Interesting Patents | Tuesday, February 14, 2023
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants hundreds of new patents every week, showcasing developments in technology and innovation. In our Interesting Patents series, we highlight exciting US patents recently issued by the USPTO.
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New Autonomous Drone System Could Revolutionize Accident Response
USAA | US PAT. NO. 11,579, 633 b1
Invention Overview:
This week, USAA was issued a patent for an autonomous drone system that could be automatically deployed in response to vehicle accidents or other triggering events. The system is designed to capture information relevant to the accident or event for insurance companies, police, or other authorities to help respond to and investigate the event.
The autonomous drone is stored in a compartment inside a vehicle and can be deployed using a launch device that provides an upward force to launch the drone from the compartment. To protect the drone, the compartment has a cover that protects the drone from tampering and debris. While in the compartment, the system uses several sensors to detect the triggering event and determine when to deploy the drone. Once deployed, the drone unfolds its flying mechanisms and sensors to capture images or videos of the triggering event. In other situations, the drone system can follow a fleeing suspect or obtain information about an accident or triggering event. This new technology could be used by insurance companies, police, or other authorities to gather data and improve their response times to accidents or other events.
The drone can obtain images or videos from various angles and orientations depending on the characteristics of the event, such as the scale and the location of the event. The recorded data is then stored and can be uploaded to cloud storage, mobile device storage, or stored locally on the drone. Once the information has been collected, it can be distributed to help respond to and investigate the accident.
This patent may benefit drivers, insurers, and law enforcement. It could significantly reduce the response times to accidents and provide vital information to insurance companies and other authorities. This technology has the potential to revolutionize accident response and provide a faster, more efficient service to those who need it.
Patent Abstract:
Methods and systems for automatically deploying an autonomous drone from a vehicle in response to a triggering event or accident so that data associated with the triggering event or accident may be automatically obtained are described. In one embodiment, a method for deploying an autonomous drone in response to a triggering event is described. The method includes providing an autonomous drone in a vehicle. The method also includes detecting a triggering event associated with the vehicle. Upon detection of the triggering event, the method includes automatically deploying the autonomous drone from the vehicle. The method further includes implementing, by the autonomous drone, a plurality of automatic actions, including recording data associated with the vehicle in which the autonomous drone is provided.
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