Method and device for rescue mission assistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952088-B2
Application number	US-201817260757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2018
Priority date	Jul 16, 2018
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A method at a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and a UAV, adapted therefore, is adapted for enabling assisting in a rescue mission, where the method comprise: initiating a first localization of at least one body or object; initiating an analysis, for determining, at least partly based on the first localization of the at least one body or object, a need for activities, and initiating the determined activities, comprising applying floatable foam to an area on or in close proximity to the at least one body or object, while applying, to the floatable foam, a recognizable means capable of assisting in a second localization of the at least one body or object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method at an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for assisting in a rescue mission, the method comprising:
initiating a first localization of at least one body or object;
initiating an analysis, for determining, at least partly based on the first localization of the at least one body or object, a need for activities; and
initiating the activities based on the determined need for the activities, comprising applying an adhesive floatable foam to an area on or in close proximity to the at least one body or object, while embedding, into the adhesive floatable foam, an active recognizable device capable of assisting in a second localization of the at least one body or object.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination is at least partly based on at least one of: data captured by a camera, and sound captured by a microphone.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination comprises:
collecting data from the context of the at least one body or object;
evaluating the collected data, and
determining, based on the evaluation, that the adhesive floatable foam and the active recognizable device are needed for the at least one body or object.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination is a determination that adhesive floatable foam and the active recognizable device are needed for a group of bodies and/or objects.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination further comprises:
determining, for each specific body, object or group of bodies and/or objects a suitable amount and a suitable form of the adhesive floatable foam.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the suitable amount and the suitable form of floatable foam are determined based on acquired data, where the acquired data is indicating at least one of:
an identity or category of the at least one body or object;
a geographical distribution of a plurality of bodies and/or objects, together forming a group of bodies and/or objects;
a movement pattern of the at least one body or object; and
meteorological data, indicative of a meteorological status of an area circumventing the at least one body or object.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the activities include activating the active recognizable device.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the activation of the active recognizable device comprises activation of functionality, comprising at least one of:
stroboscopic functionality;
LED functionality;
radio communication functionality; and
transponder functionality.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:
initiating acquiring of additional data, for a purpose of determining at least one of:
a unique identity or category of a specific body or object or group of bodies and/or objects, for which the activities have been initiated;
a physical status of a specific body or group of bodies, for which the activities have been initiated;
a number of bodies and/or objects within a group of bodies and/or objects, for which the activities have been initiated;
a floatable geographical location, where the activities have been initiated for the at least one body and/or object;
a time and date when the activities have been initiated; and
a meteorological status when the activities have been initiated.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
initiating transmission of the additional data from the active recognizable device to the UAV.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
initiating storage of the additional data by the UAV.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
navigating the UAV towards a location where the UAV experiences a radio connectivity; and
providing at least part of the additional data via the radio connectivity.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein at least part of the additional data is being analyzed by applying Machine Learning.

14. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions, which when run on a computer causes the computer to execute a method according to claim 1 .

15. A computer program product comprising a computer program according to claim 14 .

16. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for assisting in a rescue mission, the UAV comprising processing circuitry and a memory, storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry cause the UAV to perform operations comprising:
initiating a first localization of at least one body or object;
initiating an analysis, for determining, at least partly based on the localization of the at least one body or object, a need for activities; and
initiating the activities based on the determined need for the activities, comprising applying an adhesive floatable foam to an area on or in close proximity of the at least one body or object, while embedding, into the adhesive floatable foam, an active recognizable device, capable of assisting in a second localization of the at least one body or object.

17. The UAV according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to initiate the determination at least partly based on at least one of: data captured by a camera, and sound captured by a microphone.

18. The UAV according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to execute the determination by:
collecting data from the context of the at least one body or object;
evaluating the collected data; and
determining, based on the evaluation, that the adhesive floatable foam and the active recognizable device are needed for the at least one body or object.

19. The UAV according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to determine that the adhesive floatable foam and the active recognizable device are needed for a group of bodies and/or objects.

20. The UAV according to claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to determine, for each specific group of bodies and/or objects, a suitable amount and a suitable form of the adhesive floatable foam.

21. The UAV according to claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to determine the suitable amount and the suitable form of the adhesive floatable foam, based on acquired data, where the acquired data is indicating at least one of:
an identity or category of the at least one body or object;
a geographical distribution of a plurality of bodies and/or objects;
together forming a group of bodies and/or objects;
a movement pattern of the at least one body or object; and
meteorological data, indicative of a meteorological status of an area circumventing the at least one body or object.

22. The UAV according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to initiate the activities, including activation of the active recognizable device.

23. The UAV according to claim 22 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to activate functionality of the active recognizable device, wherein the active functionality comprises at least one of:
stroboscopic functionality;
LED functionality;
radio communication functionality; and
transponder functionality.

24. The UAV according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise causing the UAV to initiate acquiring of additional data, for a purpose of determining at least one of:
a unique identity or category of a specific body or object

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Ökvist Peter
• Arngren Tommy

Classifications

• B64U2101/55

  for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

• B63C9/22 Primary

  Devices for holding or launching life-buoys, inflatable life-rafts, or other floatable life-saving equipment (equipment for handling life-boats or the like B63B23/00) · CPC title

• B63C9/01 Primary

  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 title