COLLISION TARGETING FOR AN UNOCCUPIED FLYING VEHICLE (UFV)

• US 20140288813A1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Lord, Richard T., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2233 Multimissile systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/00 Systems for controlling missiles or projectiles, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for collision targeting for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV). For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) ascertain at least one target for at least one collision to include a UFV; or (ii) execute at least one maneuver to divert a UFV at least toward at least one target to induce at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

Claims

1. A method for hazard handling for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV), the method being at least partially implemented by at least one machine, the method comprising:

ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV; and

executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

selecting at least one other UFV as the at least one target for the at least one collision.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one other UFV as the at least one target for the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one other UFV as the at least one target based at least partially on at least one value of the at least one other UFV.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one other UFV as the at least one target for the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one other UFV as the at least one target based at least partially on a likelihood of recoverability from the at least one collision.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one other UFV as the at least one target for the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one other UFV as the at least one target based at least partially on the at least one other UFV having at least one of a related ownership or a related operator as that of the UFV.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one other UFV as the at least one target for the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one other UFV as the at least one target in lieu of a pilot-occupied flying vehicle (POFV).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm likely to result from the at least one collision.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm likely to result from the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of monetary harm likely to result from the at least one collision.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm likely to result from the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm to one or more humans likely to result from the at least one collision.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm to one or more humans likely to result from the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision so as to avoid crashing into a school.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on an amount of harm likely to result from the at least one collision comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on a risk of danger associated with one or more potential collision targets.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision based at least partially on a risk of danger associated with one or more potential collision targets comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision so as to avoid an incendiary location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

selecting at least one man-made object as the at least one target.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting at least one man-made object as the at least one target comprises:

selecting a man-made object that is unlikely to be materially damaged by the at least one collision to include the UFV.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

selecting a substantially stationary object as the at least one target.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

receiving from a base station at least one indication of the at least one target for the at least one collision.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

receiving from another UFV at least one indication of the at least one target for the at least one collision.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using at least one map.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using at least one map comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using the at least one map that is indicative of at least relative population levels.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using at least one map comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using the at least one map that is indicative of one or more designated crashing zones.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using at least one map comprises:

selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using the at least one map that is indicative of at least relative danger levels.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the selecting the at least one target for the at least one collision using at least one map comprises:

prioritizing one or more indications related to target collision selection that are associated with the at least one map.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target comprises:

accelerating toward the at least one target.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target comprises:

adjusting a flight path of the UFV to reduce a probability that the UFV will collide with an object that is not the at least one target.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target comprises:

adjusting a flight path of the UFV so that the at least one target is substantially along at least a spatial aspect of an adjusted flight path of the UFV.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target comprises:

broadcasting at least one message indicative of an identity of the at least one target of the at least one collision.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a potential collision to include the UFV and at least one object is likely imminent.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the determining that a potential collision to include the UFV and at least one object is likely imminent comprises:

determining that the potential collision is to occur absent action by the UFV to avoid the potential collision.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the determining that a potential collision to include the UFV and at least one object is likely imminent comprises:

determining that a likelihood associated with the potential collision meets at least one threshold likelihood.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting the at least one collision automatically.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the reporting the at least one collision automatically comprises:

transmitting at least one collision report prior to occurrence of the at least one collision.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the reporting the at least one collision automatically comprises:

transmitting at least one collision report after occurrence of the at least one collision.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the reporting the at least one collision automatically comprises:

reporting an identification of the UFV.

34-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) for hazard handling, the UFV comprising:

circuitry for ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV; and

circuitry for executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target.

38-72. -72. (canceled)

73. A system for hazard handling for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV), the system comprising:

means for ascertaining at least one target for at least one collision to include the UFV; and

means for executing at least one maneuver to divert the UFV at least toward the at least one target to induce the at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target.

74-108. -108. (canceled)