Distributed Drone Dispatch for Faster Emergency Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security monitoring systems lack the capability to rapidly and effectively deploy drones in response to emergency events across multiple properties, leading to potential delays in incident response and resolution.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a network of drone base stations and monitoring control units that deploy drones equipped with various capabilities based on the type and location of emergency events, utilizing sensors and communication networks to quickly identify and address security and emergency situations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a network of drone base stations and monitoring control units is deployed across multiple properties, then response speed and coverage area are improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into multiple independent drone base stations, each serving a specific geographic area or property. Each base station operates autonomously with its own monitoring control units, sensors, and drone fleet, enabling localized rapid response while maintaining overall system coordination through the monitoring application server.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from traditional ground-based monitoring to three-dimensional aerial surveillance using drones. This spatial dimension enables faster response times by bypassing ground obstacles and providing direct aerial access to emergency locations, while the networked architecture distributes complexity across multiple nodes rather than requiring a single complex centralized system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If drones are equipped with various capabilities and sensors for different emergency types, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Drones are designed with multi-functional capabilities including various sensors (cameras, detectors), communication systems, and payload options that can be configured for different emergency types. The same drone platform can perform surveillance, fire detection, medical delivery, or security monitoring depending on the situation, reducing the need for specialized drones for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically assigns and configures drone capabilities based on the specific emergency situation. The monitoring application server analyzes the alarm type and location, then selects and configures appropriate drones with relevant sensors and equipment for that particular incident, optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If rapid drone deployment is implemented across a neighborhood, then productivity and response efficiency are improved, but loss of time for drone navigation and coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse efficiencyVSAvoidnavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Drones are pre-positioned at distributed base stations located throughout the neighborhood, maintaining readiness status with charged batteries and configured systems. When an emergency is detected, the nearest drone is already in position for rapid deployment, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation and reducing navigation time while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3356857B1Drone-augmented emergency response services
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 ALARM COM INC
  • EP3356857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3356857B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3356857B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on storage devices, for drone-augmented emergency response services. In one aspect, a monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of monitoring control units, and a monitoring application server, wherein the monitoring application server includes a network interface, one or more processors, and one or more storage devices that include instructions to perform operations. The operations include receiving an emergency event notification from a first monitoring control unit of the plurality of monitoring control units, determining a type of emergency event, and a location associated with the emergency event notification, identifying one or more drones that can be deployed to the location associated with the emergency event, and transmitting an instruction to a monitoring station server associated with a drone base station to deploy the one or more identified drones to the location associated with the emergency event.