Ambulatory route management based on a personal drone

• US 9,734,725 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael S., Kozloski, James R., Pickover, Clifford A., Malkin, Peter K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/967,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20170016735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/32 for cartography or topography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for route planning and management with a drone. Aspects include receiving a destination for an individual and determining multiple routes between a position of the individual and the destination. Aspects further include deploying the drone to determine safety and accessibility risks associated with the multiple routes and determining a preferred route from the multiple routes based on the safety and accessibility risks associated with the multiple routes.

Claims

1. A method for route planning and management with a drone, the method comprising:

receiving a destination for an individual;

determining, by a processor, multiple routes between a position of the individual and the destination;

deploying the drone to determine one or more of safety and accessibility risks associated with the multiple routes; and

determining, by the processor, a preferred route from the multiple routes based on the safety and accessibility risks associated with the multiple routes; and

providing route guidance along the preferred route to the individual by one or more of audio signals, visual signal, or tactile signals to the individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the preferred route is further based on a profile of the individual that includes medical information of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a determination to deploy the drone is automatic and is based on an estimate of likely risk along the multiple routes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the drone is configured to attach to a mobility device of the individual.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the safety and accessibility risks include one or more of:

steps, holes, snow, ice, cracks in sidewalks, crowds, fire, smoke, and sun glare.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the drone is configured to attach to the individual.