US 10,780,988 B2 · Propeller safety for automated aerial vehicles

Abstract

An automated aerial vehicle (AAV) and system for automatically detecting a contact or an imminent contact between a propeller of the AAV and an object (e.g., human, pet, or other animal) are described. A safety profile for the AAV may be selected based on various factors including a position or configuration of the AAV. When a contact or an imminent contact is detected, the selected safety profile may be executed to reduce or avoid any potential harm to the object and/or the AAV. For example, if a contact with a propeller of the AAV by an object is detected, the rotation of the propeller may be stopped to avoid harming the object. Likewise, an object detection component may be used to detect an object that is nearing a propeller, stop the rotation of the propeller, and/or navigate the AAV away from the detected object.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An automated aerial vehicle, comprising:

a frame;
a motor coupled to the frame;
a propeller coupled to and rotated by the motor;
a controller configured to at least:
determine a position of the automated aerial vehicle, wherein the position is based at least in part on an altitude of the automated aerial vehicle or an area surrounding the automated aerial vehicle;
select a safety profile from a plurality of safety profiles based at least in part on the determined position, each safety profile being associated with a respective safety perimeter of the propeller;
detect an object within a selected respective safety perimeter associated with the selected safety profile of the propeller;
and
stop the propeller in response to detecting the object within the selected respective safety perimeter of the propeller.

6 more elements

A computer-implemented method for stopping a rotation of a propeller of an automated aerial vehicle, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,
determining a position of the automated aerial vehicle, wherein the position is based at least in part on an altitude of the automated aerial vehicle or an area surrounding the automated aerial vehicle;
selecting a safety profile from a plurality of safety profiles based at least in part on the determined position, each safety profile being associated with a respective safety perimeter of the propeller;
detecting an object entering a selected respective safety perimeter associated with the selected safety profile of the propeller of the automated aerial vehicle;
and
executing the selected safety profile in response to detecting the object entering the selected respective safety perimeter, wherein executing the selected safety profile includes stopping the rotation of the propeller.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Propeller safety for automated aerial vehicles

Life of this patent

Propeller safety for automated aerial vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16