UAV Vehicle Perimeter Deployment for Disabled Vehicle Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle perimeters become inadequate when vehicles become disabled or temporarily immobile, and there is a need for improved perimeters that can adapt to changing vehicle types and environments.
Innovation Solution
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deploy and position perimeter devices, such as signal members and base members, which can be dynamically adjusted to create effective safety and security perimeters around vehicles, including autonomous and human-controlled vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional perimeter defense systems are deployed, then security coverage is provided, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV platform is designed to perform multiple functions including perimeter surveillance, package delivery, and communication relay. By making the UAV universal, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated perimeter defense systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining security functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deploying physical security infrastructure throughout the perimeter, the system uses virtual copies of the facility geometry created through LIDAR scanning and photogrammetry. These digital twins enable virtual perimeter monitoring without requiring physical sensors at every location, reducing system complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional perimeter defense systems are deployed, then security coverage is provided, but deployment time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary LIDAR scanning and photogrammetry to create digital twins of the facility perimeter before security operations begin. This preliminary mapping enables rapid deployment of UAV surveillance routes and eliminates time-consuming manual setup of traditional physical security systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical perimeter defense systems (physical barriers, fixed sensors) with autonomous UAVs that use optical sensors and onboard computing. This substitution eliminates the need for manual installation and configuration of physical security infrastructure, dramatically reducing deployment time.
3Loss of information
If manned surveillance is used, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but safety risks to personnel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV acts as an intermediary between the surveillance system and the hazardous environment. It carries sensors and communication equipment into dangerous areas (conflict zones, unstable structures) while keeping human operators safely remote, thus maintaining surveillance quality without exposing personnel to harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces human personnel with autonomous UAV platforms equipped with sensors and AI processing. This substitution eliminates direct human exposure to harmful environments while maintaining or improving surveillance quality through enhanced sensor capabilities and automated analysis.
4Area of stationary object
If extensive security infrastructure is installed, then perimeter coverage is improved, but loss of time for setup and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static perimeter infrastructure to dynamic UAV-based monitoring. The UAVs can dynamically adjust their flight paths, surveillance zones, and patrol routes based on real-time conditions, enabling comprehensive perimeter coverage without the rigid setup requirements of fixed installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The perimeter surveillance function is segmented into multiple independent UAV units rather than a single monolithic system. Each UAV can operate independently or coordinate with others, allowing flexible coverage adjustment and eliminating the need for synchronized setup and maintenance of interconnected physical infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The technical description relates to perimeters for vehicles. Specific examples relate to vehicle perimeters established by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as autonomous drones, for a variety of vehicle types, including manually-driven, partially autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicles. Perimeter devices, vehicles, including autonomous vehicles and human-controlled vehicles, UAVs, and related systems and methods are described. Perimeter devices respond to triggering events, such as vehicle-immobilizing events, GPS-based events, and environment-based events, to establish a perimeter adjacent a vehicle such that observers can visually detect the presence of a signal member, such as a warning triangle having a reflective surface. An example vehicle includes a tractor unit, a trailer connected to the tractor unit, a storage enclosure associated with the tractor unit, and a plurality of perimeter devices disposed in the chamber. Each perimeter device of the plurality of perimeter devices includes a triangular signal member, a base member, and a UAV. Each perimeter device is adapted to deploy from the chamber and establish a perimeter by the vehicle in response to a triggering event, such as parking of the vehicle in a location for which a perimeter must be established, impact of the vehicle with another object, such as during a traffic accident, rollover of the vehicle, or mechanical and/or electrical failure of the vehicle.