GM Developing Off-Road Navigation System Using Drones

General Motors wants to use drones to help drivers navigate difficult terrain.

GM's patent application filed on December 13, 2022, for “Routing Off-Road Vehicles Using Drones” was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on June 13, 2024. In it, GM discusses deploying a drone to fly in front of a vehicle to scout the terrain and relay recommended routes to the driver.

According to the patent application, the drone would be equipped with sensors such as radar and lidar and connected to the vehicle via a data link. The drone can take into account expected inclinations, angles of approach and departure, potential obstacles, types of road surfaces ahead, and bodies of water that need to be diverted. By linking to social media profiles, GM suggests that drivers can also introduce friends to the system.

In some cases, the drone could present multiple route options with different levels of difficulty. It could also be used to estimate fuel consumption and electric range to determine if a round-trip to the destination is feasible.

A potential advantage of drones is that they can fly far ahead of the driver's line of sight. GM states in the application that the drone could also accompany the driver when he or she gets out of the car to go hiking.

GM is not the only automaker thinking along these lines. Rivian is also trying to patent a drone system that uses radar and lidar to spot obstacles. However, Rivian's version appears to be intended for short-range use. Instead of scouting a complete route, Rivian's patent application discusses the use of drones as a substitute for human spotters, especially at troublesome obstacles.