Method and apparatus for utilizing an unmanned air vehicle to define or provide guidance along a route

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system utilize an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) in order to support the definition and use of routes by bicyclists, pedestrians or scooters. With respect to defining a bicycle route a map database is accessed that represents roads segments in a geographic area. The map database contains map data that indicates attributes of the road segments. The bicycle route is then defined from an origin to a destination based upon the map data indicative of attributes of the road segments. In this regard, the bicycle route is defined to include one or more road segments that allow bicycle traffic unaccompanied by a UAV and one or more road segments for which bicycle traffic is unauthorized unless accompanied by a UAV. The bicycle route is subsequently caused to be provided to the bicyclist or a device accessible to the bicyclist.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to define a lane for bicycle traffic on a road segment upon which motorized vehicles operate, wherein the system comprises at least one processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to perform at least the following:
 access a map database that represents road segments in a geographic area, wherein the map database contains map data that indicates attributes of the road segments; and   deploy one or more unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to define the lane along one or more of the road segments in the geographic area, wherein the lane is adjacent to a portion of the one or more road segments upon which motorized vehicles operate.   
     
     
         2 . A system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more road segments is a road segment on which bicycle traffic is unauthorized unless accompanied by the UAV. 
     
     
         3 . A system of  claim 1  wherein the system is caused to deploy the one or more UAVs so as to fly along the lane at a predetermined speed. 
     
     
         4 . A system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more UAVs comprise an image capture system configured to capture an image of a vehicle proximate the lane in response to a determination that a speed of the vehicle exceeds a determined threshold or that a distance between the vehicle and the lane is less than a defined separation distance. 
     
     
         5 . A system of  claim 1  wherein the or more UAVs are configured to fly into a path of travel of a vehicle in response to a determination that a distance between the vehicle and the lane is less than a defined separation distance or that a speed of the vehicle exceeds a determined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . A system of  claim 1  wherein the system is caused to deploy the one or more UAVs by deploying the one or more UAVs along the lane according to a schedule. 
     
     
         7 . A system of  claim 6  wherein the system is further caused to modify the schedule based on a projected demand. 
     
     
         8 . A system of  claim 6  wherein the system is further caused to modify the schedule based on weather conditions or traffic conditions. 
     
     
         9 . A system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the UAVs projects a beam of light along the one or more road segments to indicate a boundary of the lane for bicycle traffic. 
     
     
         10 . A system of  claim 1  wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 provide information regarding a route between an origin and a destination and having at least one portion along which a respective UAV is scheduled to fly at a determined time; and 
 cause the respective UAV to fly along at least the portion of the route at the determined time in order to accompany a bicyclist, a pedestrian or a scooter including a motorized scooter with an engine not exceeding 50 cc or an electrical equivalent thereto along at least the portion of the route. 
 
     
     
         11 . A system of  claim 10  wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 determine a number of bicyclists, pedestrians or scooters who plan to ride along the route; and 
 cancel or modify flight of the respective UAV in an instance in which the number of bicyclists, pedestrians or scooters is less than a defined threshold. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for defining a lane for bicycle traffic on a road segment upon which motorized vehicles operate, wherein the method comprises:
 accessing a map database that represents road segments in a geographic area, wherein the map database contains map data that indicates attributes of the road segments; and   deploying one or more unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to define the lane along one or more of the road segments in the geographic area, wherein the lane is adjacent to a portion of the one or more road segments upon which motorized vehicles operate.   
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more road segments is a road segment on which bicycle traffic is unauthorized unless accompanied by the UAV. 
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 12  further comprising deploying the one or more UAVs so as to fly along the lane at a predetermined speed. 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 12  further comprising capturing an image of a vehicle proximate the lane in response to a determination that a speed of the vehicle exceeds a determined threshold or that a distance between the vehicle and the lane is less than a defined separation distance, wherein capturing the image comprises capturing the image with an image capture system of the one or more UAVs. 
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 12  wherein the or more UAVs are configured to fly into a path of travel of a vehicle in response to a determination that a distance between the vehicle and the lane is less than a defined separation distance or that a speed of the vehicle exceeds a determined threshold. 
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 12  wherein deploying the one or more UAVs comprises deploying the one or more UAVs along the lane according to a schedule, and wherein the method further comprises modifying the schedule based on a projected demand. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 12  wherein deploying the one or more UAVs comprises deploying the one or more UAVs along the lane according to a schedule, and wherein the method further comprises modifying the schedule based on weather conditions or traffic conditions. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 12  further comprising projecting a beam of light from at least one of the UAVs along the one or more road segments to indicate a boundary of the lane for bicycle traffic. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing information regarding a route between an origin and a destination and having at least one portion along which a respective UAV is scheduled to fly at a determined time; and 
 causing the respective UAV to fly along at least the portion of the route at the determined time in order to accompany a bicyclist, a pedestrian or a scooter including a motorized scooter with an engine not exceeding 50 cc or an electrical equivalent thereto along at least the portion of the route.