Patent · US10040552B2 · B2 · US

Alert system for an unmanned aerial vehicle

(11) Publication number

US10040552B2

(21) Application number

15/148,628

(22) Filing date

2016-05-06

(30) Priority date

2016-05-06

(43) Publication date

2018-08-07

(45) Date of grant

2018-08-07

(52) CPC

B64C Aeroplanes; helicopters: 39/024, 2201/128
B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 11/1822, 11/1824, 53/302, 53/305, 53/80
B64D Equipment for fitting in or to aircraft; flight suits; parachutes; arrangement or mounting of power plants or propulsion transmissions in aircraft: 47/06, 47/08, 9/003
B64U Unmanned aerial vehicles [uav]; equipment therefor: 2101/30, 2101/64, 2201/10, 50/11, 50/19
G05D Systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables: 1/101, 1/106
G06Q Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not otherwise provided for: 10/0832, 10/0833
H04L Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication: 67/12
Y02T Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation: 10/70, 10/7072, 90/12, 90/16

(73) Assignee

IBM

(54) Title

Alert system for an unmanned aerial vehicle

(57) Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle for aerial transportation of delivery items. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment device to fasten and unfasten one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a motor to aerially transport the one or more delivery items along a delivery route, a sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to detect at least one environmental variable during the delivery route, and an alert system to generate a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to an observer when the environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold.

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Claims (20)

An unmanned aerial vehicle for aerial transportation of delivery items, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: at least one attachment device to fasten and unfasten one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; at least one motor to aerially transport the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to detect at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and an alert system, including a risk analysis device, configured to generate a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the status is selected from the group consisting of one or more visual displays, acoustic signals, and electronic signals.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alert system is selected from the group consisting of a display device, a light display, an illuminated color display, a digital timer, a clock, a speaker device, and a transceiver.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alert system is further configured to: indicate a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the power supply level depletes below a threshold; and receive location coordinates of a secondary device where the power supply level is to be replaced or recharged, wherein the secondary device includes a user device, a secondary drone, or base station configured to provide power supply recharging or power supply replacement.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least one environmental variable is selected from the group consisting of one or more traversed temperatures, amount of traversed turbulence, and tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the risk analysis device evaluates the risk level to the one or more delivery items when the at least one environmental variable exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes an indication that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a value adjustment device configured to adjust a value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items.
The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit to authenticate recipient information upon delivery of the one or more delivery items, wherein the one or more delivery items remains fastened to the unmanned aerial vehicle until authentication is confirmed.
A method for aerial transportation of delivery items using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising: attaching one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; aerially transporting the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; detecting, using at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and generating, by evaluating the risk level to the one or more delivery items, a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.
The method of claim 10, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle further includes: indicating a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the power supply level depletes below a threshold; and receiving location coordinates of a secondary device where the power supply level is to be replaced or recharged, wherein the secondary device includes a user device, a secondary drone, or base station configured to provide power supply recharging or power supply replacement.
The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one environmental variable is selected from the group consisting of one or more traversed temperatures, amount of traversed turbulence, and tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route.
The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes indicating that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.
The method of claim 14, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes adjusting a value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items.
The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes authenticating recipient information upon delivery of the one or more delivery items, wherein the one or more delivery items remains fastened to the unmanned aerial vehicle until authentication is confirmed.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for aerial transportation of delivery items using an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute: attaching one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; aerially transporting the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; detecting, using at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and generating, by evaluating the risk level to the one or more delivery items, a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.
The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or combination thereof.
The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes indicating that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.
The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes adjusting the value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items.

Citations (19)

EP2664539A1
US2009268753A1
US2014025228A1
US2014025230A1
US2014027131A1
US2015063959A1
US2015120094A1
US2016101855A1
US2016163204A1
US2016171896A1
US2016236778A1
US2016247407A1
US2016257401A1
US2016325127A1
US2017286892A1
US8893086B2
US9044543B2
US9542849B1
US9650136B1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US10040552B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Alert system for an unmanned aerial vehicle",
  "abstract": "An unmanned aerial vehicle for aerial transportation of delivery items. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment device to fasten and unfasten one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a motor to aerially transport the one or more delivery items along a delivery route, a sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to detect at least one environmental variable during the delivery route, and an alert system to generate a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to an observer when the environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An unmanned aerial vehicle for aerial transportation of delivery items, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: at least one attachment device to fasten and unfasten one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; at least one motor to aerially transport the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to detect at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and an alert system, including a risk analysis device, configured to generate a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.",
    "2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the status is selected from the group consisting of one or more visual displays, acoustic signals, and electronic signals.",
    "3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alert system is selected from the group consisting of a display device, a light display, an illuminated color display, a digital timer, a clock, a speaker device, and a transceiver.",
    "4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alert system is further configured to: indicate a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the power supply level depletes below a threshold; and receive location coordinates of a secondary device where the power supply level is to be replaced or recharged, wherein the secondary device includes a user device, a secondary drone, or base station configured to provide power supply recharging or power supply replacement.",
    "6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least one environmental variable is selected from the group consisting of one or more traversed temperatures, amount of traversed turbulence, and tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route.",
    "7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the risk analysis device evaluates the risk level to the one or more delivery items when the at least one environmental variable exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes an indication that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.",
    "8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a value adjustment device configured to adjust a value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items.",
    "9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit to authenticate recipient information upon delivery of the one or more delivery items, wherein the one or more delivery items remains fastened to the unmanned aerial vehicle until authentication is confirmed.",
    "10. A method for aerial transportation of delivery items using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising: attaching one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; aerially transporting the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; detecting, using at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and generating, by evaluating the risk level to the one or more delivery items, a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "12. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle further includes: indicating a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the power supply level depletes below a threshold; and receiving location coordinates of a secondary device where the power supply level is to be replaced or recharged, wherein the secondary device includes a user device, a secondary drone, or base station configured to provide power supply recharging or power supply replacement.",
    "13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one environmental variable is selected from the group consisting of one or more traversed temperatures, amount of traversed turbulence, and tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route.",
    "14. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes indicating that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.",
    "15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes adjusting a value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items.",
    "16. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes authenticating recipient information upon delivery of the one or more delivery items, wherein the one or more delivery items remains fastened to the unmanned aerial vehicle until authentication is confirmed.",
    "17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for aerial transportation of delivery items using an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute: attaching one or more delivery items to the unmanned aerial vehicle; aerially transporting the one or more delivery items along a delivery route; detecting, using at least one sensor mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, at least one environmental variable during the delivery route; and generating, by evaluating the risk level to the one or more delivery items, a status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle along the delivery route to at least one observer when the at least one environmental variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the status includes a risk level to the one or more delivery items.",
    "18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the status is further selected from the group consisting of temperatures traversed, a level of turbulence traversed, a percentage of delivery completion, a total amount of travel time, an estimated delivery time, a value of the one or more delivery items, a power supply level of the unmanned aerial vehicle, directional movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a tilt orientation of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or combination thereof.",
    "19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes indicating that the one or more delivery items requires immediate attention based on the risk level.",
    "20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein generating the status associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle includes adjusting the value of the one or more delivery items depending on the risk level to the one or more delivery items."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B64C 39/024",
    "B60L 11/1822",
    "B60L 11/1824",
    "B60L 53/302",
    "B60L 53/305",
    "B60L 53/80",
    "B64C 2201/128",
    "B64D 47/06",
    "B64D 47/08",
    "B64D 9/003",
    "B64U 2101/30",
    "B64U 2101/64",
    "B64U 2201/10",
    "B64U 50/11",
    "B64U 50/19",
    "G05D 1/101",
    "G05D 1/106",
    "G06Q 10/0832",
    "G06Q 10/0833",
    "H04L 67/12",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072",
    "Y02T 90/12",
    "Y02T 90/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "IBM"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-05-06",
  "publication_date": "2018-08-07",
  "grant_date": "2018-08-07",
  "priority_date": "2016-05-06",
  "application_number": "US-201615148628-A",
  "family_id": "60243140",
  "citations": [
    "EP2664539A1",
    "US2009268753A1",
    "US2014025228A1",
    "US2014025230A1",
    "US2014027131A1",
    "US2015063959A1",
    "US2015120094A1",
    "US2016101855A1",
    "US2016163204A1",
    "US2016171896A1",
    "US2016236778A1",
    "US2016247407A1",
    "US2016257401A1",
    "US2016325127A1",
    "US2017286892A1",
    "US8893086B2",
    "US9044543B2",
    "US9542849B1",
    "US9650136B1"
  ]
}

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