Dynamically establishing a temporary safe route via a network of unmanned vehicles

• US 9,464,907 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot IOT LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hoareau, Guillaume, Liebenberg, Johannes J., Musial, John G., Whitman, Todd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US14/991,302
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/2, 701/3, 701117-120, 244/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/24 for use as flying displays, e.g. advertising or billboards
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00

Abstract

Dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned vehicles. The temporary safe evacuation route is determined based on real-time information regarding the unsafe situation. A network of unmanned vehicles are deployed and positioned at determined points along the safe evacuation route. Guidance is provided to the network of unmanned vehicles for display along the safe evacuation route by the unmanned vehicle to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation. Information in real time regarding the unsafe situation may be received from the unmanned vehicles. Based on the information received, the safe evacuation route may be adjusted.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned vehicles comprising the steps of:

a computer determining a safe evacuation route based on real-time information regarding the unsafe situation;

the computer deploying a network of unmanned vehicles and positioning the unmanned vehicles at determined points along the safe evacuation route;

the computer providing guidance to the network of unmanned vehicles for display along the safe evacuation route by the unmanned vehicles to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

the computer receiving information in real time regarding the unsafe situation; and

the computer, based on the information received, determining whether the safe evacuation route should be adjusted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the guidance for display provides information regarding the safe evacuation route to people at the unsafe situation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the guidance for display provides information warning against the unsafe situation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the safe evacuation route includes strategic points off of the evacuation route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received regarding the unsafe situation is regarding the evacuation of people from the unsafe situation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the evacuation is complete, the computer deploying the network of unmanned vehicles to another location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the guidance displayed uses internationally known symbols.

8. A computer program product for dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned vehicles comprising a computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:

determining, by the computer, a safe evacuation route based on real-time information regarding the unsafe situation;

deploying, by the computer, a network of unmanned vehicles and positioning the unmanned vehicles at determined points along the safe evacuation route;

providing, by the computer, guidance to the network of unmanned vehicles for display along the safe evacuation route by the unmanned vehicles to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

receiving, by the computer, information in real time regarding the unsafe situation; and

based on the information received, determining, by the computer, whether the safe evacuation route should be adjusted.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the guidance for display provides information regarding the safe evacuation route to people at the unsafe situation.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the guidance for display provides information warning against the unsafe situation.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the safe evacuation route includes strategic points off of the evacuation route.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information received regarding the unsafe situation is regarding the evacuation of people from the unsafe situation.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the guidance displayed uses internationally known symbols.

14. A computer system for dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned vehicles comprising a computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having program instructions executable by the computer to perform the program instructions comprising:

determining, by the computer, a safe evacuation route based on real-time information regarding the unsafe situation;

deploying, by the computer, a network of unmanned vehicles and positioning the unmanned vehicles at determined points along the safe evacuation route;

providing, by the computer, guidance to the network of unmanned vehicles for display along the safe evacuation route by the unmanned vehicles to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

receiving, by the computer, information in real time regarding the unsafe situation; and

based on the information received, determining, by the computer, whether the safe evacuation route should be adjusted.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the guidance for display provides information regarding the safe evacuation route to people at the unsafe situation.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the guidance for display provides information warning against the unsafe situation.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the safe evacuation route includes strategic points off of the evacuation route.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the information received regarding the unsafe situation is regarding the evacuation of people from the unsafe situation.

19. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the guidance displayed uses internationally known symbols.

20. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the information received regarding the unsafe situation is regarding whether the evacuation of people from the unsafe situation is complete.