Automated aerial vehicle wireless communication and networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016165661-A1
Application number	US-201615043367-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. For example, a plurality of automated mobile vehicles may be deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an event area. The event area may be indoors and/or outdoors.

First claim

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A system, comprising:
a first automated mobile vehicle (“AMV”), wherein the first AMV includes a first network interface; a second AMV, wherein the second AMV:
includes a second network interface; and
establishes wireless communication with the first AMV via the second network interface and the first network interface;
wherein the first AMV and the second AMV:
maintain the wireless communication for a period of time; and
provide wireless network coverage to an event area.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first AMV further includes:
a wireless network access point configured to enable wireless communication with the wireless network by a computing resource at the event area.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein:
the first AMV is positioned in an outdoor environment; and the wireless network is accessible by at least one computing resource positioned in the outdoor environment.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the outdoor environment is at least one of a park, a street, or an amphitheater.

25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the computing resource is at least one of a personal computer, an electronic book reading device, and audio player, a mobile telephone, a tablet, a desktop, or a laptop.

26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein:
the first AMV is positioned in an indoor environment; and the wireless network is accessible by at least one computing resource positioned in the indoor environment.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the indoor environment is at least one of a building, a store, a home, a stadium, or a materials handling facility.

28 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first AMV is a ground based mobile drive unit.

29 . A method for wirelessly communicating with automated mobile vehicles (“AMVs”), comprising:
sending, from a first AMV, a message and an identifier indicating an intended recipient of the message;
receiving the message at a second AMV that is in wireless communication with the first AMV;
processing at the second AMV the first message to determine, based at least in part on the identifier, that the second AMV is not the intended recipient of the message;
sending, from the second AMV, the message and the identifier;
receiving the message at a third AMV that is in wireless communication with the second AMV; and
processing, at the third AMV, the message to determine, based at least in part on the identifier, that the third AMV is the intended recipient.

30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
receiving the message at a fourth AMV that is in wireless communication with the first AMV; processing, at the fourth AMV, the first message to determine that the fourth AMV has previously received the message; and discarding, by the fourth AMV, the message.

31 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
sending from an AMV management system the message that is received by the first AMV.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the message includes at least one of weather information, environment information, location information, routing information, or relief instructions.

33 . A system, comprising:
a first automated mobile vehicle (“AMV”), the first AMV including a first network interface; a second AMV, the second AMV including a second network interface; and a wireless mesh network including wireless communication between the first network interface of the first AMV and the second network interface of the second AMV.

34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the first network interface is configured to enable wireless communication with the second network interface or a general data network.

35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the general data network is at least one of a Wi-Fi network, a cellular communication network, or a satellite network.

36 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the first AMV is configured to at least:
determine that communication with the second AMV has been lost; and establish a second communication using the general data network.

37 . The system of claim 33 , further comprising:
a third AMV, the third AMV including a third network interface; and the wireless mesh network including wireless communication between third network interface of the third AMV and at least one of the first network interface of the first AMV or the second network interface of the second AMV.

38 . The system of claim 37 , wherein each of the first AMV, the second AMV, and the third AMV are configured to at least:
receive a message from another AMV that is within a wireless range; process the message to determine if the message is intended for the AMV; and forward the message if it is determined that the message is not intended for the AMV.

39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein each of the first AMV, the second AMV, and the third AMV are further configured to forward the message if it is determined that the message is not intended for the AMV and it is determined that the message has not previously been received by the AMV.

40 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the first AMV is an aerial vehicle or a ground based vehicle.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Worley Iii William Spencer
• Clayton Eric Mathew

Classifications

• B64U2101/20

  for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms · CPC title

• A63J1/00

  Stage arrangements · CPC title

• A63H17/26

  Details; Accessories (drive mechanisms A63H29/00) · CPC title

• A63H27/12

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title

• H04B1/3822

  specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title