Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle Response With Sensor Relay Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned vehicles lack the capability to autonomously detect and respond to various situations, including emergency situations, in a comprehensive and efficient manner, especially in environments where human intervention is hazardous or impractical.
Innovation Solution
The development of unmanned vehicles equipped with a launch initiator, controller, and peripheral devices such as cameras and communication systems, which enable them to autonomously detect situations, launch, and respond by collecting and sending information, facilitating communication, and providing alerts or assistance as needed, across different environments like air, land, and water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If unmanned vehicles are equipped with comprehensive sensors and communication systems to detect and respond to situations autonomously, then the response capability and situational awareness are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular functional components: detection subsystem (sensors including cameras, microphones, GPS), processing subsystem (controller for analyzing sensor data), communication subsystem (two-way communication devices), and response subsystem (alert mechanisms and notification systems). Each module can be independently developed, tested, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining autonomous response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned vehicle is designed with multi-functional capabilities to perform various response tasks across different situations. The same platform can detect different types of emergencies (medical, safety, environmental), communicate with multiple parties (responders, authorities, bystanders), and execute diverse response actions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized vehicles and reducing overall system complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If unmanned vehicles are deployed to hazardous environments for emergency response, then responder safety is improved, but the reliability of operation in hostile conditions becomes a challenge
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned vehicle serves as an intermediary between the hazardous environment and human responders. It physically enters dangerous situations (fire, chemical spills, natural disasters) to collect data and provide information, acting as a buffer that protects responders from direct exposure to harmful conditions while maintaining reliable communication and data transmission capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and assessment actions before responders arrive at hazardous scenes. Sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions and detect potential threats in advance, allowing the vehicle to proactively identify situations requiring response and prepare information for incoming teams, enhancing both safety and operational reliability.
3Loss of information
If multiple peripheral devices are integrated into the unmanned vehicle for comprehensive situation detection, then the information gathering capability is improved, but the weight and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically manages sensor activation and data collection based on situational needs. Not all sensors operate at full capacity simultaneously; instead, the controller activates specific sensors based on detected conditions (e.g., activating thermal cameras only when temperature anomalies are detected, or adjusting microphone sensitivity based on ambient noise levels), optimizing power consumption while maintaining comprehensive information gathering capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous unmanned vehicles (UVs) for responding to situations are described. Embodiments include UVs that launch upon detection of a situation, operate in the area of the situation, and collect and send information about the situation. The UVs may launch from a vehicle involved in the situation, a vehicle responding to the situation, or from a fixed station. In other embodiments, the UVs also provide communications relays to the situation and may facilitate access to the situation by responders. The UVs further may act as decoupled sensors for vehicles. In still other embodiments, the collected information may be used to recreate the situation as it happened.