System and method to control autonomous devices

Abstract

A system for deploying an untethered drone is provided. The system includes a wellbore drone for being deployed into a wellbore, a magazine unit, and a control system. The wellbore drone is configured to perform at least one action based on a control command which is provided from an on-board control system embedded in the wellbore drone. The magazine unit includes one or more chambers. The magazine unit is configured to retain the wellbore drone in a corresponding one of the one or more chambers, prior to deployment of the wellbore drone into the wellbore, and dispense the wellbore drone for being deployed into the wellbore through a launcher unit. The control system includes at least one control interface for controlling at least a part of operations of the wellbore drone and the magazine unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An on-board control system for a programmed wellbore drone, the system comprising:
 at least one control interface for generating a control command adapted to control the wellbore drone,   wherein the wellbore drone comprises a wellbore tool configured to perform at least one action within a wellbore based on the control command.   
     
     
         2 . The on-board control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one processor configured to provide the control command to the wellbore tool; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor,   wherein the control command is loaded into the memory, prior to the wellbore drone being deployed into the wellbore.   
     
     
         3 . The on-board control system of either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the at least one action comprises positioning, deploying, activating, or detonating the wellbore tool. 
     
     
         4 . The on-board control system of any of the previous claims, wherein the wellbore drone further comprises:
 an internal power source connected to the wellbore tool and the on-board control system, wherein the internal power source is configured to be inactive to the wellbore tool and the on-board control system until the wellbore drone is deployed into the wellbore and one or more power trigger events occur.   
     
     
         5 . The on-board control system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more power trigger events comprise:
 matching of at least one of a location of the wellbore drone, a temperature measured by the wellbore drone and a pressure measured by the wellbore drone to a corresponding predetermined value; and   receiving a mechanical force or an electromagnetic force provided from one or more markers placed within the wellbore, so that the mechanical force or the electromagnetic force activates the internal power source or a power connection output from the internal power source.   
     
     
         6 . The on-board control system of  claim 5 , wherein the location of the wellbore drone is determined by at least one of an external control system and the on-board control system, the location determination based on a flow speed of fluid along which the wellbore drone travels within the wellbore and a time passed after the wellbore drone is dispensed for being deployed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The on-board control system of  claim 5 , wherein the wellbore drone further comprises a communication unit, wherein the location of the wellbore drone is determined based on one or more location indications received from one or more location markers placed within the wellbore through the communication unit. 
     
     
         8 . The on-board control system of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more sensors, wherein the temperature or the pressure measured by the wellbore drone is determined based on a signal received from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The on-board control system of any of the previous claims, wherein prior to the wellbore drone being deployed, the wellbore drone is powered by an external power source via a wired or wireless connection. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a wellbore drone comprising a wellbore tool for deployment into a wellbore, the method comprising:
 providing, by an on-board control system embedded in the wellbore drone, a control command to the wellbore tool;   receiving, by the wellbore tool, the control command from the on-board control system; and   performing, by the wellbore tool, at least one action within the wellbore based on the received control command.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the control command is loaded into the on-board control system, prior to the wellbore drone being deployed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of either  claim 10  or  claim 11 , wherein the at least one action comprises positioning, deploying, activating, or detonating the wellbore tool. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any of  claims 10 - 12 , further comprising:
 inactivating an internal power source connected to the wellbore tool until the wellbore drone is deployed into the wellbore and one or more power trigger events occur.   
     
     
         14 . The method of any of  claims 10 - 13 , further comprising:
 inactivating an internal power source connected to the wellbore tool and to the on-board control system until the wellbore drone is deployed into the wellbore and one or more power trigger events occur.   
     
     
         15 . The method of either  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein the one or more power trigger events comprise:
 matching at least one of a location of the wellbore drone, a temperature inside/outside the wellbore drone, and a pressure inside/outside the wellbore drone to a corresponding predetermined value; and 
 receiving a mechanical force or an electromagnetic force provided from one or more markers placed within the wellbore, so that the mechanical force or the electromagnetic force activates the internal power source or a power connection output from the internal power source. 
 
     
     
         16 . A wellbore drone control and deployment system, comprising:
 a wellbore drone for being deployed into a wellbore, the wellbore drone being configured to perform at least one action based on a control command, the control command being provided from an on-board control system embedded in the wellbore drone;   a magazine unit comprising one or more chambers, the magazine unit being configured to:
 retain the wellbore drone in a corresponding one of the one or more chambers, prior to deployment of the wellbore drone into the wellbore, and 
 dispense the wellbore drone for being deployed into the wellbore through a launcher unit; and 
   a control system comprising at least one control interface adapted to control at least a part of operations of the wellbore drone and the magazine unit.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an external power source, wherein
 prior to the deployment of the wellbore drone, the wellbore drone is powered by the external power source, and   after the deployment of the wellbore drone into the wellbore, the wellbore drone is not powered until one or more power trigger events occur.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more power trigger events comprise:
 matching of at least one of a location of the wellbore drone, a temperature measured by the wellbore drone, and a pressure measured by the wellbore drone to a corresponding predetermined value; and   receiving a mechanical force or an electromagnetic force provided from one or more markers placed within the wellbore, so that the mechanical force or the electromagnetic force activates the internal power source or a power connection output from the internal power source.   
     
     
         19 . The system of any of  claims 16 - 18 , wherein the wellbore drone includes a memory, and wherein the control command is loaded into the memory via the control interface, prior to the wellbore drone being deployed into the wellbore.