Patent Publication Number: US-11047690-B2

Title: Automated emergency response

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 15/804,000 filed Nov. 6, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,533,858 issued Jan. 14, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a method for deploying a vehicle for emergency response and in particular to a method and associated system directing a vehicle to towards a damaged structure and locating entities within the damaged structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Implementing rescue operations typically includes an inaccurate process with little flexibility. Typical rescue operations are unable to locate individuals that are not visible and typically involve an unreliable process that may be time consuming and require a large amount of resources. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome at least some of the deficiencies and limitations described herein above. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the invention provides a location detection method comprising: receiving, by a processor of a first vehicle, data describing a specified geographical area of a collapsed structure; receiving, by the processor, a control signal enabling control of the first vehicle such that the first vehicle initiates motion and navigates in a specified direction towards the specified geographical area; upon arriving at the specified geographical area, determining by the processor via a plurality of sensors of the first vehicle, a size and a magnitude of the collapsed structure; determining, by the processor, a center location of the collapsed structure; 
     maintaining, by the processor, the first vehicle at a location above the center location of the collapsed structure; transmitting, by the processor to a search and rescue system, geographical coordinates of the location above the center location of the collapsed structure; 
     first scanning, by the processor via a ground penetrating radar device of the first vehicle, the center location of the collapsed structure; determining, by the processor in response to results of the first scanning, open spaces within the collapsed structure; second scanning, by the processor via a thermal imaging device of the first vehicle, the open spaces within the collapsed structure; and 
     determining, by the processor in response to results of the second scanning, living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure. 
     A second aspect of the invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a processor of a first vehicle implements a location detection method, the method comprising: receiving, by the processor, data describing a specified geographical area of a collapsed structure; receiving, by the processor, a control signal enabling control of the first vehicle such that the first vehicle initiates motion and navigates in a specified direction towards the specified geographical area; upon arriving at the specified geographical area, determining by the processor via a plurality of sensors of the first vehicle, a size and a magnitude of the collapsed structure; determining, by the processor, a center location of the collapsed structure; maintaining, by the processor, the first vehicle at a location above the center location of the collapsed structure; transmitting, by the processor to a search and rescue system, geographical coordinates of the location above the center location of the collapsed structure; first scanning, by the processor via a ground penetrating radar device of the first vehicle, the center location of the collapsed structure; determining, by the processor in response to results of the first scanning, open spaces within the collapsed structure; second scanning, by the processor via a thermal imaging device of the first vehicle, the open spaces within the collapsed structure; and determining, by the processor in response to results of the second scanning, living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure. 
     A third aspect of the invention provides a first vehicle comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, the memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the processor executes a location detection method comprising: receiving, by the processor, data describing a specified geographical area of a collapsed structure; receiving, by the processor, a control signal enabling control of the first vehicle such that the first vehicle initiates motion and navigates in a specified direction towards the specified geographical area; 
     upon arriving at the specified geographical area, determining by the processor via a plurality of sensors of the first vehicle, a size and a magnitude of the collapsed structure; determining, by the processor, a center location of the collapsed structure; maintaining, by the processor, the first vehicle at a location above the center location of the collapsed structure; transmitting, by the processor to a search and rescue system, geographical coordinates of the location above the center location of the collapsed structure; first scanning, by the processor via a ground penetrating radar device of the first vehicle, the center location of the collapsed structure; 
     determining, by the processor in response to results of the first scanning, open spaces within the collapsed structure; second scanning, by the processor via a thermal imaging device of the first vehicle, the open spaces within the collapsed structure; and determining, by the processor in response to results of the second scanning, living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure. 
     The present invention advantageously provides a simple method and associated system capable of implementing rescue operations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a system comprising a vehicle enabled to navigate to a geographical area for a search and rescue operation associated with a living entity within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a GUI for presenting results of the scanning process described in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an algorithm detailing a process flow enabled by the system of  FIG. 1  for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a computer system used by or comprised by the system of  FIG. 1  for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure thereby assisting emergency responder rescues, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. A collapsed structure may include, inter alia, a building, a bridge, etc. System  100  enables a process for automated control of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  equipped with control hardware  119   a  . . .  119   n  (i.e., including a global position satellite (GPS) system) and sensor devices  117   a  . . .  117   n  (i.e., including, inter alia, a thermal imaging apparatus, optical and vibrational sensors, ground penetrating radar (GPR) for locating and differentiating between living entities (e.g., humans or any type of mammal or living being) and other inanimate objects. Additionally, system  1000  enables a process for determining open spaces within and the collapsed structure and a stability of the collapsed structure. System  100  is enabled to: derive a mathematical model to determine an optimal method of extraction and rescue of trapped entities; and display a heat map (e.g., via the graphical user interface (GUI)  300   FIG. 3 ) identifying a visual topography of the collapsed structure to identify trapped entities. 
     System  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a controller  15  and a search and rescue system in communication with vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  (comprising sensor devices  117   a  . . .  117   n  such as, inter alia, a video camera, optical sensors, a thermal imaging apparatus/sensor, optical and vibrational sensors, ground penetrating radar (GPR), etc. and control hardware  119   a  . . .  119   n  comprising a GPS system or sensors sensor devices such as, inter alia, an optical sensor, a GPS sensor, etc.) via a wireless network  118 . Vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  (i.e., control hardware  119   a  . . .  119   n  and sensor devices  117   a  . . .  117   n  internal to vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n ) and controller  15  (i.e., control hardware  19 ) each may comprise an embedded computer. An embedded computer is defined herein as a remotely portable dedicated computer comprising a combination of computer hardware and software (fixed in capability or programmable) specifically designed for executing a specialized function. Programmable embedded computers may comprise specialized programming interfaces. Additionally, vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  (i.e., control hardware  119   a  . . .  119   n  and sensor devices  117   a  . . .  117   n  internal to vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  vehicles) and control vehicle  15  (i.e., control hardware  19 ) may each comprise a specialized hardware device comprising specialized (non-generic) hardware and circuitry (i.e., specialized discrete non-generic analog, digital, and logic based circuitry) for executing a process described with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . The specialized discrete non-generic analog, digital, and logic based circuitry may include proprietary specially designed components (e.g., a specialized integrated circuit, such as for example an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) designed for only implementing an automated process for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure thereby assisting emergency responder rescues. Control vehicle  15  includes a memory system  8 , software  17 , and control hardware  19  (all sensors and associated control hardware for enabling software  17  to execute a process for automatically enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure thereby assisting emergency responder rescues). Control hardware  19  may include sensors. Sensors may include, inter alia, GPS sensors, video recording devices, optical sensors, weight sensors, etc. Additionally, control hardware  19  may include a battery charging station for recharging batteries of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n . The memory system  8  may include a single memory system. Alternatively, the memory system may include a plurality of memory systems. Each of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  may comprise any vehicle that does not require a human operator to be located within the vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  such as, inter alia, a remote controlled vehicle (e.g., an aircraft flown by a pilot at a ground control station), an autonomously controlled vehicle (e.g., an aircraft controlled based on pre-programmed flight plans and may include an intelligence algorithm that would enable vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  to know it&#39;s location and self-determine a route to a collapsed structure), a pre-programmed vehicle, etc. Alternatively, vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  may comprise any type of vehicle that includes a human operator located within the vehicle (e.g., an aircraft, an automobile, a boat or ship, a train, etc.). Vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  may include, inter alia, an aerial vehicle, a land based vehicle, a marine (water) based vehicle, etc. 
     System  100  utilizes vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  to: 
     1. Locate living entities trapped by debris in a collapsed structure. For example, a structure may have been damaged or collapsed by an earthquake. 
     2. Determine a scope (in size, shape, and/or magnitude) of the collapsed structure. 
     3. Coordinate a group of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  via a mapping process to conduct search and rescue operations utilizing GPS, thermal imaging, and GPR processes for locating and identifying entities for rescue. 
     Vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  are integrated with: 
     1. GPR devices for differentiating between living entities and inanimate object. 
     2. Thermal imaging devices for detecting a body temperature of the living entities. 
     3. Optical and vibrational sensors for determining a stability of a collapsed structure. 
     System  100  enables: 
     1. Network communications for communications with a GUI for presenting a visual topology presentation of the collapsed structure with respect to a heat map to identify the living entities. 
     2. Mathematical modeling software (e.g., hard coded into controller  15 ) for determining an optimal method for extraction and rescue of living entities. 
     3. An alert system for determining vehicle replacement. 
     Vehicle  114  comprises control hardware  119  and sensor devices  117  . . .  117   n  . . .  114   n  (i.e., an aerial vehicle) and controller  15  thereby enabling vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  to locate living entities trapped within a collapsed structure as follows: 
     Controller  15  determines (based on sensed and received information) that a building has collapsed due to an earthquake. In response, controller  15  deploys (via GPS) vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  to an area surrounding the collapsed building. Upon arrival to the collapsed building a lead vehicle (of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n ) determines (via sensors) a size and magnitude of the collapsed building and calculates a center point on the collapse. The lead vehicle hovers over the center point and broadcasts the associated GPS coordinates and coverage area. Likewise all additional vehicle of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  are deployed across the coverage area from the center point outward such that all areas in the coverage area are covered for detection. In response, each of vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  scans an associated coverage area via usage of: 
     1. GPR to determine open spaces within the collapsed building. 
     2. A thermal imaging device to determine a location and health of trapped living entities. 
     3. Optical and vibrational sensors to determine potential stable pathways for emergency responders. Additionally, the optical and vibrational sensors are configured to determine potential shifting areas (within the collapsed building) that could continue to collapse further. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a system  200  comprising a vehicle  214  enabled to navigate to a geographical area  202  for a search and rescue operation associated with a living entity within a collapsed structure  215 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Vehicle  114  comprises control hardware  119  and sensor devices  117 . The aforementioned process described with respect to  FIG. 1  enables vehicle  214  to hover over a center point of collapsed structure  215  to scan for: 
     1. Open spaces within the structure  215 . 
     2. A location and health of trapped living entities. 
     3. Potential stable pathways for emergency responders. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a GUI  300  for presenting results of the scanning process described in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. GUI  300  presents a vehicle deployment map  302  (presenting vehicles  302   a  . . .  302   n ), a GPR map  310  illustrating differences between living entities and inanimate objects, a thermal imaging map  304  to determine trapped entities, a number of survivors per each determined rescue route  306 , and optimal recue routes  308  for extracting living entities. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an algorithm detailing a process flow enabled by system  100  of  FIG. 1  for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Each of the steps in the algorithm of  FIG. 4  may be enabled and executed in any order by a computer processor(s) or any type of specialized hardware executing computer code. In step  400 , data describing a specified geographical area of a collapsed structure is received by a vehicle. In step  401 , a control signal enabling control of the vehicle is received such that the vehicle initiates motion and navigates in a specified direction towards the specified geographical area. In step  404 , a size and a magnitude of the collapsed structure is determined (upon arriving at the specified geographical area) via a plurality of sensors of the vehicle. In step  404 , a center location of the collapsed structure is located. In step  408 , the vehicle is directed to hover at a location above the center location of the collapsed structure. In step  410 , geographical coordinates of the location above the center location of the collapsed structure are transmitted to a search and rescue system. Additionally, the center location is scanned via a ground penetrating radar device of the vehicle. In step  414 , open spaces within the collapsed structure are determined and scanned via a thermal imaging device. In step  418 , living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure are determined based on results of steps  410  and  414 . In step  420 , the collapsed structure is scanned via optical sensors and vibrational sensors of the vehicle and stable pathways for accessing the open spaces within the collapsed structure are determined. Additionally, geographical coordinates of the living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure and geographical coordinates of the stable pathways are transmitted to search and rescue system. In step  424 , a first pathway of the stable pathways is determined. The first pathway is associated with a shortest timeframe (with respect to all other pathways of the stable pathways) for accessing the living entities located within open spaces within the collapsed structure. Coordinates of the first pathway are transmitted to the search and rescue system. The search and rescue system may present (via a GUI) images of: the open spaces within the collapsed structure; the living entities located within the open spaces of the collapsed structure; and the first pathway via a two dimensional image and/or a three dimensional image of the GUI. In step  428 , additional stable pathways are determined and presented by the vehicle via the process described with respect to steps  410 - 424 . In step  432 , additional vehicles are deployed for determining additional living entities within additional open spaces within the collapsed structure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a computer system  90  (e.g., controller vehicle  15  (i.e., control hardware  19  internal to controller vehicle  15 ) and vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n  (i.e., control hardware  119   a  . . .  119   n  and sensors  117   a  . . .  117   n  internal to vehicles  114   a  . . .  114   n ) used by or comprised by the system of  FIG. 1  for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing apparatus receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, device (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing device, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable device or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable device, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The computer system  90  illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes a processor  91 , an input device  92  coupled to the processor  91 , an output device  93  coupled to the processor  91 , and memory devices  94  and  95  each coupled to the processor  91 . The input device  92  may be, inter alia, a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a touchscreen, etc. The output device  93  may be, inter alia, a printer, a plotter, a computer screen, a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, etc. The memory devices  94  and  95  may be, inter alia, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical storage such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DVD), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory device  95  includes a computer code  97 . The computer code  97  includes algorithms (e.g., the algorithm of  FIG. 4 ) for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure. The processor  91  executes the computer code  97 . The memory device  94  includes input data  96 . The input data  96  includes input required by the computer code  97 . The output device  93  displays output from the computer code  97 . Either or both memory devices  94  and  95  (or one or more additional memory devices such as read only memory device  96 ) may include algorithms (e.g., the algorithm of  FIG. 4 ) and may be used as a computer usable medium (or a computer readable medium or a program storage device) having a computer readable program code embodied therein and/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readable program code includes the computer code  97 . Generally, a computer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computer system  90  may include the computer usable medium (or the program storage device). 
     In some embodiments, rather than being stored and accessed from a hard drive, optical disc or other writeable, rewriteable, or removable hardware memory device  95 , stored computer program code  84  (e.g., including an algorithm) may be stored on a static, nonremovable, read-only storage medium such as a Read-Only Memory (ROM) device  85 , or may be accessed by processor  91  directly from such a static, nonremovable, read-only medium  85 . Similarly, in some embodiments, stored computer program code  97  may be stored as computer-readable firmware  85 , or may be accessed by processor  91  directly from such firmware  85 , rather than from a more dynamic or removable hardware data-storage device  95 , such as a hard drive or optical disc. 
     Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could be created, integrated, hosted, maintained, deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service supplier who offers to enable a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure. Thus, the present invention discloses a process for deploying, creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and/or integrating computing infrastructure, including integrating computer-readable code into the computer system  90 , wherein the code in combination with the computer system  90  is capable of performing a method for enabling a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure. In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service supplier, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to enable a vehicular communication system for deployment with respect to locating entities located within a collapsed structure. In this case, the service supplier can create, maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service supplier can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service supplier can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties. While  FIG. 5  shows the computer system  90  as a particular configuration of hardware and software, any configuration of hardware and software, as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, may be utilized for the purposes stated supra in conjunction with the particular computer system  90  of  FIG. 5 . For example, the memory devices  94  and  95  may be portions of a single memory device rather than separate memory devices. 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.