Automated hazard handling routine activation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9747809-B2
Application number	US-201213731407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2012
Priority date	Dec 19, 2012
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for automated hazard handling routine activation. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV), may: (i) detect at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV; or (ii) activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one motivation. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprising: at least one electronic device including at least:
circuitry configured for autonomously performing at least one diagnostic test that determines likelihood that a component of an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) is not functioning within predetermined operating parameters;
circuitry configured for autonomously detecting at least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation based at least partially on autonomous performance of the at least one diagnostic test;
circuitry configured for autonomously negotiating a flight path adjustment with at least one remote UFV including at least preparing at least one request to adjust a flight path based at least partially on the autonomously detecting at least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation, transmitting the at least one request to the at least one remote UFV, and receiving at least one response to the at least one request from the at least one remote UFV; and
circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment.

2. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation further includes:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least one other UFV within a proximity zone of the UFV;
circuitry configured for comparing a position of the UFV with a position of the at least one other UFV; or
circuitry configured for comparing one or more positioning system (PS) coordinates corresponding to the position of the UFV with one or more PS coordinates corresponding to the position of the at least one other UFV.

3. The UFV of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least one other UFV within a proximity zone of the UFV comprises:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for receiving at the UFV at least one proximity alert with respect to the at least one other UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from the at least one other UFV;
circuitry configured for receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from a base station that is associated with the UFV; or
circuitry configured for receiving at the UFV the at least one proximity alert from an air traffic coordination unit.

4. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard detection handling operation further includes:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for detecting physical contact with at least one object;
circuitry configured for detecting physical contact with at least one object using at least one accelerometer;
circuitry configured for detecting physical contact with at least one object using at least one contact sensor;
circuitry configured for detecting physical contact with at least one other UFV; or
circuitry configured for detecting physical contact with at least one other UFV including at least circuitry configured for identifying the at least one other UFV via at least one comparison including at least one time corresponding to at least one contact detection by the at least one other UFV.

5. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation further comprises:
circuitry configured for detecting the at least partial loss of functionality for at least one visual spectrum sensor of the UFV.

6. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation further comprises:
circuitry configured for detecting the at least partial loss of functionality for at least one positioning system (PS) unit of the UFV.

7. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously detecting least partial loss of functionality for at least one component that is capable of supporting at least one automated hazard handling operation further comprises:
circuitry configured for detecting the at least partial loss of functionality for at least one radio of the UFV.

8. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment includes:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for consulting at least one map to adjust at least one flight path of the UFV; or
circuitry configured for inspecting at least one map to ascertain at least one three-dimensional representation of one or more hazards to adjust the at least one flight path of the UFV.

9. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment includes:
circuitry configured for beginning a controlled descent responsive at least partly to activation of the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV.

10. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment includes:
circuitry configured for broadcasting at least one indication of a maneuverability quality corresponding to the UFV responsive at least partly to activation of the at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV.

11. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment includes:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on one or more governmental constraints or
circuitry configured for preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on at least one of (i) one or more speed limits or (ii) one or more altitude restrictions.

12. The UFV of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry configured for autonomously activating the at least one automated hazard handling operation including at least the negotiated flight path adjustment includes:
at least one of:
circuitry configured for preparing at least one plan for at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on at least one populated area; or
circuitry configured for preparing at least one plan for the at least one flight path for the UFV based at least partially on one or more areas having at least one heat signature.

13. The UFV of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry configured for attempting to communicate with a base station that is associated with the UFV via at least one other UFV.

14. The UFV of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry configured for obeying a received communication indicative that at least one particular sensor of the UFV is not to be employed by the UFV.

15. The UFV of claim 1 , fur

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Levien Royce A
• Lord Robert W
• Lord Richard T
• Malamud Mark A
• Rinaldo Jr John D
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• G08G5/04 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• B64C39/024

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

• G05D1/0088 Primary

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title

• G08G5/80 Primary

  Anti-collision systems · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

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