Automotive drone deployment system

• US 9,409,644 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• 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: Stanek, Joseph F., Lockwood, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US14/333,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20160016663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2101/20 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 70/30 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 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• 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 drone controlling apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store a predetermined tire pressure;

an interface configured to transmit information to a drone device;

a processor in communication with the memory and interface, the processor configured to;

receive vehicle tire pressure information;

compare the vehicle tire pressure information to the predetermined tire pressure; and

cause a deployment command to be transmitted through the interface to the drone device based on the comparison.

2. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure information is one of a plurality of vehicle state information which identifies a vehicle need that requires an item, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

include delivery instructions with the deployment command transmitted to the drone device that identifies the item, such that the drone device is instructed to locate the item and return the item to the vehicle.

3. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure information is one of a plurality of vehicle state information, wherein the vehicle state information also includes at least one of a vehicle speed information, a vehicle temperature information, and a fuel level information.

4. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

compare the vehicle speed information to the drone deployment condition that identifies a predetermined speed at which the drone device is set to be deployed; and

cause the interface to transmit the deployment command to the drone device when the vehicle speed information satisfies the predetermined speed identified in the drone deployment condition.

5. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

compare the vehicle temperature information to the drone deployment condition that identifies a predetermined temperature at which the drone device is set to be deployed; and

cause the interface to transmit the deployment command to the drone device when the vehicle temperature information satisfies the predetermined temperature identified in the drone deployment condition.

6. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:

compare the vehicle fuel level information to the drone deployment condition that identifies a predetermined fuel level at which the drone device is set to be deployed; and

cause the interface to transmit the deployment command to the drone device when the vehicle fuel level information satisfies the predetermined fuel level identified in the drone deployment condition.

7. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a desired travel speed request under an autonomous driving mode;

generate a predicted distance range for sensing objects in the direction of travel for operating the vehicle at the desired travel speed in the autonomous driving mode;

determine a distance range for an object sensing sensor on the vehicle; and

cause the interface to transmit the deployment command to the drone device when the distance range for the object sensing sensor on the vehicle is less than the predicted distance range.

8. The drone controlling apparatus of claim 1, wherein vehicle state information comprises the vehicle tire pressure information and also identifies a sensor providing inadequate sensor information, wherein the sensor information is utilized for a vehicle housing the drone controlling apparatus to operate in an autonomous driving mode, and wherein the processor is configured to:

identify the sensor providing inadequate sensor information based on the vehicle state information;

determine whether the drone device is capable of obtaining the sensor information; and

cause the interface to transmit the deployment command to the drone device when the drone device is determined to be capable of obtaining the sensor information.