Geographic area monitoring systems and methods through interchanging tool systems between unmanned vehicles

• Main Authors: High, Donald R, Cantrell, Robert L, Thompson, John P, Atchley, Michael D, Mattingly, Todd D, O'Brien, John J, Winkle, David C, Jones, Nathan G, McHale, Brian G, Simon, John F, Taylor, Robert C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.12.2019
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; AVIATION; CALCULATING; CHECKING-DEVICES; COMPUTING; CONTROLLING; COSMONAUTICS; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; HELICOPTERS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; REGULATING; SIGNALLING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

In some embodiments, unmanned task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned vehicles each comprising: a control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective unmanned vehicles to move themselves; and wherein a first control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles is configured to identify a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle, and direct a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second unmanned vehicle.