IP Library Granted Patent US 12,291,332
Granted Patent B1
US 12,291,332 · App. 18/418,627 · Granted May 6, 2025

Unmanned vehicle morphing

Inventors: Kade Scott (The Colony, TX); Snehal Desai (Richardson, TX); Richard Daniel Graham (Plano, TX); Matthew Flachsbart (Grapevine, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
B64C37/00B60F5/003B60F5/02B64C39/024G05D1/0016G05D1/0027B64U10/10B64U30/20B64U2201/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,291,332
App. No.
18/418,627
Filed
Jan 22, 2024
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B1
Examiner
SOOD, ANSHUL
Art Unit
3667
USPC
701/2
Abstract

Unmanned vehicles may be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may accomplish tasks by breaking out into sub-drones, re-grouping itself, changing form, or re-orienting its sensors.

Claims (38)

1. A system comprising:

a first unmanned vehicle; and

a second unmanned vehicle connected with the first unmanned vehicle; and

a central command device remote to the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle comprising a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving an alert based on damage to a structure;

determining, based on the alert, a mission of the second unmanned vehicle;

receiving, based on the determined mission, a flight path; and

mapping, based on the received mission, one or more sectors of the flight path.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises water damage, and wherein the alert is further based on a determination that the water damage was caused by salt water or fresh water.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises storm damage.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises flood damage.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert is determined based on a condition associated with the structure.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert is based on a condition, and wherein the condition is associated with an indication of smoke.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert is based on a condition, and wherein the condition is associated with an indication of temperature.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central command device is a server.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central command device is a mothership communicatively coupled with the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a central command device comprising a processor and a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving an alert based on damage to a structure;

determining, based on the alert, a mission of a first unmanned vehicle and a second unmanned vehicle connected with the first unmanned vehicle, wherein the central command device is remote to the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle;

receiving, based on the determined mission, a flight path; and

mapping, based on the received mission, one or more sectors of the flight path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises water damage, and wherein the alert is further based on a determination that the water damage was caused by salt water or fresh water.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises storm damage.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises flood damage.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the alert is determined based on a condition associated with the structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the alert is associated with an indication of smoke.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the alert is associated with an indication of temperature.

17. A method comprising:

receiving an alert based on damage to a structure;

determining, by a central command device and based on the alert, a mission of a first unmanned vehicle and a second unmanned vehicle connected with the first unmanned vehicle, wherein the central command device is remote to the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle;

receiving, based on the determined mission, a flight path;

mapping, based on the received mission, one or more sectors of the flight path; and

sharing the one or more sectors of the flight path with one of the first unmanned vehicle or the second unmanned vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the damage to the structure comprises water damage.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the alert is further based on a determination that the water damage was caused by salt water or fresh water.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the alert is determined based on a condition associated with the structure.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2025
From: UIPCO, LLC
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 070675/0744 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2024
From: SCOTT, KADE; DESAI, SNEHAL; GRAHAM, RICHARD DANIEL; FLACHSBART, MATTHEW
To: UIPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 066397/0369 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17840132 · Jun 14, 2022
Continuation 16143653 · Sep 27, 2018
Continuation 15422771 · Feb 2, 2017
Provisional Application 62291317 · Feb 4, 2016
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