Apparatus and method for sending SOS in vehicle engaged with uninhabited aerial vehicle

• US 9,723,468 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Cho, Sung O
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/151,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/10 using self-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of emergency handling is provided for a vehicle engaged with an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV). The method can include collecting location information if emergency situation occurs. In emergency situations, the vehicle can determine whether an operation of uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) is allowed based on the location information and time information. After determining whether there is a flight space for the operation of uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) above a vehicle, the vehicle can transmit at least one of SOS and an emergency call into the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV).

Claims

1. A method of emergency handling for a vehicle engaged with an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

collecting location information when an emergency situation occurs;

determining whether ejection of the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) from the vehicle for flying the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) is allowed based on the location information and time information;

determining whether there is a flight space for the operation of uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) above the vehicle; and

transmitting at least one of a SOS or an emergency call to the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information is periodically updated by a global positioning system (GPS) device under a predetermined condition.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

maintaining the location information based on a previous GPS information when the signal strength of wireless communication network is equal to or below a predetermined level; and

updating the location information based on a current GPS information when the signal strength of wireless communication network is above the predetermined level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting at least one of the SOS or the emergency call into the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises:

ejecting the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) when there is flight space; and

sending at least one of the SOS or the emergency call into the ejected uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the SOS or the emergency call includes vehicle status information, road information, and the location information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether there is a flight space for the operation of the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) above a vehicle includes:

sensing a space above the vehicle with a space sensor placed in the top of vehicle;

determining whether the sensed space is equal to or larger than the flight space; and

checking whether there are obstructions on the sensed space with a sensor included in the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV).

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) flying above the vehicle;

sensing signal strength of a wireless communication network;

sending at least one of the SOS or the emergency call in the direction of the strongest signal strength; and

turning on a warning light in response to at least one of the SOS or the emergency call.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

when the signal strength of the wireless communication network is equal to or below a predetermined level, translocating the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) to send at least one of the SOS or the emergency call; and

replacing the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) above the location of vehicle after sending at least one of the SOS or the emergency call.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

when the signal strength of the wireless communication network is equal to or below a predetermined level after translocating the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV), sending at least one of the SOS or the emergency call in a direction of the location information included in at least one of the SOS and the emergency call.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is in communication with the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) via a Device-to-Device (D2D) communication method or a direct communication method, not a wireless communication network.

11. An apparatus for use in a vehicle engaged with an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV), the apparatus comprising:

an emergency managing controller configured to send at least one of a SOS or an emergency call via a wireless communication network when an emergency situation occurs;

transmitter configured to transmit at least one of the SOS or the emergency call into the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) when signal strength of the wireless communication network is detected to be equal to or below a predetermined level; and

an emergency apparatus controller configured to control the transmitter according to whether ejecting the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) from the vehicle for flying the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) is allowed based on location information and time information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a status recognizer configured to recognize the emergency situation with a sensor included in the vehicle; and

a location information controller configured to obtain location information and a state of roads using a global positioning system (GPS) device and a navigation device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the location information controller is configured to maintain the location information based on previous GPS information when the signal strength of the wireless communication network is equal to or below a predetermined level, and is configured to update the location information based on a current GPS information when the signal strength of wireless communication network is detected above the predetermined level.

14. An uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) engaged with an emergency handling device included in a vehicle for emergency situation, the UAV comprising:

a receiver configured to receive instruction from the vehicle about transmitting at least one of an SOS or an emergency call;

a sensing unit configured to check a flight space above the vehicle;

a controller configured to determine whether to allow ejection of the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) from the vehicle for flying the uninhabited aerial vehicle based on location information and time information before the uninhabited aerial vehicle is ejected; and

a transmitter configured to send at least one of the SOS or the emergency call after the uninhabited aerial vehicle is ejected.

15. The uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) according to claim 14, further comprising at least one of:

a warning light configured to emitting a light in response to at least one of the SOS and the emergency call;

a location unit configured to receive a global positioning system (GPS) signal;

or

a camera configured to gather image information about surrounding environment.

16. The uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the SOS or the emergency call includes vehicle status information, road information, and location information.

17. The uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) according to claim 14, further comprising:

a signal detector configured to sense signal strength of wireless communication network.

18. The uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter sends at least one of the SOS or the emergency call in the direction of the strongest signal strength as determined by the signal detector.

19. The uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) according to claim 17, wherein when the signal strength of wireless communication network is equal to or below a predetermined level, the controller is configured to translocate the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) to send at least one of the SOS or the emergency call and to replace the uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) above the location of vehicle after sending at least one of the SOS or the emergency call.