US 12,443,185 B1
Emergency deployment of a drone-based flood control system
Carlos JP Chavez, San Antonio, TX (US); Gregory David Hansen, Fuquay Varina, NC (US); Bradly Jay Billman, Celina, TX (US); Kristina Suniga-Cabrera, San Antonio, TX (US); Dwayne Phillip Wilson, Crossroads, TX (US); Timothy Benjamin Czerlinsky, Dallas, TX (US); and David Patrick Dixon, Boerne, TX (US)
Assigned to United Services Automobile Association (USAA), San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by UIPCO, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/307,231.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,661, filed on Apr. 27, 2022.
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); B60P 3/00 (2006.01); E02B 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0088 (2013.01) [B60P 3/005 (2013.01); E02B 3/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of reducing the impact of flood water at a target location, the method comprising:
obtaining, at a first time and via a first sensor of a first autonomous vehicle navigating inside of a first building at the target location, first sensor data about a first portion of a first room in the first building;
determining, at a first onboard computing system for the first autonomous vehicle and based on the first sensor data, that a first fluid content level for the first portion is greater than a first threshold level; and
causing, via the first onboard computing system, a dewatering device installed on the first autonomous vehicle to perform a first dewatering cycle for the first portion at least until the first fluid content level falls below the first threshold level, wherein the dewatering device includes a pump connected by a hose to a vacuum, the pump is mounted on the first autonomous vehicle, the vacuum is mounted on a second autonomous vehicle, and the second autonomous vehicle can move independently of the first autonomous vehicle.