Autonomous drone and tool selection and delivery

{
  "publication_number": "US10126746B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Autonomous drone and tool selection and delivery",
  "abstract": "In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to selecting tools and drones for completing a task. In some embodiments, the system comprises an autonomous vehicle configured to transport the tools and the drones including a plurality of sensors configured to detect properties of the tools and the drones, the drones, the tools, and a control circuit configured to receive, from the sensors, indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, select, based on the service requests and the indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones to perform at least one of the service requests, cause the at least one of the drones to be equipped with the at least one of the tools, and transmit instructions that are based on the at least one of the service requests.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for selecting tools and drones for completing a task, the system comprising: an autonomous vehicle, wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to transport the tools and the drones to a location, and wherein the autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect properties of the tools and the drones; the drones; the tools; and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to: receive service requests; receive, from the sensors, indications of the properties of the tools and the drones; select, based on the service requests and the indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones to perform at least one of the service requests; cause the at least one of the drones to be equipped with the at least one of the tools; and transmit instructions to the at least one of the drones, wherein the instructions are based on the at least one of the service requests.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: monitor, as the at least one drone performs the at least one of the service requests, the properties of the tools and the drones.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: determine that a change has occurred with respect to one or more of the properties of the tools and the drones; and select, based on the change, at least one of a new drone and a new tool.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the properties of the tools include one or more of availability of the tools, condition of the tools, type of the tools, compatibility of the tools with one or more of the drones, compatibility of the tools with customer instructions, and compatibility of the tools with external conditions.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the properties of the drones include one or more of availability of the drones, condition of the drones, type of the drones, compatibility of the drones with one or more of the tools, compatibility of the drones with customer instructions, compatibility of the drones with external conditions, and power level of the drones.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones is further based on external conditions.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the external conditions are one or more of weather, time of day, environmental conditions, proximity of objects, and customer instructions.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more of optical sensors, auditory sensors, motion sensors, haptic sensors, weight sensors, and temperature sensors.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: receive, from a customer, feedback, and wherein the selection of the at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones is further based on the customer feedback.",
    "10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: receive, from a customer, customer feedback; and modify, based on the customer feedback, the instructions.",
    "11. A method for selecting tools and drones for completing a task, the method comprising: receiving service requests; transporting, via an autonomous vehicle, the tools and the drones to a location associated with at least one of the service requests; receiving, from a plurality of sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle, indications of properties of the tools and the drones; selecting, based on the at least one of the service requests and the indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, at least one of the tools and one of the drones to perform the at least one of the service requests; causing the at least one of the drones to be equipped with the at least one of the tools; and transmitting instructions to the at least one of the drones, wherein the instructions are based on the at least one of the service requests.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: monitoring, as the least one drone performs the at least one of the service requests, the properties of the tools and the drones.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that a change has occurred with respect to one or more of the properties of the tools and the drones; and selecting, based on the change, at least one of a new drone and a new tool.",
    "14. The method of claim 11, wherein the properties of the tools include one or more of availability of the tools, conditions of the tools, type of the tools, compatibility of the tools with the one or more of the drones, compatibility of the tools with the customer instructions, and compatibility of the tools with external conditions.",
    "15. The method of claim 11, wherein the properties of the drones include one or more of availability of the drones, conditions of the drones, type of the drones, compatibility of the drones with one or more of the tools, compatibility of the drones with customer instructions, compatibility of the drones with external conditions, and power level of the drones.",
    "16. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting the at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones is further based on external conditions.",
    "17. The method of claim 16, wherein the external conditions are one or more of weather, time of day, environmental conditions, proximity of objects, and customer instructions.",
    "18. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more of optical sensors, auditory sensors, motion sensors, haptic sensors, and temperature sensors.",
    "19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, from a customer, customer feedback, wherein the selection of the at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones is further based on the customer feedback.",
    "20. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, from a customer, customer feedback; and modifying, based on the customer feedback, the instructions."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to service drones and, more specifically, autonomous delivery of drones.\n\nAs everyday life gets busier and busier for many people, automated solutions to everyday tasks can provide relief. For example, if everyday chores were completed by automated systems, people would have more time to partake in activities that they enjoy. While some automated devices exist (e.g., vacuum systems), these devices are extremely task-specific and thus provide little or no versatility. Consequently, a need exists for more advanced systems that are capable of providing tools for, and adapting to, a large variety of tasks.\n\nDisclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods pertaining selecting tools and drones for completing a task. This description includes drawings, wherein:\n\nFIG. 1 depicts a portion of an autonomous vehicle 110 transporting drones and tools, according to some embodiments;\n\nFIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system 200 for autonomously delivering drones and tools 216, according to some embodiments; and\n\nFIG. 3 is a flow diagram including example operations for autonomously delivering drones and tools, according to some embodiments.\n\nElements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention.",
  "cpc": [
    "G05D 1/0088",
    "G05D 1/0027",
    "G05D 1/692",
    "G06Q 30/0282"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G05D 1/00",
    "G06Q 30/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Walmart Apollo LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John J. O'Brien",
    "David C. Winkle",
    "Michael D. Atchley",
    "Nicholas Ray Antel",
    "Donald R. High",
    "Brian G. McHale",
    "Todd D. Mattingly"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-12-01",
  "publication_date": "2018-11-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-11-13",
  "priority_date": "2016-12-01",
  "application_number": "US-201715829427-A",
  "family_id": "62240613",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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}