Dynamic geo-fence for drone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9928748-B2
Application number	US-201514951533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Nov 25, 2015
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

Technical solutions are described for configuring a dynamic geo-fence includes receiving a plurality of data samples. The method also includes selecting, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold. The method also includes configuring a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample. The method also includes adjusting an operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area, where the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer implemented method for configuring a dynamic geo-fence, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of data samples, wherein the plurality of data samples comprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipment of the drone from respective distances;
selecting, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold;
configuring a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample;
adjusting an operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence;
determining image attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of images;
identifying a current value of the operational characteristic of the drone; and
determining a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein image attributes of an image captured by the image capture equipment using the second value of the operational characteristic are within a predetermined threshold of the image attributes of the selected data sample.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the drone is a first drone, and wherein the geo-fence adjusts the operational characteristic of the first drone to a first value, and the operational characteristic of a second drone to a second value, the first value being distinct from the second value.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristic is a setting of an image capture equipment of the drone.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristic is a setting of an audio capture equipment of the drone.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a noise level of the drone.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a flying height of the drone.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data samples comprises a plurality of audio samples captured by an audio capture equipment of the drone from respective distances, and the method further comprises:
determining audio attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of audio samples;
identifying a current value of the operational characteristic of the drone;
identifying a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein audio attributes of an audio captured by the audio capture equipment using the second value are within a predetermined threshold of the audio attributes of the selected data sample.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring a first geo-fence for the geographic area based on the selected data sample, the first geo-fence corresponding to a first drone; and
configuring a second geo-fence for the geographic area based on the selected data sample, the second geo-fence corresponding to a second drone.

9. A system for configuring dynamic geo-fences, the system comprising:
a memory configured to store a plurality of data samples, wherein the plurality of data samples comprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipment of the drone from respective distances;
a processor configured to:
select, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold;
configure a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample;
adjust an operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence;
determine image attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of images;
identify a current value of the operational characteristic of the drone; and
determine a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein image attributes of an image captured by the image capture equipment using the second value of the operational characteristic are within a predetermined threshold of the image attributes of the selected data sample.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the drone is a first drone, and wherein the geo-fence adjusts the operational characteristic of the first drone to a first value, and the operational characteristic of a second drone to a second value, the first value being distinct from the second value.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operational characteristic is a setting of an image capture equipment of the drone.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operational characteristic is a setting of an audio capture equipment of the drone.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a noise level of the drone.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of data samples comprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipment from respective distances.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a first set of attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of data samples;
identifying a current value of the operational characteristic of the drone;
identifying a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein a second set of attributes of a data sample captured by the drone using the second value are within a predetermined threshold of the first set of attributes of the selected data sample.

16. A computer program product for configuring dynamic geo-fences, the computer product comprising a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions, wherein the computer readable storage medium comprises instructions to:
access a plurality of data samples, wherein the plurality of data samples comprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipment of the drone from respective distances;
select, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold;
configure a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample;
adjust an operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence;
determine image attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of images;
identify a current value of the operational characteristic of the drone; and
determine a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein image attributes of an image captured by the image capture equipment using the second value of the operational characteristic are within a predetermined threshold of the image attributes of the selected data sample.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the drone is a first drone, and wherein the geo-fence adjusts the operational characteristic of the first drone to a first value, and the operational characteristic of a second drone to a second value, the first value being distinct from the second value.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the operational characteristic is one of a setting of an image capture equipment, a setting of an audio capture equipment, a setting associated with a noise level, and a setting associated with a flying height of the drone.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions to:
determine a first set of attributes of the selected data sample from the plurality of data samples;
identify a current value of the ope

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Chan Yuk L
• Gilbertson Kyle E
• Hogerty Daniel F
• Tedesco Eileen P

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

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

• G08G5/0069

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05D1/0011

  associated with a remote control arrangement · CPC title

• B64D47/08

  Arrangements of cameras · CPC title

• B64C39/024

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