AUTOMATED HAZARD HANDLING ROUTINE ACTIVATION

• US 20140303884A1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Published: 10/09/2014
• 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., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,747,809 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: 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: G08G 5/04 Anti-collision systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for automated hazard handling routine activation. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV), may: (i) detect at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV; or (ii) activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one motivation. 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:

detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV; and

activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV comprises:

detecting at least one other UFV within a proximity zone of the UFV.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting at least one other UFV within a proximity zone of the UFV comprises:

comparing a position of the UFV with a position of the at least one other UFV.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing a position of the UFV with a position of the at least one other UFV comprises:

comparing one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates corresponding to the position of the UFV with one or more SPS coordinates corresponding to the position of the at least one other UFV.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting at least one other UFV within a proximity zone of the UFV comprises:

receiving at the UFV at least one proximity alert with respect to the at least one other UFV.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving at the UFV at least one proximity alert with respect to the at least one other UFV comprises:

receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from the at least one other UFV.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving at the UFV at least one proximity alert with respect to the at least one other UFV comprises:

receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from a base station that is associated with the UFV.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving at the UFV at least one proximity alert with respect to the at least one other UFV comprises:

receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from an air traffic coordination unit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV comprises:

detecting physical contact with at least one object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting physical contact with at least one object comprises:

detecting the physical contact with the at least one object using at least one accelerometer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting physical contact with at least one object comprises:

detecting the physical contact with the at least one object using at least one contact sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting physical contact with at least one object comprises:

detecting the physical contact with at least one other UFV.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting the physical contact with at least one other UFV comprises:

identifying the at least one other UFV via at least one comparison including at least one time corresponding to at least one contact detection by the at least one other UFV.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV comprises:

detecting at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting hazard detection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting hazard detection comprises:

detecting the at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one visual spectrum sensor of the UFV.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting hazard detection comprises:

detecting the at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) unit of the UFV.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting hazard detection comprises:

detecting the at least a partial loss of functionality for at least one radio of the UFV.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation comprises:

consulting at least one map to adjust at least one flight path of the UFV.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the consulting at least one map to adjust at least one flight path of the UFV comprises:

inspecting the at least one map to ascertain at least one three-dimensional representation of one or more hazards to adjust the at least one flight path of the UFV.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation comprises:

beginning a controlled descent responsive at least partly to activation of the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation comprises:

broadcasting at least one indication of a maneuverability quality corresponding to the UFV responsive at least partly to activation of the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation comprises:

preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on one or more governmental constraints.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on one or more governmental constraints comprises:

preparing the at least one plan for the at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on at least one of (i) one or more speed limits or (ii) one or more altitude restrictions.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation comprises:

preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on at least one populated area.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on at least one populated area comprises:

preparing the at least one plan for the at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on one or more areas having at least one heat signature.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attempting to communicate with a base station that is associated with the UFV via at least one other UFV.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obeying a received communication indicative that at least one particular sensor of the UFV is not to be employed by the UFV.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one deactivation command received from a base station that is associated with the UFV.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the deactivating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one deactivation command received from a base station that is associated with the UFV comprises:

authenticating that the at least one deactivation command was formulated by the base station that is associated with the UFV.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the deactivating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one deactivation command received from a base station that is associated with the UFV comprises:

verifying that the at least one deactivation command references at least one deactivation code that originated from the base station that is associated with the UFV.

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

circuitry for detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV; and

circuitry for activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation.

32-60. -60. (canceled)

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

means for detecting at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV; and

means for activating the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on the at least one motivation.

62-90. -90. (canceled)