SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY ALERTS AT EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• US 20190014461A1
• Filed: 06/19/2018
• Published: 01/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Winkle, David C., O'Brien, John J., High, Donald R., Mattingly, Todd D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,332,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/40 using smoke, fire or coloured gases
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) experiencing emergency landings and providing emergency alerts to the predicted emergency landing locations of the UAV. Each UAV includes sensors configured to detect at least one status input associated with the UAV during flight along its flight route. Each UAV analyzes the status inputs while in flight in order to predict an emergency landing location where the UAV would land if unable to fly due to an emergency condition. The UAV is configured to transmit an alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location

Claims

1. A system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle experiencing an emergency landing and providing an emergency alert to an area proximate a predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transport at least one product to a delivery destination via a flight route, the unmanned aerial vehicle including at least one sensor configured to detect and transmit over a network at least one status input associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight along the flight route;

a computing device including a processor-based control unit and configured for communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle over a network;

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a processor-based control circuit configured to;

determine, based on an analysis of the at least one status input, that the unmanned aerial vehicle is experiencing an emergency condition that requires an emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

analyze the at least one sensor input in order to determine a predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

transmit the predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the computing device over the network;

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to transmit an alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location; and

wherein, in response to a determination by the computing device that the unmanned aerial vehicle is unable to transmit the alert signal, the computing device is configured to transmit the alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to receive, over the network, an electronic signal from the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is experiencing an emergency condition that requires an emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and including an identification of the emergency condition.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to determine the predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on an analysis of at least one sensor input comprising:

global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

wind speed;

weight of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

component configuration of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

weight of the at least one product;

safe landing points along the flight route;

topography of the predicted emergency landing location;

buildings, trees, power lines, roads, vehicles, and people at the predicted emergency landing location, in-air objects along an emergency descent of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the flight route toward the predicted emergency landing location;

distance to the in-air objects;

angle of incidence relative to the in-air objects;

distance to objects on the ground at the predicted emergency landing location;

remaining battery life of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

mission status of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

RF signal strengths;

detectable WiFi networks; and

last command received by the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an altimeter, velocimeter, thermometer, photocell, battery life sensor, camera, radar, lidar, laser range finder, and sonar.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to analyze the at least one sensor input in order to determine a predicted emergency landing location resulting from an unguided ballistic trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle if the unmanned aerial vehicle loses all power at a given point along the flight route due to the emergency condition, and a predicted emergency landing location resulting from a computing device-guided trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the given point along the flight route due to the emergency condition.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device is configured to calculate a predicted casualty radius within which humans can be injured and property can be damaged by the emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device is configured to detect at least one of:

electronic devices of humans located within the predicted casualty radius;

electronic devices associated with the property located within the predicted casualty radius; and

in-air electronic devices located proximate a descent path of the unmanned aerial vehicle from a given point of the flight route where the emergency condition occurred toward the predicted emergency landing condition.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device is configured to transmit the alert signal to at least one of:

detected electronic devices of humans located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with vehicles located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with privately owned facilities located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with public facilities located within the predicted casualty radius; and

detected electronic devices associated with in-air objects located proximate the descent path of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device is configured to generate at least one of an audible alert signal and a visual alert signal configured to be perceived by humans at the predicted emergency landing location without assistance from their electronic devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device is configured to transmit the alert signal to at least one of a ground vehicle, an emergency alert station, and an emergency alert-generating device, and wherein the at least one of the ground vehicle, emergency alert station, and emergency alert-generating device, after receipt of the alert signal from the computing device, generates at least one of an audible alert signal and a visual alert signal configured to be perceived by humans at the predicted emergency landing location without assistance from their electronic devices.

11. A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle experiencing an emergency landing and providing an emergency alert to an area proximate a predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transport at least one product to a delivery destination via a flight route, the unmanned aerial vehicle including at least one sensor configured to detect and transmit over a network at least one status input associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight along the flight route;

providing a computing device including a processor-based control unit and configured for communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle over a network;

determining, via the control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle and based on an analysis of the at least one status input, that the unmanned aerial vehicle is experiencing an emergency condition that requires an emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

analyzing, via the control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the at least one sensor input received from the unmanned aerial vehicle in order to determine a predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

transmitting the predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the computing device over the network;

transmitting, via the unmanned aerial vehicle, an alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location; and

transmitting, via the computing device and in response to a determination by the computing device that the unmanned aerial vehicle is unable to transmit the alert signal, the alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step further comprises receiving, at the computing device and over the network, an electronic signal from the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is experiencing an emergency condition that requires an emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and including an identification of the emergency condition.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step further comprises determining, via control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the predicted emergency landing location of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on at least one sensor input comprising:

global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

wind speed;

weight of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

component configuration of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

weight of the at least one product;

safe landing points along the flight route;

topography of the predicted emergency landing location;

buildings, trees, power lines, roads, vehicles, and people at the predicted emergency landing location, in-air objects along an emergency descent of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the flight route toward the predicted emergency landing location;

distance to the in-air objects;

angle of incidence relative to the in-air objects;

distance to objects on the ground at the predicted emergency landing location;

remaining battery life of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

mission status of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

RF signal strengths;

detectable WiFi networks; and

last command received by the unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an altimeter, velocimeter, thermometer, photocell, battery life sensor, camera, radar, lidar, laser range finder, and sonar.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the analyzing step further comprises analyzing, via the control circuit of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the at least one sensor input in order to determine a predicted emergency landing location resulting from an unguided ballistic trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle if the unmanned aerial vehicle loses all power at a given point along the flight route due to the emergency condition, and a predicted emergency landing location resulting from a computing device-guided trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the given point along the flight route due to the emergency condition.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the analyzing step further comprises calculating, via at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device, a predicted casualty radius within which humans can be injured and property can be damaged by the emergency landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting, via the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device, at least one of:

electronic devices of humans located within the predicted casualty radius;

electronic devices associated with the property located within the predicted casualty radius; and

in-air electronic devices located proximate a descent path of the unmanned aerial vehicle from a given point of the flight route where the emergency condition occurred toward the predicted emergency landing condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting, via the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device, the alert signal to at least one of:

detected electronic devices of humans located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with vehicles located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with privately owned facilities located within the predicted casualty radius;

detected electronic devices associated with public facilities located within the predicted casualty radius; and

detected electronic devices associated with in-air objects located proximate the descent path of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step further comprises generating, via at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device, at least one of an audible alert signal and a visual alert signal configured to be perceived by humans at the predicted emergency landing location without assistance from their electronic devices.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting, via at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the computing device, the alert signal to at least one of a ground vehicle, an emergency alert station, and an emergency alert-generating device, and generating, via the at least one of the ground vehicle, emergency alert station, and emergency alert-generating device, at least one of an audible alert signal and a visual alert signal configured to be perceived by humans at the predicted emergency landing location without assistance from their electronic devices.