Method for transmitting information from motor vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019061663-A1
Application number	US-201816115855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 29, 2018
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Feb 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Activation of a passive occupant protection system is detected by at least one sensor. Signals indicative of the detection are sent over a communications connection to a telematic unit of the vehicle. Responsive to successful detection of the activation of the occupant protection system, the telematic unit initiates a launch of an accompanying autonomous drone from the vehicle for providing information, the drone autonomously recording aerial images of the vehicle and surroundings of the vehicle using a camera. The aerial images are transmitted to an emergency control center via a mobile communications connection to the emergency control center established by the telematic unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for transmitting information from a vehicle comprising:
detecting activation of a passive occupant protection system by at least one sensor; sending signals indicative of the detection over a communications connection to a telematic unit of the vehicle; responsive to successful detection of the activation of the occupant protection system, initiating, by the telematic unit, a launch of an accompanying autonomous drone from the vehicle for providing information, the drone autonomously recording aerial images of the vehicle and surroundings of the vehicle using a camera; and transmitting of the aerial images to an emergency control center via a mobile communications connection to the emergency control center established by the telematic unit.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the emergency control center carries out control of the drone.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drone is actively catapulted into the air from the vehicle.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drone flies independently after reaching a minimum flying altitude and starts the recording of aerial images.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drone is launched following successful detection of an activation of at least one airbag.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aerial images are transmitted by the telematic unit or by the drone.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drone is housed in an attachment part of the vehicle, which is fitted with a launcher.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the attachment part is equipped with a cover that opens in a few milliseconds.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the attachment part of the vehicle is a roof spoiler, and the launcher is an airbag.

10 . A vehicle comprising:
a telematics unit configured to
responsive to activation of an airbag detected by a signal received from a sensor, launch an autonomous drone from the vehicle for providing information, the drone autonomously recording aerial images of the vehicle and surroundings of the vehicle using a camera; and
transmit the aerial images to an emergency control center via a mobile communications connection to the emergency control center established by the telematic unit.

11 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the emergency control center carries out control of the drone.

12 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the drone is actively catapulted into the air from the vehicle.

13 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the drone flies independently after reaching a minimum flying altitude and starts the recording of aerial images.

14 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the drone is launched following successful detection of an activation of at least one airbag.

15 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the aerial images are transmitted by the telematic unit or by the drone.

16 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the drone is housed in an attachment part of the vehicle, which is fitted with a launcher.

17 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the attachment part is equipped with a cover that opens in a few milliseconds.

18 . A method comprising:
responsive to activation of an airbag detected by a signal received to a telematic unit, actively catapulting an autonomous drone from a roof spoiler of a vehicle for providing information, the drone autonomously recording aerial images of the vehicle and surroundings of the vehicle using a camera; and transmit the aerial images to an emergency control center via a mobile communications connection to the emergency control center established by the telematic unit.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Benmimoun Mohamed
• Awan Muhammad Adeel
• Benmimoun Ahmed

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• H04W4/40

  for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] · CPC title

• B60R2021/01088

  wireless · CPC title

• B64C39/024

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