METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AERIAL DRONES IN REGULATED SPACES WITH GROUND VEHICLE ASSIST

• US 20180107209A1
• Filed: 10/18/2016
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HARDEE, Christopher J., MUKHERJEE, Maharaj
• Granted Patent: US 10,839,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Embodiments for managing drones by one or more processors are described. An aerial drone is controlled to fly to a first location outside of a restricted airspace. The aerial drone is enabled to detachably couple to a ground vehicle at the first location outside of the restricted airspace. The ground vehicle travels through the restricted airspace from the first location outside of the restricted airspace to a second location outside the restricted airspace. The aerial drone is enabled to detach from the ground vehicle at the second location outside of the restricted airspace. The aerial drone is controlled to fly from the second location outside of the restricted airspace to a third location outside of the restricted airspace.

Claims

1. A method, by one or more processors, for managing drones, comprising:

controlling an aerial drone to fly to a first location outside of a restricted airspace;

enabling the aerial drone to detachably couple to a ground vehicle at the first location outside of the restricted airspace, wherein the ground vehicle travels through the restricted airspace from the first location outside of the restricted airspace to a second location outside the restricted airspace;

enabling the aerial drone to detach from the ground vehicle at the second location outside of the restricted airspace; and

controlling the aerial drone to fly from the second location outside of the restricted airspace to a third location outside of the restricted airspace.

2. The method of claim 1, further including

identifying a route of the ground vehicle, wherein the route of the ground vehicle does not traverse the first location outside of the restricted airspace;

and

modifying the route of the ground vehicle, wherein said modified route of the ground vehicle traverses the first location outside of the restricted airspace.

3. The method of claim 1, further including generating a signal indicative of the aerial drone detachably coupling to the ground vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detachably coupling of the aerial drone to the ground vehicle includes landing the aerial drone on the ground vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further including selecting the ground vehicle from a plurality of ground vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of ground vehicles has an identified route that traverses the restricted airspace.

6. The method of claim 1, further including charging the aerial drone while the aerial drone is detachably coupled to the ground vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ground vehicle is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).

8. A system for managing drones, comprising:

at least one processor that

controls an aerial drone to fly to a first location outside of a restricted airspace;

enables the aerial drone to detachably couple to a ground vehicle at the first location outside of the restricted airspace, wherein the ground vehicle travels through the restricted airspace from the first location outside of the restricted airspace to a second location outside the restricted airspace;

enables the aerial drone to detach from the ground vehicle at the second location outside of the restricted airspace; and

controls the aerial drone to fly from the second location outside of the restricted airspace to a third location outside of the restricted airspace.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor:

identifies a route of the ground vehicle, wherein the route of the ground vehicle does not traverse the first location outside of the restricted airspace; and

modifies the route of the ground vehicle, wherein said modified route of the ground vehicle traverses the first location outside of the restricted airspace.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor generates a signal indicative of the aerial drone detachably coupling to the ground vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the detachably coupling of the aerial drone to the ground vehicle includes landing the aerial drone on the ground vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor selects the ground vehicle from a plurality of ground vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of ground vehicles has an identified route that traverses the restricted airspace.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor enables the aerial drone to be charged while the aerial drone is detachably coupled to the ground vehicle.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the ground vehicle is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).

15. A computer program product for managing drones by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that controls an aerial drone to fly to a first location outside of a restricted airspace;

an executable portion that enables the aerial drone to detachably couple to a ground vehicle at the first location outside of the restricted airspace, wherein the ground vehicle travels through the restricted airspace from the first location outside of the restricted airspace to a second location outside the restricted airspace;

an executable portion that enables the aerial drone to detach from the ground vehicle at the second location outside of the restricted airspace; and

an executable portion that controls the aerial drone to fly from the second location outside of the restricted airspace to a third location outside of the restricted airspace.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program portions further include:

an executable portion that identifies a route of the ground vehicle, wherein the route of the ground vehicle does not traverse the first location outside of the restricted airspace; and

an executable portion that modifies the route of the ground vehicle, wherein said modified route of the ground vehicle traverses the first location outside of the restricted airspace.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program portions further include an executable portion that generates a signal indicative of the aerial drone detachably coupling to the ground vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the detachably coupling of the aerial drone to the ground vehicle includes landing the aerial drone on the ground vehicle.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program portions further include an executable portion that selects the ground vehicle from a plurality of ground vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of ground vehicles has an identified route that traverses the restricted airspace.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program portions further include an executable portion that enables the aerial drone to be charged while the aerial drone is detachably coupled to the ground vehicle.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the ground vehicle is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).