IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,689,107
Granted Patent B2
US 10,689,107 · App. 15/497,084 · Granted Jun 23, 2020

Drone-based smoke detector

Inventors: Nathalie Baracaldo Angel (San Jose, CA); Sandeep Gopisetty (Morgan Hill, CA); Heiko H. Ludwig (San Francisco, CA); David M. Ungar (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
B64C39/024F16M11/18F16M13/027G05D1/0011G05D1/0033G05D1/0676G08B3/10G08B5/36G08B5/38G08B17/10G08B25/10B64C2201/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,689,107
App. No.
15/497,084
Granted
Jun 23, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a request to release a utility holder detachably mounted to a surface mount. The utility holder maintains a utility payload. A set of rotatable holding brackets is coupled to the surface mount in a pivotable fashion to engage the holding brackets with the utility holder in order to mount the utility holder to the surface mount. The method further comprises, in response to receiving the request, powering on a drone attached to the utility holder, and releasing the utility holder from the surface mount by actuating rotation of the holding brackets to disengage the holding brackets from the utility holder, enabling the drone to transport the utility holder from the surface mount to a desired location.

Claims (21)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to release a utility holder detachably mounted to a surface mount, wherein the utility holder maintains a utility payload, and a set of rotatable holding brackets is coupled to the surface mount in a pivotable fashion to engage the holding brackets with the utility holder in order to mount the utility holder to the surface mount; and

in response to receiving the request:

powering on a drone attached to the utility holder; and

releasing the utility holder from the surface mount by actuating rotation of the holding brackets to disengage the holding brackets from the utility holder, enabling the drone to transport the utility holder from the surface mount to a desired location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is wirelessly received from a remote control device operated by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the surface mount comprises:

a base unit that is affixable to a mounting surface; and

a first coupling member; and

the utility holder comprises:

a mounting portion including a second coupling member and a holder member.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the mounting surface is a ceiling.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first coupling member attracts the second coupling member to couple the utility holder to the base unit and mount the utility holder to the surface mount when the coupling members are within proximity of each other.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the coupling members comprise magnets of opposite polarities.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the holding brackets engage with the holder member to lock the utility holder to the base unit and mount the utility holder to the surface mount.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein actuating rotation of the holding brackets to release the utility holder from the surface mount comprises:

simultaneously rotating the holding brackets to disengage the holding brackets from the holder member and release the utility holder from the surface mount.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drone is manually pilotable to the desired location via a remote control device operated by a user.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the utility payload comprises a detector.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises one of a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2017
From: BARACALDO ANGEL, NATHALIE; GOPISETTY, SANDEEP; LUDWIG, HEIKO H.; UNGAR, DAVID M.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042143/0165 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180305010A1 · Oct 25, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,365,494 US 12,420,963