A vehicle system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including receiving an alert signal, deploying a drone from a host vehicle in response to receiving the alert signal, and commanding the drone to follow the host vehicle and to present a perceptible alert.

BACKGROUND

Stranded vehicles are often moved to the side of the road so that they do not impede traffic. The stranded vehicle can be towed to a service station or possibly repaired and driven away. Sometimes, the stranded vehicle is left unoccupied and unattended on the side of the road.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Stranded vehicles can sometimes be hard to find. For example, the driver of a service truck (such as a tow truck) may not know what side of the road the stranded vehicle is parked or may not be able to see the stranded vehicle at night or if visibility is low. The same issues arise if the occupant of the vehicle requires emergency services. The emergency service personnel (police officer, fireman, emergency medical technician, etc.) may have difficulty finding the stranded vehicle.

One way to address that problem is with a drone that deploys from, and draws attention to, the vehicle. The drone may hover above the vehicle and shine a light onto the vehicle, turn on a siren, or provide any other type of perceptible alert. The deployment of the drone may be handled by a drone deployment system having a processor programmed to receive an alert signal, deploy the drone from the vehicle in response to receiving the alert signal, and command the drone to follow the host vehicle and to present the perceptible alert. Thus, the drone will draw attention to the host vehicle, making the host vehicle easier for the driver of the service truck or the emergency service personnel to find.

The elements shown may take many different forms and include multiple and/or alternate components and facilities. The example components illustrated are not intended to be limiting. Indeed, additional or alternative components and/or implementations may be used. Further, the elements shown are not necessarily drawn to scale unless explicitly stated as such.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B, a host vehicle100includes a deployable drone105and a drone deployment system110. Although illustrated as a sedan, the host vehicle100may include any passenger or commercial automobile such as a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a crossover vehicle, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc. In some possible approaches, the host vehicle100is an autonomous vehicle that can operate in an autonomous (e.g., driverless) mode, a partially autonomous mode, and/or a non-autonomous mode.

The deployable drone105is an unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a number of circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can control various operations of the deployable drone105. For instance, the deployable drone105may fly in accordance with control signals output to its propellers. The deployable drone105may be outfitted with a navigation system140so that it can fly to, and hover at, a particular location. Moreover, the deployable drone105may be outfitted with various alert devices such as lights120, sirens, or both. In some possible approaches, the deployable drone105may include one or more cameras that can capture images of an area near the drone. The cameras may be located in the same housing as the lights120, and the deployable drone105may be programmed to turn on the camera to capture images of an area below the deployable drone105. Thus, when hovering over the host vehicle100, the camera may capture images of the host vehicle100and possibly the area around the host vehicle100, depending on how far above the host vehicle100the deployable drone105is hovering.

The deployable drone105may be programmed to operate in different modes. Example modes may include a panic mode, a security mode, a static view mode, a monitoring mode, and a fly mode. When operating in the panic mode, the deployable drone105may be programmed to hover above the host vehicle100while both shining the light120onto the host vehicle100and its surrounding area and also emitting an audible alert through the siren or a speaker. When operating in the security mode, the deployable drone105may be programmed to hover above the host vehicle100and shine the light120onto the host vehicle100and its surrounding area. When operating in the static view mode, the deployable drone105may be programmed to hover over the host vehicle100with the camera turned on to capture images of the host vehicle100and its surrounding area. The deployable drone105may be further programmed to stream the video captured by the camera to a user's mobile device. When operating in the monitoring mode, the deployable drone105may be programmed to hover over the host vehicle100with the camera turned on and pointed toward an object of interest (which may or may not be the host vehicle100). Further, when operating in the monitoring mode, the deployable drone105may broadcast the video captured by the camera to nearby mobile devices or make the video otherwise accessible to a group of mobile devices beyond that of the owner of the host vehicle100. In other words, operating in the monitoring mode may include the deployable drone105presenting a live stream of the video captured by the camera to anyone with permission to view the live stream. When operating in the fly mode, the deployable drone105may be programmed to fly to a particular location, at the direction of a user input, and capture images via the camera. The user input may be provided via a user interface (seeFIG. 2) located in the host vehicle100, via a mobile device, or the like.

The drone deployment system110is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can receive an alert signal from a remote server115, deploy the deployable drone105from the host vehicle100in response to receiving the alert signal, and command the drone to follow the host vehicle100, present a perceptible alert, or both. The drone deployment system110may wirelessly communicate with the remote server115via any number of telecommunications protocols. For instance, the communication between the drone deployment system110and the remote server115may be in accordance with cellular or satellite communication protocols, including 3G, 4G, LTE, etc.

To deploy the deployable drone105from the host vehicle100, the drone deployment system110may output a control signal to an actuator that, in response to the control signal, opens a door, such as a trunk, of the host vehicle100(seeFIG. 1A). The same or different control signal may be provided to actuators that release the deployable drone105from any number of in-vehicle locks that otherwise secure the deployable drone105when it is not in use. Once released from the locks, the commands output to the deployable drone105may include a command for the deployable drone105to exit the host vehicle100(i.e., fly out of the trunk) and hover above the host vehicle100(seeFIG. 1B). In some instances, the commands may include a command for the deployable drone105to follow the host vehicle100if, e.g., the host vehicle100is moving. Additional commands may include commanding the deployable drone105to present a perceptible alert (shining a light120in a particular area, turning on the siren, etc.) or commanding the deployable drone105to operate in one of the modes discussed above. For instance, one of the commands output to the deployable drone105may cause the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode, the security mode, the static view mode, the monitoring mode, or the fly mode.

The drone deployment system110may select the operating mode of the deployable drone105according to any number of factors including, e.g., the alert signal. For instance, if the alert signal indicates the vehicle owner's desire for the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode, the drone deployment system110may select that mode. Since operating in the panic mode includes the deployable drone105shining the light120and turning on the siren, the selection of the perceptible alert is in accordance with the selected operating mode.

The drone deployment system110receives the alert signal from a remote server115. The remote server115may initiate the alert signal in response to a user input, which could include a user input from the owner of the host vehicle100. The user input may be provided by the owner of the host vehicle100to his or her mobile device, computer, etc., and transmitted to the remote server115via a wireless communication protocol, including cellular communication protocols, satellite communication protocols, or the like. Alternatively, the user input may be transmitted to the remote server115through a wired communication interface if, e.g., the user input is provided to a desktop or laptop computer that at least partially relies on a wired network connection to communicate with remote computing devices. In some instances, the user input may be received via an in-vehicle user interface such as an infotainment system touchscreen incorporated into the host vehicle100. In such instances, the alert signal may be transmitted from the infotainment system to the processor without an intervening remote server115.

Rather than a user input, the alert signal may be transmitted in response to a communication from an emergency service provider. For example, the emergency service provider may be associated with a police station, fire station, hospital, ambulance service, vehicle service center, etc. Thus, if the owner of the host vehicle100were to call the emergency service provider to report an emergency or otherwise request assistance, the emergency service provider may communicate with the remote server115to instruct the remote server115to transmit the alert signal to the host vehicle100, and specifically, to the drone deployment system110.

The drone deployment system110may be programmed to only permit certain modes of operation of the deployable drone105based on the origination of the alert signal. For instance, the drone deployment system110may permit any operating mode following receipt of the alert signal generated in response to a user input generated by the owner or user of the host vehicle100. The drone deployment system110may, however, only permit the panic mode, the security mode, or the static view mode when the alert signal is generated in response to a communication from the emergency service provide to the remote server115. In other words, the emergency service provider may not be permitted to transmit an alert signal that will deploy the deployable drone105and cause the deployable drone105to operate in the monitoring mode or the fly mode.

FIG. 1Aillustrates the deployable drone105located in the trunk of the host vehicle100.FIG. 1Billustrates the deployable drone105hovering over the host vehicle100. Also, as shown inFIG. 1B, the light120of the deployable drone105is illuminated and the siren is turned on (shown by the sound waves125).

Referring now toFIG. 2, the drone deployment system110includes or otherwise works in accordance with a communication interface130, a user interface135, a navigation system140, deployment actuators145, a memory150, and a processor155. These and possibly other components of the drone deployment system110or the host vehicle100are in communication with one another via a communication network160, such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Low Energy®, WiFi, or the like.

The communication interface130is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can facilitate wired or wireless communication with remote devices such as the remote server115, a user's mobile device, the deployable drone105, etc. The communication interface130may be programmed to communicate in accordance with any number of telecommunication protocols, including cellular or satellite communication protocols. Examples of telecommunication protocols include 3G, 4G, LTE, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Low Energy®, WiFi, etc. The communication interface130may be programmed to transmit messages to, and receive messages from, the remote server115, a mobile device, etc. The communication interface130may be further programmed to forward received messages to, e.g., the memory150or the processor155. Further, the communication interface130may generate and transmit messages in accordance with instructions received from the processor155or other components of the host vehicle100, such as the navigation system140. The communication interface130may also be programmed to transmit messages to the deployable drone105. The messages transmitted to the deployable drone105may include instructions from the processor155, the location of the host vehicle100from the navigation system140, etc.

The user interface135is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can receive user inputs provided by an occupant of the host vehicle100. The user interface135may include a display screen for presenting information to the user and for prompting the user to provide various user inputs. The user interface135may further include buttons for receiving user inputs. In some possible approaches, the user interface135includes a touch-sensitive display screen that can present information to the occupant, prompt the occupant for information, and receive user inputs resulting from the occupant touching designated areas (virtual buttons or soft keys) of the touch-sensitive display screen. The user interface135may be programmed to output signals representing the user inputs received. The user interface135may be incorporated into, e.g., a vehicle infotainment system.

The navigation system140is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can determine the location of the host vehicle100and output signals representing the location of the host vehicle100. The navigation system140may be programmed to determine the location of the host vehicle100in accordance with signals received from a satellite system, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). The navigation system140may be further programmed to receive, from the user interface135, a destination and develop a route from the present location of the host vehicle100to the destination. In some instances, the navigation system140may be programmed to transmit a signal representing the location of the host vehicle100to the communication interface130with an instruction to transmit the location to, e.g., the deployable drone105, the remote server115, the mobile device, etc.

The deployment actuators145are implemented via solenoids or other types of electromechanical devices that convert electric signals into motion. One or more deployment actuators145may be used to lock the deployable drone105in or to the host vehicle100when the deployable drone105is not in use. That is, those deployment actuators145may be in a locked state while the deployable drone105is stored in, e.g., the trunk of the host vehicle100, and may transition to an unlocked state in response to receiving a control signal output by, e.g., the processor155. The same or different deployment actuators145may be used to release the trunk or other door that allows the deployable drone105to exit the host vehicle100. Thus, in response to control signals output by the processor155, the deployment actuators145may transition to the unlocked state so the deployable drone105can be released from, e.g., the trunk and hover above the host vehicle100.

The memory150is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can electronically store data. The memory150may store instructions executable by the communication interface130, the user interface135, the navigation system140, the processor155, or any combination of these or other components in the host vehicle100. The memory150may further store data received from any component in the host vehicle100and make stored data available to the components of the host vehicle100.

The processor155is implemented via circuits, chips, or other electronic components that can control various operations of the drone deployment system110. For instance, the processor155may be programmed to receive the alert signal. The processor155may receive the alert signal via the user interface135or the communication interface130. For instance, the processor155may receive the alert signal via the user interface135after the alert signal is generated in response to a user input provided to the user interface135. The processor155may receive the alert signal via the communication interface130after the alert signal is generated in response to a user input provided to a mobile device or generated by the remote server115and wirelessly transmitted to the host vehicle100.

The processor155may be further programmed to output signals to deploy the drone from the host vehicle100. The signals may be generated and output by the processor155in response receiving and processing the alert signal. Deploying the drone from the host vehicle100may include the processor155outputting control signals to the deployment actuators145to switch the deployment actuators145from the locked state to the unlocked state. In doing so, the deployable drone105may be released from, e.g., the trunk of the host vehicle100.

Either before or after transitioning the deployment actuators145to the unlocked state, the processor155may be programmed to transmit various command signals to the deployable drone105. The processor155may transmit the commands to the deployable drone105by instructing the communication interface130to create a message with the command and wirelessly transmit the message with the command to the deployable drone105. The processor155may be programmed to generate and transmit any number of command signals. For example, the command signals may instruct the deployable drone105to operate in one or more of the modes discussed above. For instance, the processor155may be programmed to select an operating mode in accordance with the alert signal. That is, if the alert signal indicates a user's desire for the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode, the processor155may be programmed to select the panic mode as the operating mode and output commands to the deployable drone105that instruct the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode.

The commands to operate in the selected mode may further include commands for the deployable drone105to present various perceptible alerts associated with the selected operating mode, the user input, etc. For instance, in response to receiving the alert signal instructing the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode, the processor155may output command signals instructing the deployable drone105to hover above the host vehicle100, shine a light120toward the host vehicle100, and turn on the siren. Other perceptible alerts, or groups of perceptible alerts, may be associated with other operating modes. For instance, shining the light120onto the host vehicle100(but not turning on the siren) is associated with the security mode. Some operating modes do not include any perceptible alerts. In some possible implementations, the processor155may be programmed to output commands instructing the deployable drone105to present the perceptible alert independent of any particular operating mode. That is, the processor155may be programmed to instruct the deployable drone105to shine the light120on the host vehicle100, turn on the siren, etc., in response to receiving an alert signal requesting as much.

The command signals may include commands for the deployable drone105to follow the host vehicle100(i.e., follow commands). The follow commands may include the processor155instructing the navigation system140to periodically determine the location of the host vehicle100and instructing the communication interface130to periodically (e.g., each time the location of the host vehicle100is determined by the navigation system140) transmit the location of the host vehicle100to the deployable drone105. The follow commands may further include commanding the communication interface130to transmit instructions to the deployable drone105to follow the host vehicle100according to the location determined by the navigation system140.

The processor155may be further programmed to command the communication interface130to send messages to the remote server115associated with the emergency service provider. For instance, in response to receiving an alert signal requesting the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode or the security mode, the processor155may command the communication interface130to transmit the location of the host vehicle100, as determined by the navigation system140, to the remote server115. By doing so, the emergency service provider may be able to dispatch an emergency vehicle to the location of the host vehicle100. The driver of the emergency vehicle will be able to easily identify the host vehicle100with the drone hovering over the host vehicle100, shining a light120on the host vehicle100, and possibly blaring the siren.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of an example process300that may be executed by the drone deployment system110to deploy the drone from the host vehicle100and output various signals to control the drone.

At block305, the drone deployment system110receives an alert signal. The alert signal may be received at the host vehicle100by the communication interface130and forwarded to the processor155or transmitted from, e.g., an in-vehicle infotainment system to the processor155without an intervening remote server115. The alert signal, as discussed above, may be generated in response to a user input, which could include a user input from the owner of the host vehicle100or from an emergency service provider.

At block310, the drone deployment system110may select an operating mode of the deployable drone105. Example modes may include the panic mode, the security mode, the static view mode, the monitoring mode, and the fly mode, all of which are discussed above. The processor155may select the operating mode in accordance with the alert signal. For instance, if the alert signal indicates the vehicle owner's desire for the deployable drone105to operate in the panic mode, the drone deployment system110may select that mode.

At block315, the drone deployment system110may select the perceptible alert. Some perceptible alerts are associated with particular modes. Therefore, the processor155may select the perceptible alert according to the operating mode selected at block310. For instance, if the panic mode is selected at block310, the processor155may select shining the light120and turning on the siren as two perceptible alerts since those two alerts as associated with the panic mode.

At block320, the drone deployment system110may deploy the deployable drone105. To deploy the deployable drone105, the processor155may output signals to the deployment actuators145, the trunk, or both, to release the deployable drone105and allow the deployable drone105to fly out of the host vehicle100.

At block325, the drone deployment system110may command the deployable drone105to operate in the mode selected at block310and to present the perceptible alert selected at block315. The processor155may command the communication interface130to transmit the command signals to the deployable drone105either before or after the drone is freed from the host vehicle100at block320. Thus, block325may occur simultaneously with block320. That is, the command signals instructing the deployable drone105to leave the host vehicle100may also serve as the command signals for the deployable drone105to operate in a particular operating mode, present particular perceptible alerts, or both.

At decision block330, the drone deployment system110may determine whether the deployable drone105should follow the host vehicle100. The processor155may make this decision based on the operating mode selected at block310. For instance, if the monitoring mode is selected at block310, the processor155may determine that the deployable drone105should follow the host vehicle100. Alternatively, the decision for the deployable drone105to follow the host vehicle100may be based on a request from an emergency service provider received via the remote server115. If the processor155determines that the deployable drone105should follow the host vehicle100, the process300may proceed to block335. Otherwise, the process300may proceed to block355.

At block335, the drone deployment system110may command the drone to follow the host vehicle100. Commanding the drone to follow the host vehicle100may include the processor155transmitting a follow command to the deployable drone105. The follow command may instruct the deployable drone105to navigate to locations that will be provided by the processor155via, e.g., the communication interface130. In some instances, the follow command may be transmitted at block320with the signals commanding the deployable drone105to operate in a particular operating mode, as discussed above.

At block340, the drone deployment system110may determine the location of the host vehicle100. For instance, the processor155may determine the location of the host vehicle100from, e.g., the navigation system140. The location of the host vehicle100may be determined periodically. For instance, block340may be executed multiple times during the process300. The location of the host vehicle100may be determined every time block340is executed.

At block345, the drone deployment system110may transmit the location of the host vehicle100to the deployable drone105, the remote server115, or both. The processor155may command the communication interface130to transmit the location of the host vehicle100to the deployable drone105, the remote server115, or both each time a new location of the host vehicle100is determined at block340. The location of the host vehicle100may be transmitted to the deployable drone105when the deployable drone105is operating in the monitoring mode. The location of the host vehicle100may be transmitted to the remote server115in response to a request, included in the alert signal, from the emergency service provider.

At decision block350, the drone deployment system110may determine whether to continue the follow mode. That is, the processor155may determine whether to continue the follow mode based on a user input requesting a different operating mode (e.g., an operating mode other than the monitoring mode), a signal from the remote server115indicating that the emergency service provider no longer needs the drone to operate in the follow mode, or the like. If the processor155determines to continue with the follow mode, the process300may proceed to block340so that the present location of the host vehicle100can be determined and transmitted to the deployable drone105, the remote server115, or both. If the processor155decides to cease the follow mode, the process300may proceed to decision block355.

At decision block355, the drone deployment system110may determine whether the process300should end. For instance, the processor155may determine whether additional use of the deployable drone105is desired from the owner of the host vehicle100or the emergency service provider. This may include receiving a new alert, selecting a new operating mode, selecting a new perceptible alert, etc., before proceeding to block325. If additional use of the deployable drone105is needed, the process300may proceed to block325so that the deployable drone105may be commanded to operate in a particular operating mode, present a particular perceptible alert, or both. If additional use of the deployable drone105is not desired, the process300may end after block355.

According to the process300, the deployable drone105may hover above the host vehicle100and shine a light120onto the host vehicle100, turn on a siren, or provide any other type of perceptible alert. Thus, the drone will draw attention to the host vehicle100, making the host vehicle100easier for emergency service personnel or, e.g., a tow truck driver, to find.