Systems and methods for secure transportation and safe deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214367-B2
Application number	US-201916458144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2019
Priority date	Jun 30, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for secure transportation and safe deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes performing a UAV preflight procedure that includes determining UAV startup sounds from sound signals received from a microphone positioned within a housing that houses the UAV, determining synchronized rotation of propellers of the UAV, determining that no obstructions are present above the housing based on range finder signals; and releasing the UAV after completion of the UAV preflight procedure.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a housing configured to receive and retain an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
a securing element configured to releasably secure the UAV within the housing;
at least one propeller sensor element configured to obtain propeller rotation signals of at least one propeller of the UAV; and
a controller comprising a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to:
determine a safe operating condition of the UAV based on at least the propeller rotation signals; and
allow the UAV to launch when the safe operating condition is determined.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller sensor elements are each mounted on a sensor element track, the propeller sensor elements being configured to translate along the sensor element tracks allowing the propeller sensor elements to be positioned at a radial distance from a center of the housing.

3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a force sensor associated with the securing element.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a weight force and a lift force exerted by the UAV on the securing element based on force signals received from the securing element; and
control the securing element in response to the weight force and the lift force to secure the UAV.

5. The system according to claim 4 , further comprising an actuated roof that covers an opening of the housing.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a wakeup signal from an operator device; and
execute a preflight procedure that comprises:
determining UAV startup sounds from the sound signals;
determining synchronized rotation of the propellers; and
determining that no obstructions are present.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
open the actuated roof after completion of the preflight procedure; and
cause the securing element to release the UAV when the lift force of the UAV is approximately equivalent to the weight force of the UAV.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is associated with a vehicle, the housing being mounted to the vehicle using motion dampers.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the securing element comprises any of an electromagnet or a grasping mechanism.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively reposition one or more of the propellers based on a location of the propellers when the UAV is secured to the securing element within the housing.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the securing element is configured to translate along a securing element track so as to be selectively positioned at a radial distance from a center of the housing.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a velocity of a vehicle with which the housing is associated, wherein the UAV is allowed to launch when the velocity is at or below a vehicle velocity threshold.

13. A method for rapid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) deployment, the method comprising:
performing a UAV preflight procedure, comprising:
determining UAV startup sounds from sound signals received from a microphone positioned within a housing that houses the UAV, wherein the UAV is configured to be releasably secured to a securing element of a housing;
determining synchronized rotation of propellers of the UAV using propeller rotation signals captured by a propeller sensor; and
determining that no obstructions are present above the housing based on range finder signals; and

releasing the UAV after completion of the UAV preflight procedure.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein releasing further comprises opening an actuated roof after completion of the UAV preflight procedure.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising determining a weight force and a lift force exerted by the UAV on a securing element based on force signals received from the securing element, the securing element releasably securing the UAV within the housing.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein releasing the UAV further comprises causing a securing element to release the UAV when the lift force of the UAV is approximately equivalent to the weight force of the UAV.

17. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
obtaining a vehicle velocity from a vehicle controller of a vehicle; and
wherein the UAV is not released when the vehicle velocity is at or above a velocity threshold.

18. A method, comprising:
identifying startup sounds for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within a housing in which the UAV is secured, wherein the UAV is releasably secured within the housing using a securing element, wherein a force sensor is associated with the securing element;
determining that no obstructions are present in airspace above the UAV;
determining a weight force and a lift force exerted by the UAV on the securing element based on force signals received from the securing element; and
controlling the securing element in response to the weight force and the lift force to secure the UAV.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
obtaining a vehicle velocity from a vehicle controller of a vehicle; and
wherein the UAV is not released when the vehicle velocity is at or above a velocity threshold.

20. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising opening an actuated roof of the housing before releasing the UAV.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Brock Nelson
• Carthew James

Classifications

• B64U80/86 Primary

  Land vehicles · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U80/25

  for recharging batteries; for refuelling · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title

• B64U70/92

  Portable platforms · CPC title