AUTOMOTIVE DRONE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM

• US 20170139421A1
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lockwood, John A., Stanek, Joseph F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/00 Boundary layer controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0008 having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0091 Accessories not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• 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 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• 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 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/60 Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 : Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 : characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• 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 1/0202 : specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 : with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0231 : using optical position detecting means position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 : using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 : using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 : using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 : using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 : using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 : Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle'"'"'s performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensors, including one or more leading sensors configured to sense external objects leading the vehicle, and processor(s) configured to;

store traffic data received from a traffic server;

determine a traffic congestion location based on the received traffic data;

transmit an instruction to the drone to fly toward and sense the determined traffic congestion location;

received sensed drone data relating to the traffic congestion location;

amend the stored traffic data based on the received drone data relating to the traffic congestion location.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

reference a stored navigational map;

determine a deficiency of the stored navigational map;

determine a location of the deficiency;

transmit an instruction to the drone to fly toward and sense the determined deficiency location.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

amend the stored navigational map based on data transmitted by the drone relating to the deficiency location.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

autonomously steer the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

autonomously accelerate the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

enforce a speed cap on the vehicle;

vary the enforced speed cap based on an estimated leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

receive information from the drone;

vary the enforced speed cap based on the received information.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises a command for the drone to detach from the vehicle.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensors, including one or more leading sensors configured to sense external objects leading the vehicle, and processor(s) configured to;

determine a vehicle speed;

project a vehicle route based on a received destination;

estimate a leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors based on the projected vehicle route;

determine a desired leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors;

compare the estimated leading sensing range with the desired leading sensing range;

transmit an instruction to a drone based on the comparison.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the processor(s) are configured to continuously recalculate the leading sensing range as the vehicle traverses the vehicle route.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the processor(s) are configured to estimate the leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors based on the projected vehicle route and a navigational map.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the processor(s) are configured to adjust the leading sensing range based on a turn of the projected vehicle route.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the processor(s) are configured to amend the projected route based on a transmission from the drone, the transmission comprising information related to a drone sensor measurement.

19. The method of claim 7, comprising:

determining an upcoming turn in the vehicle route and reducing the estimated leading sensing range based on the determination.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising:

autonomously steering the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

autonomously accelerating the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

enforcing a speed cap on the vehicle;

positively correlating the enforced speed cap with the estimated leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors.

12. A method of controlling a drone with a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensors, including one or more leading sensors configured to sense external objects leading the vehicle, and processor(s), the method comprising, via the processor(s);

storing traffic data received from a traffic server;

determining a traffic congestion location based on the received traffic data;

transmitting an instruction to the drone to fly toward and sense the determined traffic congestion location;

receiving sensed drone data relating to the traffic congestion location;

amending the stored traffic data based on the received drone data relating to the traffic congestion location.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

referencing a stored navigational map;

determining a deficiency of the stored navigational map;

determining a location of the deficiency;

transmitting an instruction to the drone to fly toward and sense the determined deficiency location.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising amending the stored navigational map based on data transmitted by the drone relating to the deficiency location.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

autonomously steering the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

autonomously accelerating the vehicle based on inputs from the plurality of sensors;

enforcing a speed cap on the vehicle;

varying the enforced speed cap based on an estimated leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving information from the drone;

varying the enforced speed cap based on the received information.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising:

determining a vehicle speed;

projecting a vehicle route based on a received destination;

estimating a leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors based on the projected vehicle route;

determining a desired leading sensing range of the one or more leading sensors;

comparing the estimated leading sensing range with the desired leading sensing range;

transmitting an instruction to the drone based on the comparison.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

periodically recalculating the leading sensing range as the vehicle traverses the vehicle route.