Geographic area monitoring systems and methods utilizing interchangeable tool systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018074521-A1
Application number	US-201715699906-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2017
Priority date	Sep 9, 2016
Publication date	Mar 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that include a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the first UAV to move itself; and wherein the UAV control circuit when implementing code stored in memory is configured to identify, based at least in part on a first task performed using a first tool system temporarily coupled with the first UAV, a second task to be performed by the first UAV and to identify a different second tool system to be used to perform the second task.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An unmanned aerial task system, comprising:
a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a UAV control circuit;
a motor; and
a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the first UAV to move itself; and
wherein the UAV control circuit when implementing code stored in memory is configured to identify, based at least in part on a first task performed using a first tool system temporarily coupled with the first UAV, a second task to be performed by the first UAV and to identify a different second tool system to be used to perform the second task.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to receive sensor data from the first tool system obtained while performing the first task, and wherein the UAV control circuit in identifying the second task is further configured to identify the second task and the second tool system based on the sensor data received through the first tool system.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first UAV comprises a first universal coupler configured to interchangeably couple with one of multiple different tool systems each configured to perform different functions, and wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to cause a decoupling of the first tool system from the first universal coupler, and direct the coupling of the second tool system with the first universal coupler following the decoupling of the first tool system.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to control the propulsion system to direct the first UAV to a first mounting station to temporarily couple the second tool system with the first UAV, and to control the propulsion system to direct the first UAV to a task location and activate the second tool system in performing the second task.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to identify a second UAV temporarily coupled with the second tool system, and to control the propulsion system to enable the first UAV to retrieve the second tool system from the second UAV.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to identify that at least a second UAV is to be used to perform at least a portion of the second task, and cause a notification to be communicated to the second UAV directing the second UAV to perform at least the portion of the second task in cooperation with the first UAV.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to control the propulsion system to cause the first UAV to temporarily cooperate with a universal coupler of the second UAV while perform at least the portion of the second task.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to access power level data corresponding to each of multiple other UAVs and select the second UAV from the multiple other UAVs based at least in part on a power level of the second UAV relative to a threshold power level corresponding to the second task.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the UAV control circuit is configured to communicate directly with the second UAV to coordinate the operation of both the first UAV and the second UAV in performing at least the portion of the second task.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first UAV comprises a power source, and a power management system, wherein the power management system is configured to cause power to be drained from a power source of the first tool system and to be stored in the power source of the first UAV prior to the first tool system being decoupled from the first UAV.

11 . A method of performing multiple different tasks through multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), comprising:
accessing, at a first UAV control circuit of a first UAV of the multiple UAVs, data obtained through a first tool system temporarily coupled with a first universal coupler of the first UAV while performing a first task using the first tool system; identifying, through the first UAV control circuit and based at least in part on the data, a second task to be performed by the first UAV; and identifying, through the first UAV control circuit and based on the second task to be performed, a different second tool system to be used to perform the second task.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the accessing the data comprises receiving sensor data from the first tool system obtained while performing the first task, and wherein the identifying the second task is further configured to identify the second task and the second tool system based on the sensor data received through the first tool system.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
causing a decoupling of the first tool system from a first universal coupler of the first UAV; and directing the coupling of the second tool system with the first universal coupler following the decoupling of the first tool system.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
controlling a propulsion system of the first UAV directing the first UAV to a first mounting station; causing a temporarily coupling of the second tool system with a first universal coupler of the first UAV; and controlling the propulsion system directing the first UAV to a task location and activating the second tool system in performing the second task.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying a second UAV temporarily coupled with the second tool system; and controlling a propulsion system of the first UAV and retrieving the second tool system from the second UAV.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying, through the UAV control circuit of the first UAV, that at least a second UAV is to be used to perform at least a portion of the second task; and causing a notification to be communicated to the second UAV directing the second UAV to perform at least the portion of the second task in cooperation with the first UAV.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling a propulsion system of the first UAV to cause the first UAV to temporarily cooperate with a universal coupler of the second UAV while perform at least the portion of the second task.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
access, through the UAV control circuit of the first UAV, power level data corresponding to each of multiple other UAVs; and selecting the second UAV from the multiple UAVs based at least in part on a power level of the second UAV relative to a threshold power level corresponding to the second task.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
causing, through the UAV control circuit of the first UAV, a direct communication with the second UAV to coordinate the operation of both the first UAV and the second UAV in performing at least the portion of the second task.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
causing power to be drained from a power source of the first tool system and to be stored in a power source of the first UAV prior to the first tool system being decoupled from the first UAV.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• Cantrell Robert L
• Thompson John P
• Winkle David C
• Atchley Michael D
• High Donald R
• Mattingly Todd D
• Mchale Brian G
• O'Brien John J
• Simon John F
• Jones Nathan G
• Taylor Robert C

Classifications

• B60L53/68

  Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control · CPC title

• B60L53/51

  Photovoltaic means · CPC title

• B60L53/53

  Batteries · CPC title

• B60L58/12

  responding to state of charge [SoC] · CPC title

• B64C2211/00

  Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters · CPC title