Methods and systems for providing a safety apparatus to distressed persons

• US 9,745,062 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Sommerfield Richardson
• Original Assignee: James Sommerfield Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, James Sommerfield
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US14/689,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 244142, 244147, 244152, 244234, 244 31, 2441374, 244 33, 2441371, 182137, 441 80, 441 83
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/01 Air-sea rescue devices, i.e. equipment carried by, and capable of being dropped from, an aircraft inflatable vessels B63B7/00; inflatable buoys B63B22/22
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise systems for providing a lifesaving apparatus to a distressed individual. Such systems may comprise an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to selectably support a lifesaving apparatus. The UAV may comprise a release mechanism configured to release the lifesaving apparatus when proximate a distressed person. The system may additionally comprise a control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the UAV such that a user can pilot the UAV from a distance and deliver the lifesaving apparatus to a distressed person. Methods of using the same may comprise piloting the UAV proximate a distressed person, providing a signal to the UAV to release the lifesaving apparatus by operating the release mechanism, and then pulling the lifesaving apparatus and the distressed person to safety via a control line secured to the lifesaving apparatus.

Claims

1. An integrated mobile system for providing lifesaving equipment to a person in distress, the system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in wireless communication with a control device and comprising an equipment engagement mechanism configured to releasably secure the lifesaving equipment to the UAV;

an independent line control device positioned remotely from and physically unattached to the UAV; and

a control line having a first end, a second end, and a length continuously extending between the first and second ends, the first end being permanently secured to the line control device, the second end being permanently secured to the lifesaving equipment, and the length being unrestrained between the first end and the second end such that no portion of the control line physically contacts the UAV,

wherein;

the equipment engagement mechanism is operable between a closed configuration in which the lifesaving equipment is secured to the UAV and an open configuration in which the lifesaving equipment is released from the UAV;

the control device is configured to;

generate one or more directional signals in response to user input indicating a desired direction for the UAV, wherein the directional signals are indicative of a desired direction of travel for the UAV;

generate a release signal in response to user input indicating a request to release the lifesaving equipment from the UAV; and

transmit the one or more directional signals and the release signal to the UAV; and

the UAV is configured to;

in response to receipt of the directional signals, move in the desired direction of travel, and

in response to receipt of the release signal, move the equipment engagement mechanism into the open configuration to release the lifesaving equipment, wherein upon release, the lifesaving equipment remains secured to only the line control device via the second end of the control line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifesaving equipment comprises a float.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment engagement mechanism comprises an electronically actuated latch operable between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the lifesaving equipment comprises a mating engagement feature configured to interact with the electronically actuated latch when in the closed configuration to releasably secure the lifesaving equipment to the UAV.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control line configured to pull the lifesaving equipment in a direction of safety.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the line control device comprises a take-up reel configured to rotate, and

the control line is secured to the take-up reel so as to thereby pull the control line such that the control line is wound onto the take-up reel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the line control device further comprises:

an elongated line guide having a first end and a second end, comprising at least one guide feature proximate the first end for directing a length of the control line away from the take-up reel and toward the first end; and

wherein the take-up reel is secured to the line control device proximate the second end of the elongated line guide.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the elongated line guide is collapsible.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device further comprises a handheld device comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive user input indicative of the desired direction of travel;

receive user input indicating the lifesaving device should be released;

generate, based at least in part on the user input indicative of the desired direction of travel, the one or more directional signals;

generate, based at least in part on the user input indicating the lifesaving device should be released, the release signal; and

transmit the one or more directional signals and the release signal to the UAV.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the UAV additionally comprises a camera configured to generate video data; and

the UAV is additionally configured to transmit the video data to the control device;

wherein the control device additionally comprises a graphical display, and the one or more processors are additionally configured to display, via the graphical display, the video data generated by the camera.

11. An integrated mobile method for providing lifesaving equipment to a person in distress, the method comprising steps for:

piloting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the person in distress by causing data indicative of a desired direction of travel to be wirelessly transmitted from a control device to the UAV, wherein the UAV comprises an equipment engagement mechanism configured to releasably secure the lifesaving equipment to the UAV and the equipment engagement mechanism is operable between a closed configuration in which the lifesaving equipment is secured to the UAV and an open configuration in which the lifesaving equipment is released from the UAV;

causing transmission, from the control device to the UAV, of a release signal indicating the lifesaving equipment should be released from the UAV, such that the UAV moves the equipment engagement mechanism into the open configuration that is configured to release the lifesaving equipment, the release signal having been generated in response to user input indicating a request to release the lifesaving equipment from the UAV; and

after the lifesaving device is released from the UAV, causing a length of control line to be recalled in a direction of safety, thereby pulling the lifesaving device in the direction of safety, wherein;

the control line has a first end, a second end, and a length continuously extending between the first and second ends,

the first end is permanently secured to the line control device,

the second end is permanently secured to the lifesaving equipment, and

the length of the control line is unrestrained between the first end and the second end such that no portion of the control line physically contacts the UAV in both the closed configuration and the open configuration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the lifesaving device comprises a float.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the equipment engagement mechanism comprises an electronically actuated latch operable between the closed configuration and the open configuration, and wherein said step of causing transmission of the release signal comprises causing transmission of a signal configured to cause the electronically actuated latch to move to the open configuration.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the length of control line to be recalled in a direction of safety comprises causing the length of control line to be wound onto a take-up reel.