Unmanned device interaction methods and systems

• US 9,733,644 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Isaac
• Application Number:
  US13/601,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 23, 89 111
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/005 by providing the operator with signals other than visual, e.g. acoustic, haptic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure including at least

a wall-mountable base including at least one coil; and

an unmanned aerial device including at least one optical sensor configured at least for sensing optical image data from a vicinity of the wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure when the unmanned aerial device is positioned on the wall-mountable base, and at least one inductive charging coil configured to align with the at least one coil of the wall-mountable base for contactless charging of the unmanned aerial device, wherein at least one of the wall-mountable base or the unmanned aerial device include at least

circuitry configured for controlling the unmanned aerial device to launch responsive to an application of at least one recognition criterion to the optical image data sensed from the vicinity of the wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure; and

circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for configuring the unmanned aerial device to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and at least one other unmanned aerial device to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second zone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for configuring the unmanned aerial device to capture data relating to a human subject.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to undertake an observation task portion.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for identifying an operating mode of the unmanned aerial device audibly or visibly while a primary motor of the unmanned aerial device is not moving the unmanned aerial device.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for causing another unmanned aerial device to capture delivery data relating to the unmanned aerial device.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for causing a data handling device aboard the unmanned aerial device to contain a task schedule indicating a first future delivery of a first object to a first destination and a second future delivery of a second object to a second destination.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for determining whether an operator of the unmanned aerial device has indicated a tracking mode of the unmanned aerial device.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for overriding a first task being performed by the unmanned aerial device by transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a second task to the unmanned aerial device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for configuring the unmanned aerial device to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a particular task and not to store any indication of having performed the particular task.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for signaling a decision whether to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with a specific device or with a specific person.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for responding to an indication of the unmanned aerial device becoming within a proximity of a mobile device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for causing a modular observation unit to be lifted and activated by the unmanned aerial device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery material to a human responsive to an image capture of a portion of the human.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for configuring the unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular material to a vicinity of a portable device responsive to an image capture of the vicinity of the portable device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task includes:

circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to execute a delivery of a particular object to a human recipient contemporaneously with an image capture of a portion of the human recipient.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

circuitry configured for responding to a determination of whether a received signal expresses a first name of the unmanned aerial device and whether the received signal expresses a second name of the unmanned aerial device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the unmanned aerial device includes one or more audio data sensors; and

the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device includes circuitry configured for detecting by pattern recognition at least one of a gunshot, a footstep, a human voice, or a fire alarm.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the unmanned aerial device includes at least a lower-frequency signal sensor and a higher-frequency signal sensor that senses frequencies higher than the lower-frequency signal sensor; and

the circuitry configured for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device includes circuitry configured for detecting at least one distinctive pattern at a first position based at least partly on analysis of one or more signals at the higher frequency and configured for detecting at least one distinctive pattern at a second position based at least partly on analysis of one or more signals at the lower frequency that would be undetectable by analysis of one or more signals at the higher frequency due to at least one signal-blocking obstruction.

18. A system comprising:

means for mounting an unmanned aerial device on a wall;

means for sensing optical image data in a vicinity of the means for mounting the unmanned aerial device, wherein the unmanned aerial device includes at least the means for sensing optical image data;

means for contactless inductive charging of the unmanned aerial device via the means for mounting the unmanned aerial device, wherein at least one of the means for mounting the unmanned aerial device or the unmanned aerial device include at least

means for controlling the unmanned aerial device to launch responsive to an application of at least one recognition criterion to the optical image data sensed from the vicinity of the wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure; and

means for causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device.

19. A method comprising:

sensing optical image data from a vicinity of a wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure when the unmanned aerial device is positioned on a wall-mountable base;

charging the unmanned aerial device via contactless inductive charging by the wall-mountable base;

controlling the unmanned aerial device to launch responsive to an application of at least one recognition criterion to the optical image data sensed from the vicinity of the wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure; and

causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device.

20. One or more non-transitory, device readable physical media bearing a device-detectable outcome indicating an occurrence of

sensing optical image data from a vicinity of a wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure when the unmanned aerial device is positioned on a wall-mountable base;

charging the unmanned aerial device via contactless inductive charging by the wall-mountable base;

controlling the unmanned aerial device to launch responsive to an application of at least one recognition criterion to the optical image data sensed from the vicinity of the wall-mountable unmanned aerial device mooring structure; and

causing the unmanned aerial device to perform at least one task following launch of the unmanned aerial device.