Deployment of mobile automated vehicles

• US 8,825,226 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Worley, William Spencer III, Clayton, Eric Mathew
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/109,285
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/23, 180/170, 180/274, 414/592, 414/814
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/00 Stage arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. A plurality of automated mobile vehicles may be deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an event area. The event area may be indoors and/or outdoors.

Claims

1. A system for deployment of an automated mobile vehicle into an event area, comprising:

a memory coupled to one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to;

detect an occurrence of an event within a materials handling facility, wherein the event is an interruption of an operation of an infrastructure component of the materials handling facility;

determine an event area surrounding a portion of the materials handling facility affected by the event; and

transmit instructions to deploy an automated mobile vehicle into the event area, wherein the automated mobile vehicle is configured to provide coverage to restore the interruption to the infrastructure component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure component is at least one of a light, a wireless network access point, a wired network access point, a camera, a speaker, a microphone, or a projector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the automated mobile vehicle is configured to provide coverage to restore the interruption to the infrastructure by at least one of:

activating a second light coupled to the automated mobile vehicle, activating a second wireless network access point coupled to the automated mobile vehicle, activating a second camera coupled to the automated mobile vehicle, activating a second speaker coupled to the automated mobile vehicle, activating a second microphone coupled to the automated mobile vehicle, or activating a second projector coupled to the automated mobile vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include instructions to deploy a plurality of automated mobile vehicles into the event area, wherein each of the plurality of automated mobile vehicles are configured to restore the interruption to the infrastructure component.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the automated mobile vehicle is at least one of an automated aerial vehicle or an automated mobile drive unit; and

the instructions include instructions for the automated mobile vehicle to position itself at a recovery location within the event area.

6. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to;

determine a remaining power available to a first automated mobile vehicle, wherein the first automated mobile vehicle is at a destination position within an event area and providing coverage to replace an at least partially inoperable infrastructure component;

determine a recovery location, wherein the recovery location is configured to provide power to the first automated mobile vehicle;

transmit instructions to a second automated mobile vehicle that is capable of providing relief for the first automated mobile vehicle and configured to provide the coverage;

determine that the second automated mobile vehicle has arrived to provide relief for the first automated mobile vehicle; and

cause the first automated mobile vehicle to depart toward the recovery location.

7. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the inoperable infrastructure component is at least one of a light, a wireless network access point, a wired network access point, a camera, a speaker, a microphone, or a projector.

8. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

determine, based at least in part on the remaining power available, a last departure time, wherein the last departure time represents a time by which the first automated mobile vehicle must depart the destination position in order to reach the recovery location without losing power.

9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the instructions identify at least one of the last departure time, an arrival time by which the second automated mobile vehicle is to arrive at the destination position, or a deployment time by which the second automated vehicle is to be deployed toward the destination position.

10. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that the last departure time is approaching; and

cause the first automated mobile vehicle to depart toward the recovery location at or before the last departure time.

11. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that an event has ended; and

cause at least one of the first automated mobile vehicle or the second automated mobile vehicle to depart toward the recovery location.

12. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the recovery location is at least one of a transportation vehicle, a top of a cellular tower, a building rooftop, a ledge within a building, a hook to which the automated mobile vehicle can attach, a materials handling facility, or a location within the materials handling facility.

13. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the computing system is coupled to the automated mobile vehicle.

14. A computer-implemented method for distributing a plurality of automated mobile vehicles, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

determining event area information associated with an event;

determine, based at least in part on the plurality of automated mobile vehicles, a distribution pattern for distributing each of the plurality of automated mobile vehicles within the event area at respective destination positions; and

causing each of the plurality of automated mobile vehicles to navigate to a respective destination position within the event area.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the event is caused by a disruption to an operation of an infrastructure component of a materials handling facility.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the event area information is obtained from a wireless network formed by the automated mobile vehicles.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the plurality of automated mobile vehicles to form a wireless network that is accessible to devices within the event area.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the plurality of automated mobile vehicles to provide at least one of lighting, audio input, a wireless network, audio output, video input, or video output within the event area.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the distribution pattern is determined by the plurality of automated mobile vehicles.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the destination positions is a recovery location within the event area.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the automated mobile vehicle is configured to dock with the recovery location and receive at least one of power or network connectivity from the recovery location.