Autonomous aerial management as a service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12006040-B2
Application number	US-202318181906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2023
Priority date	Aug 6, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle management service may provide a platform to manage groups of unmanned aerial vehicles to work together on a task simultaneously in an autonomous manner.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A server comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, the processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory comprising computer-readable instructions for:
determining whether a non-zero portion of a service that had been requested can be performed by a first unmanned vehicle of a plurality of unmanned vehicles, wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises one or more devices, wherein the one or more devices comprises a sensor, and wherein the determining results in a determination; and
based on the determination being that the non-zero portion of the service can be performed by the first unmanned vehicle, providing instructions to the first unmanned vehicle to perform the non-zero portion of the service, the first unmanned vehicle determining, based on a weather condition that is detected by the sensor of the first unmanned vehicle, that the first unmanned vehicle should check a weather forecast for an area in which the first unmanned vehicle is located, the first unmanned vehicle checking the weather forecast via a website, the first unmanned vehicle further determining, based on the weather forecast, if the first unmanned vehicle should continue to perform the non-zero portion of the service or if the first unmanned vehicle should abort performance of the non-zero portion of the service.

2. The server of claim 1 , wherein the first unmanned vehicle further comprises a re-attachable container.

3. The server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices further comprise a paint dispenser.

4. The server of claim 1 , wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for:
analyzing a request for the service to determine a lifting capability threshold for completing the service; and
selecting the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the analyzing of the request for the service.

5. The server of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unmanned vehicles comprises a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises a first unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for providing other instructions to an autonomous vehicle to transport a subset of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles to a location at which the service is to be performed, and wherein the subset of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles comprises the first unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The server of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for providing other instructions to an autonomous vehicle to pick up a first re-attachable container of a plurality of re-attachable containers from a location at which the service is to be performed after a threshold amount of substance has been removed from the first re-attachable container of the plurality of re-attachable containers.

7. The server of claim 1 , wherein the weather condition comprises a wind gust.

8. The server of claim 1 , wherein in a case that the first unmanned vehicle should abort performance of the non-zero portion of the service, the first unmanned vehicle is sent to a designated place.

9. The server of claim 8 , wherein the designated place is an origin site.

10. A system comprising:
a first unmanned vehicle; and
a server comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, the processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory comprising computer-readable instructions for:
determining whether a non-zero portion of a service can be performed by the first unmanned vehicle, wherein the service comprises at least one of window washing, painting, light bulb replacement, search and rescue support, security monitoring, and emergency aid, wherein the first unmanned vehicle is one of a plurality of unmanned vehicles, wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises one or more devices, wherein the one or more devices comprises a sensor, and wherein the determining results in a determination; and
based on the determination being that the non-zero portion of the service can be performed by the first unmanned vehicle, providing instructions to the first unmanned vehicle to perform the non-zero portion of the service, the first unmanned vehicle determining, based on a weather condition that is detected by the sensor of the first unmanned vehicle, that the first unmanned vehicle should check a weather forecast for an area in which the first unmanned vehicle is located, the first unmanned vehicle checking the weather forecast via a website, the first unmanned vehicle further determining, based on the weather forecast, if the first unmanned vehicle should continue to perform the non-zero portion of the service or if the first unmanned vehicle should abort performance of the non-zero portion of the service.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for:
analyzing a request for the service to determine a lifting capability threshold for completing the service; and
selecting the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the analyzing of the request for the service.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of unmanned vehicles comprises a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises a first unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for providing other instructions to an autonomous vehicle to transport a subset of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles to a location at which the service is to be performed, and wherein the subset of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles comprises the first unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for providing other instructions to an autonomous vehicle to pick up a plurality of re-attachable containers from a location at which the service is to be performed after a threshold amount of substance has been removed from a first re-attachable container of the plurality of re-attachable containers.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are further for:
obtaining an alert that a threshold amount of a supply has been reached; and
based on the alert, providing other instructions to an autonomous vehicle to transport a plurality of re-attachable containers to a location at which the service is to be performed for use by the first unmanned vehicle to perform the non-zero portion of the service.

15. A method comprising:
determining, by a device, whether a non-zero portion of a service that had been requested can be performed by a first unmanned vehicle of a plurality of unmanned vehicles, wherein the first unmanned vehicle comprises a sensor, and wherein the determining results in a determination; and
based on the determination being that the non-zero portion of the service can be performed by the first unmanned vehicle, providing, by the device, instructions to the first unmanned vehicle to perform the non-zero portion of the service, the first unmanned vehicle determining, based on a wind gust that is detected by the sensor of the first unmanned vehicle, that the first unmanned vehicle should check a weather forecast for an area in which the first unmanned vehicle is located, the first unmanned vehicle checking the weather forecast via a website, the first unmanned vehicle further determ

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Soryal Joseph
• Rao Lalita V
• Serban Cristina
• Jaoude Naila
• Hansen Tony

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U2201/102

  adapted for flying in formations · CPC title

• B64U2101/00

  UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications · CPC title

• G06Q30/0645

  Rental transactions; Leasing transactions · CPC title

• B64U2101/64

  for parcel delivery or retrieval · CPC title