Detachable drone for monitoring a moving vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10424138-B2
Application number	US-201615360839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

Provided are techniques for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel. An event is identified that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is detached from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is moved to a predetermined location. A beacon based on beacon data is transmitted from the detachable drone. In response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, data collected from monitoring the moving vessel is delivered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, comprising:
capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;
moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;
transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and
in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while monitoring the moving vessel, storing the captured data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.

7. A computer program product for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by at least one processor to perform:
capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;
moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;
transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and
in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program code is executable by the at least one processor to perform:
while monitoring the moving vessel,
storing the captured data.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.

13. A computer system for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, comprising:
one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage mediums; and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable, tangible storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to perform operations comprising:
capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;
detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;
moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;
transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and
in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
while monitoring the moving vessel,
storing the captured data.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

17. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

18. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Florence Christopher R
• Moore Jordan T
• Sherk Walker L
• Yang Pu

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B63C7/30

  Floatable safes (safes in general E05G) · CPC title

• B64D2045/0065

  Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals · CPC title

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title