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US 12,179,917 B1Granted
Self-charging unmanned vehicle
AssigneeUnited Services Automobile Association (USAA)
InventorKade Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may efficiently accomplish tasks by autonomously charging or replacing its power source.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- receiving an alert to deploy a first unmanned vehicle according to a mission, wherein the mission includes completion of at least one task according to a first path;
- operating the first unmanned vehicle in a first mode, in which it operates in a mobile manner and functions as an autonomous self-propelled power supply device, wherein the first mode is configured to execute the mission;
- determining, by the first unmanned vehicle, a power level of the first unmanned vehicle as it operates in the first mode;
- determining, by the first unmanned vehicle and based on the power level, to switch to a second mode, wherein the first unmanned vehicle moves to a location and renders itself stationary such that it uses less power in the second mode than in the first mode;
- operating in the second mode;
- attaching, with electromagnetic connections, the first unmanned vehicle to a second unmanned vehicle;
- transferring power from the first unmanned vehicle to the second unmanned vehicle;
- and
- modifying a flight plan of the second unmanned vehicle to complete the mission.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving an alert to deploy a first unmanned vehicle according to a mission, wherein the mission includes completion of at least one task according to a first path;
- determining, by a first unmanned vehicle, which operates as an autonomous self-propelled power supply device, power needed for the first unmanned vehicle to travel the first path to a destination;
- determining, by the first unmanned vehicle and based on the power needed and a power level of the first unmanned vehicle, to switch to a second mode from a first mode, wherein the first mode is configured to execute the mission, and, wherein the first unmanned vehicle moves to a power supply replacement location and renders itself stationary such that it uses less power in the second mode than in the first mode;
- traveling along a second path to the destination and stopping at the power supply replacement location;
- causing the first unmanned vehicle to transfer power to a second unmanned vehicle by attaching, with electromagnetic connections, to the second unmanned vehicle;
- and
- modifying a flight plan of the second unmanned vehicle to complete the mission.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving an alert to deploy a first unmanned vehicle according to a mission, wherein the mission includes completion of at least one task according to a first path;
- determining a power level of a first unmanned vehicle operating in a first power mode, operating in a mobile manner and functioning as an autonomous self-propelled power supply device;
- determining, based on the power level of the first unmanned vehicle and a destination of the first unmanned vehicle, to switch to a second power mode from a first mode, wherein the first mode is configured to execute the mission, and wherein the first unmanned vehicle moves to a location and renders itself stationary such that it uses less power in the second power mode than in the first power mode;
- causing the first unmanned vehicle to enable a second unmanned vehicle to attach, with electromagnetic connections, to the first unmanned vehicle;
- transferring power from the first unmanned vehicle to the second unmanned vehicle;
- and
- modifying a flight plan of the second unmanned vehicle to complete the mission.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.