Patent ID: 9434473
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: B64C,B64D,G05D,G06Q,G08G,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: identifying, by a processor, a remote situation; determining, by the processor, a target location corresponding to the identified remote situation; selecting, by the processor, a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a plurality of UAVs that are configured to provide support for a plurality of remote situations, wherein the plurality of UAVs comprises at least the first UAV and a second UAV, wherein the first UAV is configured to provide support for a first remote situation and the second UAV configured to provide support for a second remote situation, and wherein the selection of the first UAV is based at least in part on a determination that the first UAV is better configured to provide support for the identified remote situation than at least one other UAV, from the plurality of UAVs; determining, by the processor, that an expected benefit of sending the first UAV to the target location outweighs a cost of sending the first UAV to the target location; and in response to determining that the expected benefit outweighs the cost, causing the first UAV to: (a) travel to the target location in a forward-flight mode to provide support for the identified remote situation, (b) transition to a hover flight mode when the first UAV is located at or near to the target location, and (c) while in the hover flight mode at or near to the target location, provide at least some support for the identified remote situation, wherein, to provide at least some support for the identified remote situation while in the hover flight mode, the first UAV uses a winch to lower one or more support items to a ground at or near the target location.