IP Library Granted Patent US 11,271,420
Granted Patent B2
US 11,271,420 · App. 16/482,781 · Granted Mar 8, 2022

Jump start drone

Inventors: Aed M. Dudar (Canton, MI); Kenneth James Miller (Canton, MI); Douglas Raymond Martin (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
H02J7/14B64C39/024B64C2201/027B64C2201/126B64C2201/127H02J1/122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,271,420
App. No.
16/482,781
Granted
Mar 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes an aerial drone. The aerial drone includes first and second electrically conductive end effectors. The first and second electrically conductive end effectors are electrically connected to a power source.

Claims (23)

1. A system, comprising:

an aerial drone including first and second electrically conductive end effectors electrically connected to a power source; and

a vehicle computer programmed to send a jump start request, the jump start request including a location of the vehicle and a jump start charge point specification.

2. The system of claim 1 , the aerial drone further including a tactile sensor positioned on one of the first or the second electrically conductive end effectors.

3. The system of claim 1 , the aerial drone further including a spray device.

4. The system of claim 1 , the aerial drone further including an abrasive tool.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle computer is programmed to actuate a starter motor in response to receiving a start command from the aerial drone.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle computer is programmed to actuate a hood to an open position in response to receiving a hood open command from the aerial drone.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drone computer programmed to apply a load voltage to a vehicle via the first and second electrically conductive end effectors mounted to an aerial drone.

8. A computer, comprising programing to:

to actuate first and second electrically conductive end effectors mounted to an aerial drone to grip first and second jump start charge points of a vehicle; and

apply a load voltage to the vehicle via the first and second electrically conductive end effectors.

9. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to actuate an abrasive tool mounted to the aerial drone to wipe a jump start charge point of the vehicle.

10. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to actuate a spray device mounted to the aerial drone to spray a jump start charge point of the vehicle.

11. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to navigate the aerial drone to a location of the vehicle included in a jump start request received by the aerial drone.

12. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to send a hood open command to the vehicle.

13. A method comprising:

actuating first and second electrically conductive end effectors mounted to an aerial drone to grip first and second jump start charge points of a vehicle; and

applying a load voltage to the vehicle via the first and second electrically conductive end effectors.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising wiping at a jump start charge point of the vehicle with an abrasive tool mounted on the aerial drone.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising spraying a jump start charge point of the vehicle with a spray device mounted on the aerial drone.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising navigating the aerial drone to a location of the vehicle included in a jump start request received by the aerial drone.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising sending a hood open command to the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: DUDAR, AED M.; MILLER, KENNETH JAMES; MARTIN, DOUGLAS RAYMOND
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049929/0755 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190348857A1 · Nov 14, 2019