Systems, methods, and devices for providing assistance to an unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9514653-B2
Application number	US-201514682987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a flight system, a status component, a navigation system, and a surveillance component. The flight system is for flying the service UAV. The status component is configured to determine that a first UAV is disabled. The navigation system is configured to fly the service UAV to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the status component determining that the first UAV is disabled. The surveillance component is configured to observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a flight system for flying the service UAV;
a status determination component for determining that a first UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;
a service UAV navigation system to navigate the service UAV to fly to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the status determination component determining that the first UAV is disabled; and
a surveillance component configured to observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

2. The service UAV of claim 1 , wherein the service UAV further comprises an illumination component, and wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate at least one of the first UAV and the area surrounding the first UAV.

3. The service UAV of claim 1 , wherein the service UAV further comprises a communication component for sending and receiving wireless transmissions.

4. The service UAV of claim 3 , wherein the communication component is further configured to relay wireless communication signals between the first UAV and a remote entity.

5. The service UAV of claim 1 , further comprising a notification component configured to provide audible or visual notification that the service UAV is observing the first UAV and the area surrounding the first UAV to entities near the area surrounding the first UAV.

6. The service UAV of claim 1 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to cause the navigation system to maintain flight above the first UAV at a distance that allows the surveillance component to observe the first UAV.

7. The service UAV of claim 1 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV, and wherein the navigation system is configured to remain within a location that allows the surveillance component to substantially continually observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.

8. The service UAV of claim 7 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on a received wireless transmission.

9. The service UAV of claim 7 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that the first UAV has been recovered by an authorized entity.

10. The service UAV of claim 7 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that the first UAV is no longer disabled.

11. The service UAV of claim 7 , wherein the surveillance component is configured to determine that observation no longer needs to be performed by the service UAV based on determining that a replacement service UAV has arrived to observe or assist the first UAV.

12. The service UAV of claim 1 , wherein the surveillance component is further configured to observe a disabled status of the first UAV and to report the disabled status to a remote entity.

13. Computer readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to:
determine that a first, non-service UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;
fly the service UAV to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the determination that the first UAV is disabled; and
observe the first UAV.

14. The computer readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to provide surveillance information to one or more ground-based units.

15. The computer readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the surveillance information comprises images captured by the service UAV.

16. The computer readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to observe a non-authorized entity in the area surrounding the first UAV.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to obtain images or video of the non-authorized entity.

18. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to fly and follow the non-authorized entity.

19. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to determine that the non-authorized entity came within a predetermined distance of the first UAV.

20. The computer readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the service UAV to provide physical security to the first UAV.

21. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 , wherein providing physical security comprises dropping objects to mark a perimeter around the first UAV.

22. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 , wherein providing physical security comprises playing an audible sound to provide auditory notice or to induce unauthorized entities to stay away from the first UAV.

23. A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a flight system for flying the service UAV;
a status component configured to determine that a first UAV is disabled, wherein the first UAV is different than the service UAV;
a navigation system configured to cause the service UAV to fly to a location of the first UAV in response to the status component determining that the first UAV is disabled; and
a harm prevention component configured to place the first UAV in a damage prevention condition to prevent at least one of heat damage and fire damage to one or more of the first UAV and objects in an area near the first UAV.

24. The service UAV of claim 23 , further comprising a communication component configured to wirelessly transmit a signal reporting one or more actions of the harm prevention component.

25. The service UAV of claim 23 , further comprising a notification component configured to wirelessly transmit a signal reporting a hazard status of the first UAV.

26. The service UAV of claim 23 , further comprising a notification component configured to provide audible or visual notification to nearby personnel of a hazard status of the first UAV.

27. The service UAV of claim 23 , wherein the harm prevention component is configured to discharge an electrical energy storage component.

28. The service UAV of claim 23 , wherein the harm prevention component is configured to place the first UAV in the heat prevention condition by removing a liquid or gas fuel from the first UAV.

29. The service UAV of claim 23 , wherein the harm prevention component is configured to place the first UAV in the heat prevention condition by applying a fire preventative to one or more of the first UAV and an area near the first UAV.

30. The service UAV of claim 23 , wherein the harm prevention component is configured to put out a fire on one or more of the first UAV by spraying fire preventative on a fire or hot spot on one or more of the first UAV and a region surrounding the first UAV.

31. Computer readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more pr

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Cheatham Iii Jesse R
• Chin Hon Wah
• Duncan William David
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Pan Tony S
• Petroski Robert C
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Tuckerman David B
• Urzhumov Yaroslav A
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• G08G5/723

  from the aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/74

  for monitoring terrain · CPC title

• G08G5/58

  for emergency situations, e.g. hijacking or bird strikes · CPC title

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/25

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft · CPC title