UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE FOR CROWD CONTROL AMELIORATION

• US 20170341746A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Erickson, Thomas D., Pickover, Clifford A., Vukovic, Maja
• Granted Patent: US 10,683,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle for providing ameliorative action. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a processor-based monitoring device to monitor a plurality of individuals to determine crowd data associated with the plurality of individuals, a crowd estimator configured to receive the crowd data to estimate a crowd pressure estimation value indicative of a likelihood of a crowd event, the crowd pressure estimation value being based on the crowd data, and an ameliorative action generator to automatically perform a function when the crowd pressure estimation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the function includes activating one or more feedback outputs configured to provide an ameliorative action

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle for providing ameliorative action, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a processor-based monitoring device to monitor a plurality of individuals to determine crowd data associated with the plurality of individuals;

a crowd estimator configured to receive the crowd data to estimate a crowd pressure estimation value indicative of a likelihood of a crowd event, the crowd pressure estimation value being based on the crowd data; and

an ameliorative action device to automatically perform at least one function when the crowd pressure estimation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the at least one function includes activating one or more feedback outputs configured to provide an ameliorative action.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor-based monitoring device detects one or more variables from a location associated with the plurality of individuals, the one or more variables being selected from the group consisting of video feedback, audio feedback, floor vibration feedback, and oxygen content feedback.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor-based monitoring device is further configured to detect emotions of each of the plurality of individuals to determine the crowd data.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the crowd estimator is further configured to estimate trajectories of each of the plurality of individuals to estimate the crowd pressure estimation value.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes providing an instruction to the plurality of individuals, the instruction being selected from the group consisting of video feedback and audio feedback.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5, wherein the instruction includes generating a virtual map indicating a directional route to safety, the virtual map being displayed on a display unit mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5, wherein the instruction includes illuminating one or more lights mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5, wherein the instruction includes a command to separate the plurality of individuals into a plurality of groups such that each group is provided a separate instruction so as to prevent propagation of shockwaves.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes emitting infrared beams or an aversive scent to redirect the plurality of individuals from a particular area.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the processor-based monitoring device is further configured to detect one or more individuals in need of assistance; and

the ameliorative action generator is further configured to automatically perform the at least one function for the one or more individuals in need of assistance.

11. A method for providing ameliorative action using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a processor-based monitoring device, a plurality of individuals to determine crowd data associated with the plurality of individuals;

estimating a crowd pressure estimation value indicative of a likelihood of a crowd event, the crowd pressure estimation value being based on the crowd data; and

automatically performing at least one function when the crowd pressure estimation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the at least one function includes activating one or more feedback outputs configured to provide an ameliorative action.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring includes detecting one or more variables from a location associated with the plurality of individuals, the one or more variables being selected from the group consisting of video feedback, audio feedback, floor vibration feedback, and oxygen content feedback.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein estimating the crowd pressure estimation value includes estimating trajectories of each of the plurality of individuals.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein performing the at least one function includes providing an instruction to the plurality of individuals, the instruction being selected from the group consisting of video feedback and audio feedback.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the instruction includes generating a virtual map indicating a directional route to safety, the virtual map being displayed on a display unit mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the instruction includes illuminating one or more lights mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for providing ameliorative action using an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute:

monitoring, by a processor-based monitoring device, a plurality of individuals to determine crowd data associated with the plurality of individuals;

estimating a crowd pressure estimation value indicative of a likelihood of a crowd event, the crowd pressure estimation value being based on the crowd data; and

automatically performing at least one function when the crowd pressure estimation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the at least one function includes activating one or more feedback outputs configured to provide an ameliorative action.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein monitoring includes detecting one or more variables from a location associated with the plurality of individuals, the one or more variables being selected from the group consisting of video feedback, audio feedback, floor vibration feedback, and oxygen content feedback.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein performing the at least one function includes providing an instruction to the plurality of individuals, the instruction being selected from the group consisting of video feedback and audio feedback.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein providing the instruction includes generating a virtual map indicating a directional route to safety, the virtual map being displayed on a display unit mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.