Drone Display Panels for Elevator Navigation Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large buildings with distributed elevator banks, users often face challenges in locating these banks, especially in crowded or unfamiliar environments, leading to confusion and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing drones to communicate directions to elevator banks by displaying indicia on electronic display panels, which can include directional symbols and text, and using radio-navigation systems for tracking and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floor and wall markers are used to indicate elevator locations, then users can find elevators in clear conditions, but users experience confusion and discomfort in crowded or unfamiliar environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional floor and wall markers to three-dimensional aerial drones that float above the environment. This dimensional change allows the directional indicators to be visible from a distance and not obscured by crowd density, solving the problem of unreliable indication in crowded spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drones as intermediary carriers that display directional information. Instead of users directly reading floor/wall markers, the drones act as mobile intermediaries that float ahead of users and provide continuous directional guidance through display panels on their bodies.
2Ease of operation
If drones display directional indicia on electronic panels, then users can easily locate elevator banks, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drones are equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities including radio-navigation systems and sensor data processing for collision avoidance. This self-service functionality reduces the need for complex external control systems while maintaining ease of use for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The drones serve multiple functions: they provide directional guidance to elevator banks, display advertisements on their electronic panels, and navigate autonomously using integrated radio-navigation and sensor systems. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single versatile platform.
3Measurement precision
If multiple drones are used to guide users through intermediate locations, then navigation accuracy improves, but the quantity of drones and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the navigation task into segments by deploying multiple drones at different locations (first drone at first location, second drone at third location). Each drone handles a specific segment of the journey, providing continuous guidance through intermediate locations like elevator banks, which improves overall navigation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically assigns and coordinates multiple drones based on user location and destination. The drones can operate independently or in coordination, with their数量和positions adjusted dynamically to provide optimal guidance coverage without requiring a fixed large fleet.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of communicating directions to an end destination (135) by one or more drones (140), the method having steps of moving via flying motion by a first drone (140A) between a first location (212A) and a second location (212B) along a travel path (210) therebetween, wherein the second location is the end destination or an intermediate location (130); and displaying indicia (230) on a first display panel (220) of the drone that is indicative of directions to the second location.