Differentiating unmanned vehicles by changing exterior appearance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12060164-B2
Application number	US-202016813878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 10, 2020
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

An unmanned vehicle includes a body, a propulsion system connected to the body, a computing system connected to the body, and a display connected to an exterior of the body and electrically connected to the computing system. In addition, the computing system is configured to dynamically change the appearance of the display during operation of the unmanned vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned vehicle comprising:
a body;
a propulsion system connected to the body;
a computing system connected to the body; and
a display connected to an exterior of the body and electrically connected to the computing system;
wherein the body is configured to connect to a payload for delivery to a user;
wherein the payload includes a parcel that the unmanned vehicle transports to the user;
wherein the computing system is configured to dynamically change a colorway of the display during operation of the unmanned vehicle; and
wherein the colorway of the display is initially based on a colorway of the payload when the unmanned vehicle is transporting the payload to the user.

2. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a light sensor connected to the exterior of the body, wherein the colorway of the display is changed based on ambient light detected by the light sensor.

4. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the display covers a majority of the body.

5. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to sense a location of the unmanned vehicle, and wherein the colorway of the display is changed based on the location of the unmanned vehicle.

6. The unmanned vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the computing system is further configured to autonomously navigate the unmanned vehicle from a source to a destination.

7. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to communicate with other unmanned vehicles, and wherein the colorway of the display is changed based on communication with the other unmanned vehicles.

8. A method of controlling an unmanned vehicle comprising:
receiving a first journey information, wherein the first journey information includes a first core purpose of the vehicle for a first journey;
selecting a first colorway to display based on the first core purpose;
comparing the first colorway to a prohibited appearance list;
selecting a second colorway based on the first core purpose in response to determining that the first colorway was on the prohibited appearance list;
setting an exterior display of the vehicle to the second colorway;
monitoring a position of the vehicle during the first journey;
changing the second colorway of the vehicle to a third colorway that is different from the second colorway based on the position of the vehicle;
communicating the third colorway to a mobile device of a user, who is at a destination, to inform the user what the unmanned vehicle will look like when arriving at the destination.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising monitoring ambient light conditions using a sensor on the vehicle during the first journey, wherein the first colorway is on the prohibited appearance list based on the monitored ambient light conditions.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a second journey information, wherein the second journey information includes a second core purpose of the vehicle for a second journey; and
changing the exterior display of the vehicle to a fourth colorway based on the second core purpose;
wherein the fourth colorway is different from the second colorway.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first journey information further comprises preferences of localities along a pathway, wherein the second colorway is selected based on the preferences of localities along the pathway.

12. A method of controlling a first unmanned vehicle comprises:
receiving a journey information regarding a journey of the first unmanned vehicle;
setting a first exterior display of the first unmanned vehicle to a first colorway based on the journey information;
encountering a second unmanned vehicle while traveling such that the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle are in communication range with each other, the second unmanned vehicle having a second exterior display set to a second colorway that is substantially similar to the first colorway as to be at or above a threshold value for similarity; and
changing the first exterior display of the first unmanned vehicle to a third colorway based on the first colorway and the second colorway being substantially similar,
wherein the third colorway is different from the first colorway and the second colorway.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
requesting a desired colorway from the second unmanned vehicle;
receiving the third colorway from the second unmanned vehicle; and
approving the third colorway, wherein the changing the first exterior display is in response to the approving.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the journey information includes a core purpose of the first unmanned vehicle for the journey, and the setting the first exterior display of the first unmanned vehicle to the first colorway is based on the core purpose.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the prohibited appearance list is dynamic.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the prohibited appearance list is based on a current location of the unmanned vehicle.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Abdulla Rizwan Sheikh
• Dumpa Konda Reddy
• Satyanaik Shivarudrappa
• Nagar Seema
• Dey Kuntal

Classifications

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2101/24

  for use as flying displays, e.g. advertising or billboards · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title