6 drone patents that will change your life forever

In the near future, we may not need roads to go where we want to! Sounds unbelievable?

Well, Drone’s are here to stay and are the best example of how technology is shaping lives in terms of providing alternate modes of faster transportation.  Drones were initially used for defense purposes. In aviation and space, drones are considered as unpiloted aircraft or spacecraft. They are also termed as UAVs – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UA’s – Unmanned Aircraft, as well as Quadcopters or Multi-copters. However, in the recent past, Drones have been associated with many other areas like healthcare, agriculture, entertainment and even in delivery too. Drones have the potential to drastically improve the last mile delivery challenges too.

While doing research on Drones, it brought up an interesting fact that the evolution of drones’ dates back to 1849 when Austrian soldiers attacked Venice city using unmanned balloons filled with explosives. Amazon capitalized on this and introduced delivery drones in 2016. This provided an impetus to both manufacturing and selling of drones. The delivery drones are the most popular ones as they deliver medical supplies and food products at lightning speed.

Have you ever wondered how drones have attracted attention with their built-in unique image capturing model and birds eye view ability? Drones are extensively used in scientific areas, specifically in the monitoring of ozone layer, underwater species, and atmospheric change, etc. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has also started use of drone for environmental experiments. Drones are able to find endangered species and monitor life cycle changes in wild life habits. From a height of 300 feet, drones accurately detect the changes in crop growth. It is majorly helpful at the time of rescue operations in case of any emergency situations. With the help of its components like (i) Sensors, (ii) Software, (iii) AI / ML Algorithm and (iv) Wireless networks, drone could become an “eye on the sky”. Autonomous drone can analyze sensor data in real time to generate detailed insights of the corresponding subject through AI. They can create a digital world with automation and digitalization based on AI / ML. AI is a potential platform for all kinds of applications right from counting a farmers’ cows to aviation targets.

Now, let see a few interesting innovations:

1. Delivery van with no man

Can you believe that a van with no human (or driver) takes packages to their final destination? Yes, this US patent application from Amazon discloses how it is possible. Primary vehicles are equipped with cameras or other sensors, as well as control system, that generate or transmit instructions for causing secondary vehicles, such as personal delivery devices i.e., drones. These vehicles are hence able to travel on selected courses and speeds.

US20210209543A1 – DIRECTING SECONDARY DELIVERY VEHICLES USING PRIMARY DELIVERY VEHICLES

(Assignee – Amazon Technologies Inc, Issued on July 08, 2021)

2. Drone camera on a smart phone

Is it possible to build drone like a flying camera which is in-built on a smart phone? Yes, with this patent application from VIVO, it is possible.  The camera has the ability to detach itself from the smartphone and fly in the air to enable users to take photos creatively.

WO2021129778A1 – ELECTRONIC DEVICE

(Assignee – VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO LTD, Issue date – July 01, 2021).

3. Drones for virtual noise cancellation 

Did you know that drones can form a virtual noise cancellation barrier zone in crowded areas like restaurants, party places and parks? Yes, this US patent application from Sony Corp, discloses a networked system of drones having a sound cancellation unit which forms a virtual noise cancellation barrier in crowded areas. And this arrangement of drones will cancel the ambient noise of the environment and provide the users a virtual barrier and a noise-free zone.

US20210142776A1 – UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) BASED NOISE CANCELLATION IN PHYSICAL AREA

(Assignee – Sony Corp, Issue date – May 13, 2021)

4. Biometric identification from the air

Are you aware that your face is being recognized from air? Yes, this US patent application from Any vision Interactive Technologies describes about a method of increasing reliability of face recognition using machine learning model in analysis of images captured by drone mounted imaging sensors from the air.

US20210034843A1 – ADAPTIVE POSITIONING OF DRONES FOR ENHANCED FACE RECOGNITION

(Assignee – Anyvision Interactive Technologies Ltd, Issue date – February 04, 2021)

5. Drone recharges your car

Are drones the future of car chargers? Yes, this US patent from Toyota shows how this is possible. An autonomous drone which includes a storage area and a fuel delivery mechanism which is coupled to the fuel storage area. Also, it includes a central controller configured to control the drive mechanism to pilot the autonomous drone to the refueling location. This refueling operation resembles the military tankers that can refuel fighter jets while they’re both aloft.

US10802490B2 – ON-THE-FLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE REFUELING AND RECHARGING

(Assignee – Toyota, Issue date – October 13, 2020)

6. Drones purify the air

Have you ever noticed that drone purify air pollutants? Yes, this KR patent from LEE JAE WOO shows drones equipped with an air purification filter for purifying the air.  This is used in an area where the user terminal is located, and is contaminated over a certain level.

KR102264046B1 – AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM USING DRONES

(Assignee – LEE JAE WOO, Issue date – 16 June, 2021)

Few Interesting facts about drones:

• Medical drones market size predicted to exceed US$399M by 2025
• Robotic farm completed its 1st fully autonomous harvest with drones
• Bread and coffee are delivered to customers by drone in Logan, Australia
• Swarms of CICADA (tiny) Drones Could Aid Hurricane Research

Quote from Bill Gates, “Drones overall will be more impactful than I think people recognize, in positive ways to help society”

With wider adoption and ongoing innovation, this technology will be the game changer in the near future. For example, when you order a product, a drone will drop it off right outside your door in the next 15 minutes! Development of military drones with the ability to carry multiple payloads will make them an important weapon for defense forces worldwide. And at the time of war, it can thwart missiles and other fire arms over the front line.

Technology is neither good nor bad – it’s what you do with it that makes the difference-Marc Benioff.

Using AI to automatically identify characteristics of imagery, or physical features, drone technology is poised to go to the next level. In next five to ten years, it is expected that we would have more robust platforms in our work environment.

Every form of technology can be used for the benefit of mankind and drone is no exception to this. Software drives the heart of drone technology and its possibilities. Some of the enhanced benefits are as follows:

• Special delivery drones make services and deliveries more accessible
• Location settings – drones and maps capture space and time
• See beyond – imagery analysis and data science across industries