Systems, methods, and devices for providing assistance to an unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 9,514,653 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cheatham, Jesse R. III, Chin, Hon Wah, Duncan, William David, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Pan, Tony S., Petroski, Robert C., Tegreene, Clarence T., Tuckerman, David B., Urzhumov, Yaroslav A., Weaver, Thomas Allan, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUD, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/682,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20160300496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/3, 701/11, 701/13, 701/14, 701/16, 701/120, 701/467, 340/947, 244/75.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/25 for manufacturing or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• 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 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935

Abstract

A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a flight system, a status component, a navigation system, and a surveillance component. The flight system is for flying the service UAV. The status component is configured to determine that a first UAV is disabled. The navigation system is configured to fly the service UAV to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the status component determining that the first UAV is disabled. The surveillance component is configured to observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

Claims

1. A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a flight system for flying the service UAV;

a status determination component for determining that a first UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;

a service UAV navigation system to navigate the service UAV to fly to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the status determination component determining that the first UAV is disabled; and

a surveillance component configured to observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

2. The service UAV of claim 1, wherein the service UAV further comprises an illumination component, and wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate at least one of the first UAV and the area surrounding the first UAV.

3. The service UAV of claim 1, wherein the service UAV further comprises a communication component for sending and receiving wireless transmissions.

4. The service UAV of claim 3, wherein the communication component is further configured to relay wireless communication signals between the first UAV and a remote entity.

5. The service UAV of claim 1, further comprising a notification component configured to provide audible or visual notification that the service UAV is observing the first UAV and the area surrounding the first UAV to entities near the area surrounding the first UAV.

6. The service UAV of claim 1, wherein the surveillance component is configured to cause the navigation system to maintain flight above the first UAV at a distance that allows the surveillance component to observe the first UAV.

7. The service UAV of claim 1, wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV, and wherein the navigation system is configured to remain within a location that allows the surveillance component to substantially continually observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

8. The service UAV of claim 7, wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on a received wireless transmission.

9. The service UAV of claim 7, wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that the first UAV has been recovered by an authorized entity.

10. The service UAV of claim 7, wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that the first UAV is no longer disabled.

11. The service UAV of claim 7, wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that a replacement service UAV has arrived to observe or assist the first UAV.

12. The service UAV of claim 1, wherein the surveillance component is further configured to observe a disabled status of the first UAV and to report the disabled status to a remote entity.

13. Computer readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to:

determine that a first, non-service UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;

fly the service UAV to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the determination that the first UAV is disabled; and

observe the first UAV.

14. The computer readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to provide surveillance information to one or more ground-based units.

15. The computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the surveillance information comprises images captured by the service UAV.

16. The computer readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to observe a non-authorized entity in the area surrounding the first UAV.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to obtain images or video of the non-authorized entity.

18. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to fly and follow the non-authorized entity.

19. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to determine that the non-authorized entity came within a predetermined distance of the first UAV.

20. The computer readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to provide physical security to the first UAV.

21. The computer readable storage media of claim 20, wherein providing physical security comprises dropping objects to mark a perimeter around the first UAV.

22. The computer readable storage media of claim 20, wherein providing physical security comprises playing an audible sound to provide auditory notice or to induce unauthorized entities to stay away from the first UAV.

23. A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a flight system for flying the service UAV;

a status component configured to determine that a first UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;

a navigation system configured to cause the service UAV to fly to a location of the first UAV in response to the status component determining that the first UAV is disabled; and

a harm prevention component configured to place the first UAV in a damage prevention condition to prevent at least one of heat damage and fire damage to one or more of the first UAV and objects in an area near the first UAV.

24. The service UAV of claim 23, further comprising a communication component configured to wirelessly transmit a signal reporting one or more actions of the harm prevention component.

25. The service UAV of claim 23, further comprising a notification component configured to wirelessly transmit a signal reporting a hazard status of the first UAV.

26. The service UAV of claim 23, further comprising a notification component configured to provide audible or visual notification to nearby personnel of a hazard status of the first UAV.

27. The service UAV of claim 23, wherein the harm prevention component is configured to discharge an electrical energy storage component.

28. The service UAV of claim 23, wherein the harm prevention component is configured to place the first UAV in the heat prevention condition by removing a liquid or gas fuel from the first UAV.

29. The service UAV of claim 23, wherein the harm prevention component is configured to place the first UAV in the heat prevention condition by applying a fire preventative to one or more of the first UAV and an area near the first UAV.

30. The service UAV of claim 23, wherein the harm prevention component is configured to put out a fire on one or more of the first UAV by spraying fire preventative on a fire or hot spot on one or more of the first UAV and a region surrounding the first UAV.

31. Computer readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to:

determine that a first UAV is disabled;

fly to a landing location of the first UAV in response to determining that the first UAV is disabled; and

place the first UAV in a damage prevention condition to prevent heat or fire damage to one or more of the first UAV and objects in an area near the first UAV.

32. The computer readable media of claim 31, wherein placing the first UAV in a damage prevention condition comprises removing a combustible or flammable component of the first UAV.

33. The computer readable media of claim 32, wherein the combustible or flammable component of the first UAV comprises an energy storage component.

34. The computer readable media of claim 31, wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to sterilize the first UAV.

35. The computer readable media of claim 31, wherein the landing location of the first UAV is a crash landing location of the first UAV.