IP Library Granted Patent US 11,726,472
Granted Patent B2
US 11,726,472 · App. 16/948,422 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

High-efficiency drone management

Inventor: Ian Andreas Villa (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc
G05D1/0027B64C39/024G05D1/0022B64U2101/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,726,472
App. No.
16/948,422
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments for determining efficient utilization of drones. In some aspects, a drone may be performing a task, and a new task may be identified. Whether the drone should be diverted from the existing task to the new task, in some embodiments, is based on a number of factors. These factors include, for example, a value associated with the existing task and a value associated with the new task. The values are based on, for example, a potential delay introduced in completing the existing task if the drone is diverted to the new task.

Claims (45)

1. A method performed by hardware processing circuitry, comprising:

performing a priority determination to determine a first priority of maintaining an in progress first task of a first drone;

performing a further priority determination to determine a second priority associated with assigning a second task to the first drone, wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a delay in completion of the first task as a result of deferring the first task, wherein the determining of the second priority is based on the delay;

performing a deferral determination to defer the in progress first task of the first drone and assign the second task to the first drone based on the first and second priorities; and

instructing the first drone according to the deferral determination.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a range of the first drone, and determining a plurality of payloads available for pick-up within the range, wherein the second priority is based on the plurality of payloads.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, determining a state of charge of the first drone, determining whether assigning the second task to the first drone will include recharging of the first drone based on the state of charge, wherein the second priority is based on the determination of whether re-tasking includes recharging.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second task is obtaining imagery of a vehicle, and wherein the second priority is based on a distance between a location of the first drone and the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining an elapsed time the vehicle has been at a stable position, wherein the second priority is based on the elapsed time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second task is recharging a second drone, and the method further comprises determining a charge status of the second drone, wherein the second priority is further based on the charge status.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining a payload the second drone, wherein the second priority is further based on the payload.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining a distance between the first drone and the second drone, wherein the second priority is further based on the distance.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining a recharge location for the second drone, and determining a second distance between the recharge location and a destination associated with the first task, wherein the second priority is further based on the second distance.

10. A system, comprising:

hardware processing circuitry;

one or more memories storing instructions that when executed configure the hardware processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

performing a priority determination to determine a first priority of maintaining an in progress first task of a first drone;

performing a further priority determination to determine a second priority associated with assigning a second task to the first drone, wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a delay in completion of the first task as a result of deferring the first task, wherein the determining of the second priority is based on the delay;

performing a deferral determination to defer the in progress first task of the first drone and assign the second task to the first drone based on the first and second priorities; and

instructing the first drone according to the deferral determination.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a range of the first drone, and determining a plurality of payloads available for pick-up within the range, wherein the second priority is based on the plurality of payloads.

12. The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising, determining a state of charge of the first drone, determining whether assigning the second task to the first drone will include recharging of the first drone based on the state of charge, wherein the second priority is based on the determination of whether re-tasking includes recharging.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second task is obtaining imagery of a vehicle, and wherein the second priority is based on a distance between a location of the first drone and the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 , the operations further comprising determining an elapsed time the vehicle has been at a stable position, wherein the second priority is based on the elapsed time.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second task is recharging a second drone, and the operations further comprises determining a charge status of the second drone, wherein the second priority is further based on the charge status.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining a current payload of the second drone;

determining a distance between the first drone and the second drone, wherein the second priority is further based on the payload and the distance.

17. The system of claim 16 , the operations further comprising determining a recharge location for the second drone, and determining a second distance between the recharge location and a destination associated with the first task, wherein the second priority is further based on the second distance.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed configure hardware processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

performing a priority determination to determine a first priority of maintaining an in progress first task of a first drone;

performing a further priority determination to determine a second priority associated with assigning a second task to the first drone, wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a delay in completion of the first task as a result of deferring the first task, wherein the determining of the second priority is based on the delay;

performing a deferral determination to defer the in progress first task of the first drone and assign the second task to the first drone based on the first and second priorities; and

instructing the first drone according to the deferral determination.

19. A method performed by hardware processing circuitry, comprising:

performing a priority determination to determine a first priority of maintaining an in progress first task of a first drone;

performing a further priority determination to determine a second priority associated with assigning a second task to the first drone, wherein determining the second priority comprises determining a range of the first drone, and determining a plurality of payloads available for pick-up within the range, wherein the second priority is based on the plurality of payloads;

performing a deferral determination to defer the in progress first task of the first drone and assign the second task to the first drone based on the first and second priorities; and

instructing the first drone according to the deferral determination.

20. A method performed by hardware processing circuitry, comprising:

performing a priority determination to determine a first priority of maintaining an in progress first task of a first drone;

performing a further priority determination to determine a second priority associated with assigning a second task to the first drone;

determining a state of charge of the first drone, determining whether assigning the second task to the first drone will include recharging of the first drone based on the state of charge, wherein the second priority is based on the determination of whether re-tasking includes recharging;

performing a deferral determination to defer the in progress first task of the first drone and assign the second task to the first drone based on the first and second priorities; and

instructing the first drone according to the deferral determination.

Assignments (17)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075409/0386 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075428/0529 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075429/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075429/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075429/0529 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075429/0561 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075429/0726 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075430/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075430/0080 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075430/0172 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 075403/0137 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 075407/0147 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS SHOULD BE #225 INSTEAD OF #255 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 057652 FRAME: 0016. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC
Reel/Frame 063375/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2021
From: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 057652/0016 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055310/0555 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: UBER ELEVATE, INC.
To: JOBY ELEVATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055310/0609 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: VILLA, IAN ANDREAS
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 053843/0652 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62901380 · Sep 17, 2019
Related Publication 20210080946A1 · Mar 18, 2021