Civil-defense system

• US 10,223,892 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Makke, Omar, Van Hoecke, Patrick Lawrence Jackson, Golgiri, Hamid M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/437,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20180240321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A computer is programmed to receive a command to broadcast an alert; determine a plurality of routes, each for one of a plurality of ground vehicles; and instruct each ground vehicle to follow its respective route while playing a message from external speakers. The computer may be integrated into, for example, a civil-defense system.

Claims

1. A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, the processor programmed to:

receive a command to broadcast an alert;

instruct a plurality of stationary sirens to activate;

determine a target area that excludes a coverage area of the stationary sirens;

divide the target area into individual target areas, each for one of a specified plurality of ground vehicles;

determine a plurality of routes, each for one of the individual target areas; and

instruct each ground vehicle to follow its respective route while playing a message from external speakers.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to receive data from the ground vehicles about an external environment.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the data includes at least one of video, wind speed, wind direction, and traffic density.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to select the plurality of ground vehicles from a plurality of eligible ground vehicles.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the routes are based at least on a population density.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the target area is based at least on a forecasted emergency area.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the individual target areas are based at least on substantially equalizing coverage of the forecasted emergency area by the ground vehicles.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to request a driving range from each of the ground vehicles.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the routes are based at least on the driving ranges of the ground vehicles.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the target area is based at least on areas experiencing power outages.

11. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to transmit a security certificate while instructing the ground vehicles to follow the routes.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a command to broadcast an alert;

instructing a plurality of stationary sirens to activate;

determining a target area that excludes a coverage area of the stationary sirens;

dividing the target area into individual target areas, each for one of a specified plurality of ground vehicles;

determining a plurality of routes, each for one of the individual target areas; and

instructing each ground vehicle to follow its respective route while playing a message from external speakers.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data from the ground vehicles about an external environment.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the target area is based at least on a forecasted emergency area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the individual target areas are based at least on substantially equalizing coverage of the forecasted emergency area by the ground vehicles.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising requesting a driving range from each of the ground vehicles.