tool system and implement the first function provided through the first tool system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit in directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system is configured to direct the second unmanned vehicle to release the first tool system at a location where a task is to be performed using the first tool system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit in directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system is configured to direct the second unmanned vehicle to a defined location;

and

the first unmanned vehicle control circuit in directing the first propulsion system is configured to cause the first unmanned vehicle to position the first unmanned vehicle adjacent the second unmanned vehicle and couple with the first tool system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to identify a task being performed by the second unmanned vehicle using the first tool system is to continue to be performed, and direct the first propulsion system to couple with the first tool system and continue implementing the task using the first tool system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to identify a power level of the second unmanned vehicle is less than a threshold power level and to communicate the notification to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system based on the power level of the second unmanned vehicle being less than the threshold power level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to confirm a power level of the first tool system is greater than a tool system power level threshold prior to causing the notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the tool system database storing tool system parameter data associated with each of multiple tool systems defining functional capabilities and current location of each of the multiple tool systems, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to access the tool system database, identify the first tool system has a functionality to be used to perform a task, and identify that the first tool system is within a threshold distance of the first unmanned vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit, in identifying the second unmanned vehicle, is configured to identify the second unmanned vehicle is predicted to complete a first task being performed using the first tool system within a threshold period of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to identify a task, which was being performed by the second unmanned vehicle using the first tool system, is to continue to be performed by the first unmanned vehicle, and direct the first propulsion system and activate the first tool system to continue implementing the task using the first tool system.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the universal coupler communicatively coupled with the unmanned vehicle control circuit and a coupling system, wherein the universal coupler is configured to interchangeably couple with and decouple from the second tool system and further interchangeably couple with and decouple with the first tool system.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the tool system database storing tool system parameter data associated with each of multiple tool systems defining functional capabilities and current location of each of the multiple tool systems, wherein the first unmanned vehicle control circuit is configured to access the tool system database, identify the first tool system has a functionality to be used to perform a task, and identify that the first tool system is within a threshold distance of the first unmanned vehicle.

12. A method of performing tasks through unmanned vehicles each comprising a unmanned vehicle control circuit, comprising:

identifying, through a first unmanned vehicle control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles, a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function;

causing a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle;

causing the first unmanned vehicle to decouple from a second tool system configured to perform a second function that is different than the first function; and

directing a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to position the first unmanned vehicle relative to the first tool system aligning the first unmanned vehicle with the first tool system and to couple, using a universal coupler, the first unmanned vehicle with the first tool system transferred from the second unmanned vehicle enabling the first unmanned vehicle to switch between the second tool system and the first tool system and to implement the first function provided through the first tool system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system comprises directing the second unmanned vehicle to release the first tool system at a location where a task is to be performed using the first tool system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system comprises directing the second unmanned vehicle to a defined location;

and

wherein the directing the first propulsion system comprises positioning the first unmanned vehicle adjacent the second unmanned vehicle and causing a coupling of the first unmanned vehicle with the first tool system.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying a task being performed by the second unmanned vehicle using the first tool system is to continue to be performed, and

directing the first propulsion system to couple with the first tool system and continue implementing the task using the first tool system.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a power level of the second unmanned vehicle is less than a threshold power level; and

communicating the notification to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system based on the power level of the second unmanned vehicle being less than the threshold power level.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

confirming a power level of the first tool system is greater than a tool system power level threshold prior to causing the notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing a tool system database storing tool system parameter data associated with each of multiple tool systems defining functional capabilities and current location of each of the multiple tool systems;

identifying the first tool system has a functionality to be used to perform a task; and

identifying that the first tool system is within a threshold distance of the first unmanned vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying the second unmanned vehicle comprises identifying the second unmanned vehicle is predicted to complete a first task being performed using the first tool system within a threshold period of time.