UAV Safety Event Detection and Communication Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing popularity of on-demand cab services has led to safety concerns for passengers and drivers due to the lack of real-time detection and communication of safety incidents, resulting in delayed responses and potential loss of life and property.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to detect and communicate safety events to a safety center, equipped with sensors and a communication module, which can detach from a vehicle to maintain communication with safety servers even in areas with low or unavailable network coverage, ensuring timely incident reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ground-based safety monitoring systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the response time is delayed and network coverage is insufficient in remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based monitoring to aerial monitoring using UAVs, moving the detection system from two-dimensional ground level to three-dimensional aerial space. This dimensional change enables the UAV to cover larger areas, reach remote locations without network infrastructure, and provide superior line-of-sight communication for real-time safety monitoring and incident detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the safety server, particularly in areas where direct ground-based network communication is unavailable. The UAV carries onboard communication modules that can establish direct links with the safety server, serving as a mobile communication relay to ensure continuous monitoring and rapid incident reporting regardless of ground network availability.
2Reliability
If UAVs with full functionality are deployed, then the safety monitoring capability is enhanced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV is designed with multi-functionality to justify its deployment: it simultaneously performs safety monitoring, incident detection, real-time communication with safety servers, and can serve multiple vehicles in a fleet. This universal application across different scenarios and vehicles amortizes the complexity and cost over broader operational value.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV is pre-positioned near or on the vehicle before incidents occur, maintaining continuous monitoring readiness. This preliminary positioning ensures that when safety incidents happen, the UAV is already in optimal position to detect and report events immediately, eliminating the need for complex post-incident analysis or deployment mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then the safety detection coverage is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of truly continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling of safety parameters at strategically determined intervals. The monitoring frequency adapts based on risk levels, vehicle type, and environmental factors, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection coverage for identifying safety incidents.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV monitors its own energy levels and autonomously adjusts its operation mode to extend flight duration. When energy becomes low, the UAV can reduce monitoring intensity, return to base for recharging, or prioritize critical communication functions over less urgent sensing activities, enabling sustained operation without constant human intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for detecting and communicating safety-related events to a safety server is provided. A network status of a communication network over which devices associated with the vehicle are communicating with the safety server is identified. The UAV receives metadata including at least location data from the devices when the network status of the communication network indicates low or unavailable connectivity that is hindering communication of the metadata to the safety server by the devices. The UAV processes the metadata and detects safety events associated with the vehicle. The UAV communicates the safety events to the safety server based on at least a safety criterion including detachment of the UAV from the vehicle when the UAV is unable to communicate with the safety server in its attached configuration with the vehicle due to network issues.