Unmanned device interaction methods and systems

• US 9,798,325 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/601,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 3, 701 11, 701 23, 701 24, 701124
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/005 by providing the operator with signals other than visual, e.g. acoustic, haptic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one unmanned vehicle including one or more electronic devices, the one or more electronic devices including at least;

circuitry configured for determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity;

circuitry configured for obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature;

circuitry configured for determining a cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity;

circuitry configured for determining a time interval from the cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity until a reference time;

circuitry configured for comparing the time interval to a threshold time interval;

circuitry configured for determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval and

circuitry configured for at least partially operating the at least one unmanned vehicle in accordance with the at least one navigation protocol.

2. A system comprising:

at least one unmanned vehicle including at least;

at least one processing device; and

one or more instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least;

determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity;

obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature;

determining a cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity;

determining a time interval from the cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity until a reference time;

comparing the time interval to a threshold time interval; and

determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval; and

at least partially operating the at least one unmanned vehicle in accordance with the at least one navigation protocol.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature comprises:

acquiring one or more location coordinates at which the at least one unmanned vehicle is located at the existence of the device-detectable energy signature via at least one positioning system configured for generating at least one of global positioning system data or satellite positioning system data.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one unmanned vehicle includes an unmanned aerial device vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

at least one of;

configuring the at least one unmanned vehicle to perform a first observation of a particular task in a first zone and a second entity to perform a second observation of the particular task in a second;

or

causing the at least one unmanned vehicle to undertake a performance observation task of a job that includes a performance task and the performance observation task.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature comprises:

receiving one or more location coordinates at which the at least one unmanned vehicle is located at the existence of the device-detectable energy signature via automatic pattern recognition of imaging data sensed by the at least one unmanned vehicle.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a delivery of a package to a device associated with a recipient of the package, the wireless signal indicating at least one of the at least one unmanned vehicle or the package or a sender of the package.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

presenting navigation guidance via a display aboard the at least one unmanned vehicle.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

transmitting navigation guidance via a speaker of the at least one unmanned vehicle.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

identifying an operating mode of the at least one unmanned vehicle audibly or visibly.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

causing another device vehicle to capture delivery data relating to the at least one unmanned vehicle.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

causing a data handling device aboard the at least one unmanned vehicle to contain a task schedule indicating a first future delivery of a first object to a first destination and a second future delivery of a second object to a second destination.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

determining whether an operator of the at least one unmanned vehicle has indicated a tracking mode of the first entity.

14. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

at least one of;

overriding a first task being performed by the at least one unmanned vehicle by transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a second task to the at least one unmanned vehicle;

or

configuring the at least one unmanned vehicle to transmit a wireless signal indicative of having performed a particular task and not to store any indication of having performed the particular task.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

routing the at least one unmanned vehicle to the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature.

16. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

signaling a decision whether to reserve a space for a passenger vehicle.

17. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

signaling a decision whether to reserve a specific resource by associating the specific resource with a specific device or with a specific person.

18. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

responding to an indication of the at least one unmanned vehicle becoming within a proximity of the first entity, the first entity being a mobile device.

19. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

signaling a decision whether to program the at least one unmanned vehicle to continue observing a first person responsive to a prior observation of the first person.

20. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

at least one of;

causing the at least one unmanned vehicle to execute a delivery of a material responsive to an image capture;

configuring the at least one unmanned vehicle to execute a delivery of a particular material to a vicinity of a portable device;

or

causing the at least one unmanned vehicle to execute a delivery of a particular object to a human recipient contemporaneously with an image capture of a portion of the human recipient.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

changing at least one aerial navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle from a current positional direction of motion to a different positional direction of motion.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

changing at least one aerial navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle from a current at least one of latitude, longitude, or altitude direction of motion to a different at least one of latitude, longitude, or altitude direction of motion.

23. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

causing the at least one unmanned vehicle to move toward a home station in response to an indication of a specific person moving at least a threshold distance away from the at least one unmanned vehicle.

24. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least:

responding to an indication of the at least one unmanned vehicle becoming within a proximity of a second entity, the second entity being a portable device.

25. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

changing from a first navigation protocol including control of the at least one unmanned vehicle by an operator via an interface device to a second navigation protocol includingautopilot control.

26. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity includes:

at least one of;

determining an existence of a line-of-sight path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity;

determining an existence of a line-of-sight path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity via at least one optical sensor;

or

receiving a transmitted authorization code.

27. The system of claim 2 wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature being indicative of a region that is use-restricted or off-limits.

28. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity includes:

determining an existence of a radio-frequency signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the determining an existence of a radio-frequency signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity includes:

determining that one or more successful transmissions have occurred between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity.

30. The system of claim 2 wherein the determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval includes:

determining at least one operator-controlled navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature.

31. The system of claim 2, wherein the determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity includes:

determining an absence of a radio-frequency signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the determining an absence of a radio-frequency signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity includes:

determining that one or more unsuccessful transmissions have occurred between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity.

33. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processing devices, program the at least one processing device to perform operations including at least for:

determining that the existence of a device-detectable signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity has been reestablished; and

resetting the time interval responsive to the determining that the existence of a device-detectable signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity has been reestablished.

34. A method comprising:

determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity;

obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature;

determining a cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity;

determining a time interval from the cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity until a reference time;

comparing the time interval to a threshold time interval;

determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval; and

at least partially operating the at least one unmanned vehicle in accordance with the at least one navigation protocol.

35. An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media configured to bear a device-detectable implementation of a method including at least

determining an existence of a device-detectable energy signature path between at least one unmanned vehicle and a first entity;

obtaining one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature;

determining a cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signature path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity;

determining a time interval from the cessation of the existence of the device-detectable energy signal path between the at least one unmanned vehicle and the first entity until a reference time;

comparing the time interval to a threshold time interval;

determining at least one navigation protocol for operating the at least one unmanned vehicle based at least partly on the one or more location coordinates associated with the at least one unmanned vehicle and associated with the existence of the device-detectable energy signature responsive to a result of the comparing the time interval to the threshold time interval; and

at least partially operating the at least one unmanned vehicle in accordance with the at least one navigation protocol.