UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20160272317A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: CHO, Taehoon, SHIN, Choonghwan
• Granted Patent: US 10,053,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0242 by spraying extinguishants from the aircraft spraying from aircraft in general B64D1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/11 for carrying aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/005 Devices without lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/16 Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting jettisoning fuel B64D37/26
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• 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 2101/20 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 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 : in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 : Land vehicles
• 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 1/0094 : involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 : specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 : using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 : Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 : transportable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 : event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 7/00 : Traffic control systems for simultaneous control of two or more different kinds of craft

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to the present invention includes a housing mounted on a vehicle and having an inner space, the housing provided with a launching unit, an unmanned aerial vehicle accommodated in the housing and configured to be launched from the housing when a driving state of the vehicle meets a preset condition, wing units mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to allow the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle in response to the launch from the housing, an output unit disposed on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a controller configured to control the wing units to move the unmanned aerial vehicle to a position set based on information related to the driving state when the unmanned aerial vehicle is launched, and control the output unit to output warning information related to the driving state.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus comprising:

a housing mounted on a vehicle and having an inner space;

a launching unit located inside the inner space;

an unmanned aerial vehicle accommodated in the inner space and configured to be launched from the housing, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprising wing units configured to guide flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle after launch and an output unit configured to output information; and

a controller configured to;

control the unmanned aerial vehicle to launch from the housing based on a driving state of the vehicle and a preset condition; and

control the wing units to maneuver the unmanned aerial vehicle to a position after launch that is set based on first information related to the driving state; and

control the output unit at the set position to output second information related to the driving state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises a wireless communication unit configured to receive the first information; and

the first information comprises information related to at least a moving speed of the vehicle, a moving direction of the vehicle, a set destination of the vehicle, a road on which the vehicle moves or a position of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises at least one camera each configured to capture one or more images of an external environment; and

the first information comprises the captured one or more images.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a potential collision between the vehicle and an object located in the external environment based on the one or more images and the driving state; and

control the unmanned aerial vehicle to launch from the housing when the potential collision is determined.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a distance between the vehicle and another vehicle based on the one or more images; and

control the unmanned aerial vehicle to launch from the housing when the determined distance is less than a preset safe distance,

wherein the set position corresponds to an area adjacent to the another vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a curvature of a road on which the vehicle travels based on the one or more images;

determine an angle between a moving direction of the vehicle based on the driving state and a moving direction of the vehicle based on the determined curvature; and

control the unmanned aerial vehicle to launch from the housing when the determined angle is greater than a reference angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preset condition corresponds to a generated impact of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a degree of the generated impact; and

restrict the launch of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the determined degree is less than a preset reference degree.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle to launch from the housing in response to a received control command when the degree of the generated impact is less than the preset reference degree.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises a display unit configured to visually output the second information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to emit light to at least one area in which the vehicle is located.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises at least one camera each configured to capture one or more images of an external environment; and

the controller is further configured to detect another vehicle located within a preset range of the vehicle based on the captured one or more images and to control the wing units to maneuver the unmanned aerial vehicle in a direction opposite to a direction in which the vehicle is moving.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to output light toward the another vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the set position is spaced apart from the vehicle by a specific distance based on the driving state; and

the controller is further configured to control the wing units to maneuver the unmanned aerial vehicle in a direction opposite to a direction in which the vehicle is moving.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the output unit configured to spray paint; and

the controller is further configured to control the output unit to output the second information by spraying paint.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the output unit comprises a placard including the second information that is configured to be externally exposed; and

the controller is further configured to control output unit to output the information by externally exposing the placard.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the wing units to land the unmanned aerial vehicle on the ground at the set position; and

control the display unit to output the second information on the ground after the unmanned vehicle is landed.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the output unit is further configured to output audible information; and

the controller is further configured to control the output unit to output the second information audibly.

19. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises a fire-extinguishing unit storing an extinguishing material; and

the controller is further configured to detect a fire based on the one or more images and to control the extinguishing unit to discharge the extinguishing material when the fire is detected.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises at least one camera each configured to capture one or more images of an external environment above the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

the second information comprises at least one of the one or more captured images.

21. A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle mounted in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving driving state information related to the vehicle;

launching the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the received driving state and a preset condition;

maneuvering the unmanned aerial vehicle to a position after launch that is set based the driving state; and

outputting information related to the driving state at the set position.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining an external environment via a camera mounted in the vehicle; and

setting an altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the determined external environment.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the preset condition corresponds to a generated impact on the vehicle and further comprising:

determining a degree of the generated impact; and

restricting the launch of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the determined degree is less than a preset reference degree.