Vehicle noise control and communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016083073-A1
Application number	US-201414494032-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2014
Priority date	Sep 23, 2014
Publication date	Mar 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to an automated aerial vehicle (“AAV”) and systems, devices, and techniques pertaining to canceling noise, generating audible communications, and/or generating visible communications. The AAV may include one or more propellers utilized, in part, to produce sound that cancels noise generated by one or more other propellers. Additionally or alternatively, the AAV may utilize one or more propellers to generate audible and/or visible communications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An automated aerial vehicle (AAV) comprising:
a plurality of propellers that include:
a first propeller operable to rotate in a first rotational direction to cause lift of the AAV, the first propeller generating noise sound waves while rotating; and
a second propeller operable to rotate in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the second propeller being substantially coaxial with the first propeller;
a microphone to detect the noise sound waves generated by the first propeller; a propeller motor that drives rotation of the second propeller; and a control system in communication with at least the microphone and the propeller motor, the control system configured to:
receive a signal representing the detected noise sound waves; and
cause the propeller motor to modulate rotational speed of the second propeller such that the second propeller generates anti-noise sound waves that are in antiphase with the noise sound waves generated by the first propeller and that have a same amplitude as the noise sound waves, the anti-noise sound waves substantially canceling the noise sound waves.

2 . The AAV of claim 1 , the control system further configured to:
determine that an object is in a flight path of the AAV; determine a plurality of rotational speed modulations that cause at least one propeller of the plurality of propellers to generate a series of sounds that correspond to an audible communication; and modulate rotational speed of the at least one propeller based on the determined plurality of rotational speed modulations to communicate the audible communication.

3 . The AAV of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), individual LEDs of the plurality of LEDs being coupled to a propeller of the plurality of propellers, the control system further configured to:
determine that a person is in a flight path of the AAV; determine a series of LED illuminations that correspond to a visible communication, wherein determining the series of LED illuminations includes:
determining a first LED of the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at a first time; and
determining a second LED of the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at a second time, the second time being different than the first time; and
cause illumination of the plurality of LEDs based on the determined series of LED illuminations to communicate the visible communication.

4 . A vehicle comprising:
a rotor operable to rotate and cause propulsion of the vehicle, the rotor generating noise while rotating; a sound generator; and a control system configured to:
receive a signal representing one or more operational characteristics of the rotor; and
cause modulation of the sound generator such that the sound generator produces sound that substantially cancels the noise generated by the rotor, the modulation being determined based at least in part on the received signal.

5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein:
the rotor is a first rotor operable to rotate in a first rotational direction; and the sound generator is a second rotor operable to rotate in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.

6 . The vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising an audio sensor that is configured to detect the noise generated by the rotor, and wherein the control system is configured to receive a signal representing one or more operational characteristics of the rotor comprises the control system being configured to receive, from the audio sensor, a signal representing the detected noise.

7 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein:
the rotor is a first rotor that is operable to rotate in a first rotational direction; the sound generator is a second rotor operable to rotate in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction; and the control system being configured to cause modulation of the sound generator comprises the control system being configured to cause modulation of rotational speed of the second rotor to modulate the sound produced by the second rotor.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising an audio sensor that is configured to detect the noise generated by the rotor, wherein:
the second rotor is substantially coaxial with the first rotor; the second rotor is disposed proximate a first side of the first rotor; the audio sensor is disposed proximate a second side of the first rotor, the second side being opposite the first side; and the control system being configured to receive a signal representing one or more operational characteristics of the rotor comprises the control system being configured to receive, from the audio sensor, a signal representing the detected noise.

9 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the control system being configured to cause modulation of the sound generator comprises the control system being configured to cause modulation of the sound generator at a rate of modulation of approximately 10 kHz or higher.

10 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle comprises an automated aerial vehicle (AAV).

11 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the one or more operational characteristics of the rotor includes rotational speed of the rotor.

12 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the sound generator comprises an audio speaker.

13 . The vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of audio sensors configured to detect ambient sound outside the vehicle, wherein:
the rotor is one of a plurality of rotors; a first audio sensor of the plurality of audio sensors is disposed proximate a first rotor of the plurality of rotors; a second audio sensor of the plurality of audio sensors is disposed proximate a second rotor of the plurality of rotors; the control system is further configured to:
receive a first signal from the first audio sensor, the first signal representing first detected ambient noise that includes noise generated by the first rotor;
receive a second signal from the second audio sensor, the second signal representing second detected ambient noise that includes noise generated by the second rotor;
determine a global ambient noise based at least in part on the first received signal and the second received signal;
determine a plurality of modulations of rotational speed of one or more rotors of the plurality of rotors, the plurality of modulations corresponding to an audible communication; and
cause modulation of rotational speed of the one or more rotors of the plurality of rotors based on the determined plurality of modulations such that the one or more rotors produce a series of sounds that provide the audible communication, the audible communication being perceptible from outside the vehicle.

14 . A method comprising:
detecting noise generated by a first propeller of a plurality of propellers of an aerial vehicle; and modulating, based at least in part on the detected noise, rotational speed of a second propeller of the plurality of propellers of the aerial vehicle such that the second propeller produces sound that substantially cancels the noise generated by the first propeller.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the detecting noise comprises detecting, via a first audio sensor, first noise that is generated by the first propeller of the plurality of propellers, the method further comprising detecting, via a second audio sensor, second noise that is generated by a third propeller of the plurality of propellers.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining a global ambient noise base

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Beckman Brian C

Classifications

• G09F9/33

  being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes · CPC title

• B64C1/40 Primary

  Sound or heat insulation {, e.g. using insulation blankets} · CPC title

• B64C2220/00

  Active noise reduction systems · CPC title

• G09F13/00

  Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising (G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G) · CPC title

• B64U10/16

  with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters · CPC title