Interactive charging of battery-operated vehicles

Number: 10807490
Published: 2020-10-20
Filed: 2018-10-16
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Drake; Corey D., Barone; Nicholas F., Wong; Clifford, Yeung; Jason A., Goslin; Michael P.
CPC: B60L53/12; B60L53/60; B60L53/62; B60L53/68; H02J50/80
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Wireless/interactive charging hardware for ride vehicles (granted).

Abstract

A method and associated computer program product and system are disclosed. The method comprises, while a battery-operated vehicle is not being charged by a power supply, receiving a first input at a user interface displayed on a computing device. The method further comprises, responsive to the first input, wirelessly transmitting a first control signal to the battery-operated vehicle to control motive operation thereof. The method further comprises, responsive to receiving an indication that the battery-operated vehicle is being charged by the power supply, displaying one or more tasks to be completed using the user interface. The method further comprises receiving a second input at the user interface while the one or more tasks are displayed, and responsive to the second input, wirelessly transmitting a second control signal to operate one or more output devices of the battery-operated vehicle.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) The present disclosure relates to techniques for interactive charging of battery-operated vehicles.(2) Despite improvements in battery technology and electronic components having reduced power consumption, battery-operated vehicles require a significant amount of time for charging the battery relative to the time that the vehicles may be operated. In some cases, the time needed to fully recharge the battery may exceed the operational time. For example, a drone may require thirty (30) minutes to recharge the battery following ten (10) minutes of flight operation. Further, battery-operated vehicles may have limited (or no) functionality for users while charging.SUMMARY(3) According to one embodiment, a method comprises, while a battery-operated vehicle is not being charged by a power supply, receiving a first input at a user interface displayed on a computing device. The method further comprises, responsive to the first input, wirelessly transmitting a first control signal to the battery-operated vehicle to control motive operation thereof. The method further comprises, responsive to receiving an indication that the battery-operated vehicle is being charged by the power supply, displaying one or more tasks to be completed using the user interface. The method further comprises receiving a second input at the user interface while the one or more tasks are displayed, and responsive to the second input, wirelessly transmitting a second control signal to operate one or

Claims

1. A method comprising: while a battery-operated vehicle is not being charged by a power supply, operating a user interface displayed on a computing device in a first mode; responsive to receiving a first input at the user interface while in the first mode, wirelessly transmitting a first control signal to the battery-operated vehicle to control motive operation thereof; responsive to receiving an indication that the battery-operated vehicle is being charged by the power supply, operating the user interface in a second mode in which one or more tasks are displayed; responsive to receiving one or more second inputs at the user interface while in the second mode, assessing performance of the one or more tasks; and wirelessly transmitting, to the battery-operated vehicle, a second control signal that is based on the assessed performance of the one or more tasks. 9. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation for controlling operation of a battery-operated vehicle, the operation comprising: displaying a user interface at a display coupled with the one or more computer processors; while the battery-operated vehicle is not being charged by a power supply, operating the user interface in a first mode; responsive to receiving a first input at the user interface while in the first mode, wirelessly transmitting a first control signal to the battery-operated vehicle to control motive operation thereof; responsive to receiving an indication that the battery-operated vehicle is being charged by the power supply, operating the user interface in a second mode in which one or more tasks are displayed; responsive to receiving one or more second inputs at the user interface while in the second mode, assessing performance of the one or more tasks; and wirelessly transmitting, to the battery-operated vehicle, a second control signal that is based on the assessed performance of the one or more tasks. 14. A system comprising: a battery-operated vehicle comprising: a battery; a charging interface coupled with the battery; and a communications interface; a power supply configured to couple with the charging interface; a display; and one or more computer processors configured to: display a user interface using the display; while the battery is not being charged by the power supply, operate the user interface in a first mode; responsive to receiving a first input at the user interface while in the first mode, wirelessly transmit a first control signal to the communications interface to control motive operation of the battery-operated vehicle; responsive to receiving an indication that the battery is being charged by the power supply, operate the user interface in a second mode in which one or more tasks are displayed; responsive to receiving one or more second inputs at the user interface while in the second mode, assess performance of the one or more tasks; and wirelessly transmit, to the communications interface, a second control signal that is based on the assessed performance of the one or more tasks.