US 12,466,588 B2
Vehicle having personal security drone
Payam Akbari, LaSalle (CA); Adam Goodes, Rochester Hills, MI (US); and David W Smith, Shelby Township, MI (US)
Assigned to FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/186,410.
Prior Publication US 2024/0317431 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. B64U 80/86 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 80/86 (2023.01) [G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); B64U 2101/00 (2023.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling an aerial drone, comprising:
a vehicle body defining an interior, wherein the interior includes a front row of seats, including a driver's seat and at least one passenger seat, and a cargo bin having a movable lid to provide and prevent access to the cargo bin, and wherein the cargo bin is located between the driver's seat and the at least one passenger seat;
a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) located within the interior of the vehicle;
a drone docking station positioned within the interior of the vehicle and configured to mate with the aerial drone, and including a docking station controller configured to communicate with the vehicle ECU, wherein the docking station is located in the cargo bin;
a graphic user interface (GUI) provided in the interior of the vehicle, configured to communicate with the vehicle ECU and receive an input to conduct an escort flight operation using the aerial drone; and
a remote operating device configured to communicate with the vehicle ECU, configured to receive an input to conduct an escort flight operation using the aerial drone,
wherein upon input of a request to the GUI to conduct the escort flight operation using the drone, the GUI is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the request to the vehicle ECU,
upon receipt of the request by the vehicle ECU, the vehicle ECU is configured to communicate an instruction to the drone docking station controller to initiate the escort flight operation using the aerial drone,
upon receipt of the instruction from the vehicle ECU by the drone docking station controller to initiate the escort flight operation, the drone docking station controller communicates an instruction to the aerial drone to initiate flight and conduct the escort flight operation, and
the escort flight operation is at least one of the aerial drone travelling to a location distant from the vehicle as an escort and then returning to the vehicle without being an escort, and the aerial drone travelling to the location distant from the vehicle without being an escort and then returning to the vehicle as an escort.