ROUTING OF HITCHHIKING DRONES WITH RESPECT TO AUTONOMOUS AND CONNECTED VEHICLES

摘要

A drone flight plan between an origin and destination is evaluated with respect to planned routes of connected vehicles. The drone flight path is calculated such that it includes one or more docking segments on one or more vehicles. For multiple vehicles, multiple permutations of docking segments may be evaluated and assigned scores according to risk, drone flying time, timing issues, and other factors. A permutation having a score indicating higher desirability may be selected. The one or more vehicles may be autonomous and routes of the one or more vehicles may be adjusted in order to provide suitable docking segments for the drone flight path. The destination of the drone flight path may also be adjusted in order to permit docking on one or more vehicles.