System and method for autonomous battery replacement

• US 10,562,398 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., O'Brien, John J., Cantrell, Robert L., Antel, Nicholas Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/813,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20180141453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/66 Ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• 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 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/35 by wireless transmission, e.g. by induction
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0684 on a moving platform, e.g. aircraft carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 : with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 : located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 : Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 : specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 : Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned battery optimization vehicle includes a transceiver, a battery optimization apparatus, and a control circuit. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals. The battery optimization apparatus is configured to interact with a battery disposed at an unmanned autonomous vehicle. The control circuit is coupled to the transceiver and the battery optimization apparatus. The control circuit is configured to cause the unmanned battery optimization vehicle to independently navigate and travel to a present location of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part upon the signals received at the transceiver. When the unmanned battery optimization vehicle reaches the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the control circuit is further configured to direct the battery optimization apparatus to engage in an interaction with the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle. The interaction is effective to optimize battery operation at the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

Claims

1. An unmanned battery optimization vehicle that operates in a product delivery network, comprising:

a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive signals;

a battery optimization apparatus that is configured to interact with a battery disposed at an unmanned autonomous vehicle that is also operating in the product delivery network;

a control circuit coupled to the transceiver and the battery optimization apparatus; and

wherein the control circuit determines whether to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, and when the control circuit determines to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the control circuit then determines whether to accept a present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is accepted by the control circuit, the control circuit causes the unmanned battery optimization vehicle to be navigated to the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is not accepted by the control circuit, the control circuit negotiates with the unmanned autonomous vehicle to determine a new location for servicing the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

when the unmanned battery optimization vehicle reaches the present location or the new location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the control circuit is further configured to direct the battery optimization apparatus to engage in an interaction with the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the interaction being effective to optimize battery operation at the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interaction exchanges the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle with a replacement battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interaction utilizes a physical connection between the unmanned battery optimization vehicle and the unmanned autonomous vehicle to charge the battery of the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interaction comprises a wireless charging of the battery from the unmanned battery optimization vehicle and the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the unmanned battery optimization vehicle includes a first storage receptor and a replacement battery disposed in the first storage receptor, and a second storage receptor that is configured to receive the battery from the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive battery charge level information transmitted from the unmanned autonomous vehicle via the transceiver.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the control circuit utilizes the battery charge level information to prioritize battery optimization at a plurality of unmanned autonomous vehicles.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle is a vehicle selected from the group consisting of an aerial drone and a ground vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein signals are broadcast from the transceiver that seek to identify candidate unmanned autonomous vehicles needing battery replacement.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein broadcast signals are received at the transceiver identifying unmanned autonomous vehicles that desire battery replacement.

11. An unmanned autonomous vehicle, the unmanned autonomous vehicle operating in the field away from a base, the vehicle comprising:

an engine and a propulsion apparatus;

a transceiver;

a battery;

a sensor;

a control circuit that is coupled to the sensor, the engine and propulsion apparatus, and the transceiver, the control circuit configured to;

operate the engine and propulsion apparatus to move the vehicle in the field;

sense at least one operational characteristic of the battery using the sensor;

conduct an evaluation, based upon the operational characteristic of the battery, of when to have the battery replaced or recharged by a battery optimization vehicle;

transmit a message via the transceiver to request that a battery optimization vehicle replace or re-charge the battery based upon the evaluation;

subsequently communicate with the battery optimization vehicle via the transceiver to allow the battery optimization vehicle to recharge or replace the battery;

wherein the battery optimization vehicle determines whether to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, and when the battery optimization vehicle determines to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the battery optimization vehicle then determines whether to accept a present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is accepted by the battery optimization vehicle, the unmanned battery optimization vehicle is navigated to the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is not accepted by the battery optimization vehicle, the unmanned battery optimization vehicle negotiates with the unmanned autonomous vehicle to determine a new location for servicing the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

12. The unmanned autonomous vehicle of claim 11, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle is an aerial drone or a ground vehicle.

13. The unmanned autonomous vehicle of claim 11, wherein the operational characteristic is a voltage, and electrical current, or a power.

14. The unmanned autonomous vehicle of claim 11, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle carries a package and is on a package delivery route.

15. A system for recharging or replacing a battery at a disabled vehicle, the system comprising:

an unmanned autonomous vehicle, the unmanned autonomous vehicle operating in the field independently and away from a base, the unmanned autonomous vehicle including a battery, the battery having a condition requiring optimization;

an unmanned battery optimization vehicle, the unmanned optimization vehicle operating in the field to independently to discover the condition of the battery of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, and to independently navigate to the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein the unmanned battery optimization vehicle determines whether to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, and when the unmanned battery optimization vehicle determines to service the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the unmanned battery optimization vehicle then determines whether to accept a present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is accepted by the battery optimization vehicle, the unmanned battery optimization vehicle is navigated to the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle is not accepted by the battery optimization vehicle, the unmanned battery optimization vehicle negotiates with the unmanned autonomous vehicle to determine a new location for servicing the unmanned autonomous vehicle;

wherein when the unmanned battery optimization vehicle reaches the present location or the new location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the unmanned battery authorization vehicle engages in an interaction with the battery, the interaction being effective to optimize operation of the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle further comprising:

a propulsion system;

a transceiver;

a control circuit that is coupled to the propulsion system, the transceiver, and the battery, the control circuit configured to;

operate the propulsion system to move the vehicle in the field;

sense at least one operational characteristic of the battery;

conduct an evaluation, based upon the operational characteristic of the battery, of when to have the battery replaced or recharged by the battery optimization vehicle;

transmit a message via the transceiver to request that a battery optimization vehicle replace or re-charge the battery based upon the evaluation;

subsequently communicate with the battery optimization vehicle to allow the battery optimization vehicle to recharge or replace the battery.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery optimization vehicle further comprises:

a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive signals;

a battery optimization apparatus that is configured to interact with a battery disposed at an unmanned autonomous vehicle that is also operating in the product delivery network;

a control circuit coupled to the transceiver and the battery optimization apparatus, the control circuit being configured to cause the unmanned battery optimization vehicle to independently navigate and travel to a present location of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part upon the signals received at the transceiver; and

when the unmanned battery optimization vehicle reaches the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the control circuit is further configured to direct the battery optimization apparatus to engage in an interaction with the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the interaction being effective to optimize battery operation at the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the interaction is re-charging or replacing the battery.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle comprises an aerial drone or an unmanned automated ground vehicle.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the unmanned autonomous vehicle carries a package and is on a package delivery route.