Unmanned aerial vehicle navigation assistance

• US 9,170,117 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Abuelsaad, Kelly, Boss, Gregory J., McConnell, Kevin C., McElligott, Shane B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/464,826
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

In an approach to providing navigation assistance, one or more computer processors receive a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user. The one or more computer processors locate a navigation assistance UAV near a location of the first user. The one or more computer processors dispatch the navigation assistance UAV to the location of the first user. The one or more computer processors notify the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance. The one or more computer processors determine a route for the navigation assistance UAV to follow from the location of the first user to the destination. The one or more computer processors provide navigation assistance for the route to the first user.

Claims

1. A method for providing navigation assistance, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user;

locating, by the one or more computer processors, a navigation assistance UAV near a location of the first user;

dispatching, by the one or more computer processors, the navigation assistance UAV to the location of the first user;

notifying, by the one or more computer processors, the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a route for the navigation assistance UAV to follow from the location of the first user to the destination; and

providing, by the one more computer processors, navigation assistance for the route to the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance further comprises:

sending, by the one or more computer processors, a first symbol associated with the navigation assistance UAV to the first user; and

displaying, by the one or more computer processors, the first symbol on the navigation assistance UAV.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

directing, by the one or more computer processors, the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position in view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

directing, by the one or more computer processors, the navigation assistance UAV to travel ahead of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein directing the navigation assistance UAV to travel ahead of the first user to the destination further comprises displaying, by the one or more computer processors, instructions on a display associated with the navigation assistance UAV.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

directing, by the one or more computer processors, the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position out of view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

directing, by the one or more computer processors, the navigation assistance UAV to project an image on an object in view of the first user at the location of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to receiving a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user, determining, by the one or more computer processors, the location of the first user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the one or more computer processors, whether at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user; and

responsive to determining at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user, directing, by the one or more computer processors, the at least one other user to display an image in view of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising utilizing, by the one or more computer processors, a rear view camera of the at least one other user to monitor the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user further comprises:

receiving, by the one or more computer processors, contact from the first user;

registering, by the one or more computer processors, one or more computing devices associated with the first user; and

assigning, by the one or more computer processors, one or more unique identifiers to the one or more computing devices associated with the first user.

10. A computer program product for providing navigation assistance, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user;

program instructions to locate a navigation assistance UAV near a location of the first user;

program instructions to dispatch the navigation assistance UAV to the location of the first user;

program instructions to notify the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance;

program instructions to determine a route for the navigation assistance UAV to follow from the location of the first user to the destination; and

program instructions to provide navigation assistance for the route to the first user.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to notify the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance further comprises:

program instructions to send a first symbol associated with the navigation assistance UAV to the first user; and

program instructions to display the first symbol on the navigation assistance UAV.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to provide navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position in view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to travel ahead of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to provide navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position out of view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to project an image on an object in view of the first user at the location of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

program instructions to determine whether at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user; and

responsive to determining at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user, program instructions to direct the at least one other user to display an image in view of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising program instructions to utilize a rear view camera of the at least one other user to monitor the first user.

16. A computer system for providing navigation assistance, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user;

program instructions to locate a navigation assistance UAV near a location of the first user;

program instructions to dispatch the navigation assistance UAV to the location of the first user;

program instructions to notify the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance;

program instructions to determine a route for the navigation assistance UAV to follow from the location of the first user to the destination; and

program instructions to provide navigation assistance for the route to the first user.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein program instructions to notify the first user of the navigation assistance UAV associated with the request for navigation assistance further comprises:

program instructions to send a first symbol associated with the navigation assistance UAV to the first user; and

program instructions to display the first symbol on the navigation assistance UAV.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein program instructions to provide navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position in view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to travel ahead of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein program instructions to provide navigation assistance to the first user further comprises:

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to arrive in a position out of view of the first user at the location of the first user; and

program instructions to direct the navigation assistance UAV to project an image on an object in view of the first user at the location of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.

20. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions to determine whether at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user; and

responsive to determining at least one other user is traveling to the destination of the first user, program instructions to direct the at least one other user to display an image in view of the first user for the first user to follow to the destination.