Over the past few years, Ford has published several patents revolving around one idea, in particular – using drones in its future vehicles for various purposes. Those include ideas for a system capable of launching and landing drones from the interior of a vehicle, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to mark off-road courses, and one that would use drones to locate lost vehicles. Now, it seems as if Toyota may also follow suit, as it’s reportedly exploring the idea of using drones for its own off-road-focused vehicles.
According to Reuters, Toyota has submitted a filing to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revolving around the concept of using drones to support vehicle operations in off-road situations such as on trails or unpaved roads, all with the idea of boosting situational awareness in circumstances where it may not be safe to exit the vehicle.
“By providing the driver with views of the local environment, including potential hazards around and underneath the vehicle, drivers can plan safer routes and improve vehicle operations,” Toyota wrote in its letter, adding that most of those drone flights would occur within close proximity of the vehicle. “At times, operators may fly a drone above the treeline to capture videos used to orient themselves or capture the terrain.”
This move comes just a couple of months after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new rules aimed at speeding up the deployment of drones beyond the visual line of sight of operators, which it views as a necessary update to help implement commercial use of those unmanned aircraft, such as package deliveries, which a few companies are already exploring via pilot programs.
At that time, the DOT noted that these moves “will significantly expand the use-case for drone technologies in areas like: manufacturing, farming, energy production, filmmaking, and the movement of products including lifesaving medications.”
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