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

• US 9,897,456 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• 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:
  US15/234,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20170199044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 701533, 701 2, 701 3, 701117-120, 244 13
• 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 10/16 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 cognitive vehicles comprising the steps of:

the unmanned cognitive vehicles receiving a deployment to the unsafe situation and positioning information regarding placement of the unmanned cognitive vehicles at determined points along the temporary safe evacuation route;

the unmanned cognitive vehicles detecting and determining information regarding the unsafe situation through autonomic functionality sensors;

the unmanned cognitive vehicles relaying the information regarding the unsafe situation to peer unmanned cognitive vehicles;

the unmanned cognitive vehicles displaying guidance along the safe evacuation route to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

the unmanned cognitive vehicles receiving information regarding whether the unsafe situation has been altered from peer unmanned cognitive vehicles; and

the unmanned cognitive vehicles, based on the information received, determining whether the safe evacuation route should be adjusted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomic functionality sensors of the unmanned cognitive vehicles detect information regarding safety to living things, the information consisting of the presence of:

radiation, dangerous gases, dangerous elements, and dangerous chemicals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles further comprise stored information consisting of:

evacuation scenarios, available exits, and street maps.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles are deployed by a user at the unsafe situation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles relay the information regarding the unsafe situation to users working to alleviate the unsafe situation.

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

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

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

9. A computer program product for dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned cognitive 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:

receiving, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, a deployment to the unsafe situation and positioning information regarding placement of the unmanned cognitive vehicles at determined points along the temporary safe evacuation route;

detecting and determining, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, information regarding the unsafe situation through autonomic functionality sensors;

relaying, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, the information regarding the unsafe situation to peer unmanned cognitive vehicles;

displaying, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, guidance along the safe evacuation route to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

receiving, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, information regarding whether the unsafe situation has been altered from peer unmanned cognitive vehicles; and

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

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the autonomic functionality sensors of the unmanned cognitive vehicles detect information regarding safety to living things, the information consisting of the presence of:

radiation, dangerous gases, dangerous elements, and dangerous chemicals.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles further comprise stored information consisting of:

evacuation scenarios, available exits, and street maps.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles are deployed by a user at the unsafe situation.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles relay the information regarding the unsafe situation to users working to alleviate the unsafe situation.

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

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the guidance for display provides information warning against the unsafe situation.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the safe evacuation route includes strategic points off of the evacuation route.

17. 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:

receiving, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, a deployment to the unsafe situation and positioning information regarding placement of the unmanned cognitive vehicles at determined points along the temporary safe evacuation route;

detecting and determining, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, information regarding the unsafe situation through autonomic functionality sensors;

relaying, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, the information regarding the unsafe situation to peer unmanned cognitive vehicles;

displaying, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, guidance along the safe evacuation route to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation;

receiving, by the computer of the unmanned cognitive vehicles, information regarding whether the unsafe situation has been altered from peer unmanned cognitive vehicles; and

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

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the autonomic functionality sensors of the unmanned cognitive vehicles detect information regarding safety to living things, the information consisting of the presence of:

radiation, dangerous gases, dangerous elements, and dangerous chemicals.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles further comprise stored information consisting of:

evacuation scenarios, available exits, and street maps.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the unmanned cognitive vehicles relay the information regarding the unsafe situation to users working to alleviate the unsafe situation.