MODULAR DRONE AND METHODS FOR USE

• US 20140277854A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azure Sky Group LLC.
• Original Assignee: Azure Sky Group LLC.
• Inventors: Jones, Adam, Valin, Jason Van, Komla, Paul K., Luther, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/92 of avionics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/24 for use as flying displays, e.g. advertising or billboards
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• 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 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/35 by wireless transmission, e.g. by induction
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a drone. The drone may include: a navigation unit configured to determine the location of the drone and navigate the drone to designated locations; a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to read RFID tag information from RFID tags; and a wireless network transceiver configured to periodically transmit the location of the drone and RFID tag information to an inventory management system. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a drone. The method may include: receiving navigation path information; navigating the drone along the navigation path based on satellite location signals; determining current position information based on the satellite location signals; reading RFID tag information from a first RFID tag; and transmitting the RFID tag information and the current position information via a wireless client to a central computing system.

Claims

1. A drone comprising:

a navigation unit configured to determine the location of the drone and navigate the drone to designated locations;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to read RFID tag information from RFID tags; and

a wireless network transceiver configured to periodically transmit the location of the drone and RFID tag information to an inventory management system.

2. The drone of claim 1, wherein the wireless network transceiver is further configured to receive navigation path information including designated locations.

3. The drone of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store pre-defined location information for a plurality of RFID tags, wherein the RFID reader is configured to read information from at least one of the RFID tags; and

a processor configured to compare the location information from the navigation unit with the pre-defined location information of the read tag.

4. The drone of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to determine an offset of the location information from the navigation unit with the pre-defined location information of the read tag and to correct a second navigation unit location information based on the offset.

5. The drone of claim 3, wherein the wireless network transceiver is further configured to determine a strength of a wireless network signal;

and the processor is configured to triangulate location information based on the strength of the wireless network signal.

6. The drone of claim 3, wherein the memory further stores a pre-defined navigation path comprising a plurality of designated locations corresponding to the plurality of RFID tags.

7. The drone of claim 1, further comprising a weatherized electronics casing surrounding the GPS navigation unit and the wireless network transceiver.

8. The drone of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to correlate the RFID tag information with the location of the drone before transmitting the information to the inventory management system.

9. The drone of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rotors.

10. A method performed by a drone, the method comprising:

receiving navigation path information;

navigating the drone along the navigation path based on satellite location signals;

determining current position information based on the satellite location signals;

reading radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag information from a first RFID tag; and

transmitting the RFID tag information and the current position information via a wireless client to a central computing system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating the current position information with the RFID information based on a time when the RFID information is read; and

transmitting the associated position information with the RFID information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reading a second RFID tag having a fixed location;

determining the fixed location of the second RFID tag;

determining position information for the time the second RFID tag is read based on the satellite location signals; and

determining an offset of the fixed location from the position information,

wherein the step of navigating the flight path based on satellite location signals comprises determining adjusted position information based on the offset and the satellite location signals.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the drone has reached an end of the navigation path; and

connecting the drone to a charger at the end of the navigation path.

20. The network system of claim 14, wherein the drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a plurality of rotors.

13. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a strength of a wireless network signal received via the wireless client;

determining a distance from a wireless access point based on the strength of the wireless network signal; and

adjusting the position information based on the distance from the wireless access point.

15. A network system comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags affixed to objects, the RFID tags storing tag information identifying the objects;

a drone configured to;

navigate the drone to designated locations, read the tag information from at least one of the RFID tags, determine a location of the drone, and wirelessly transmit the location of the drone and the read tag information; and

an inventory management system configured to;

receive the RFID tag information and drone location information from the drone, retrieve a record of the object identified by the tag information, and update the record with the location of the drone.

16. The network system of claim 15, wherein the inventory management system is configured to correlate the drone location information and the RFID tag information based on a time that the information is received.

17. The network system of claim 15, wherein the drone is configured to correlate the RFID tag information and the drone location information before transmitting the information.

18. The network system of claim 15, wherein the inventory management system is further configured to:

detect a change in the status of an object, determine an expected location of the object based on the record;

transmit the expected location to the drone as a designated location.

19. The network system of claim 18, wherein the drone is further configured to:

receive an identifier of an object and the expected location of the object, navigate to the expected location of the object, and determine whether an RFID tag including the identifier of the object is present at the expected location.