Patent ID: 11858625
Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. A computer-implemented method to detect objects, comprising:
instructing rotation of a plurality of propellers of an aerial vehicle, wherein noises produced from rotation of each of the plurality of propellers is different;
receiving, using a microphone of the aerial vehicle and at a first time, a first noise produced by a first propeller of the plurality of propellers;
receiving, using the microphone and at a second time, a second noise produced by a second propeller of the plurality of propellers;
receiving, using the microphone and at a third time, a third noise produced by a third propeller of the plurality of propellers;
receiving, using the microphone and at a fourth time that is subsequent to the first time, a first reflection of the first noise reflected by an object within an environment;
receiving, using the microphone and at a fifth time that is subsequent to the second time, a second reflection of the second noise reflected by the object within the environment;
receiving, using the microphone and at a sixth time that is subsequent to the third time, a third reflection of the third noise reflected by the object within the environment;
determining, based at least in part on the first time and the fourth time, a first set of solutions corresponding to a first measured distance of the object with respect to the aerial vehicle;
determining, based at least in part on the second time and the fifth time, a second set of solutions corresponding to a second measured distance of the object with respect to the aerial vehicle;
determining, based at least in part on the third time and the sixth time, a third set of solutions corresponding to a third measured distance of the object with respect to the aerial vehicle;
determining a distance and a direction of the object with respect to the aerial vehicle as an intersection between the first set of solutions, the second set of solutions, and the third set of solutions; and
modifying an operation of the aerial vehicle based at least in part on the distance and the direction of the object with respect to the aerial vehicle.