Pre-flight self test for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131451-B2
Application number	US-201715467463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2017
Priority date	Feb 25, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a drivable package delivery vehicle including:
a package storage area configured for storing packages for delivery;
a roost compartment having a retractable roof and one or more landing perches for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and
one or more UAVs on the landing perch;

a controller system configured to provide centralized coordination of UAV operations; and
an operator console configured for user input to manage UAV operations.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one landing perch comprises an aperture to facilitate loading the UAV with a particular package.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the aperture opens to the package storage area from the roost compartment.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operator console is positioned near a front seat of the package delivery vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller system comprises a communication subsystem to manage communication with the UAV.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller system is configured to retract the retractable roof based on user input at the operator console.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the package delivery vehicle further comprises a movable elevator.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller system is configured to raise or lower the movable elevator based on user input at the operator console.

9. A method comprising:
storing, in a package storage area of a package delivery vehicle, a plurality of packages, wherein the package delivery vehicle includes a roost compartment having a retractable roof and one or more landing perches for one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV);
managing, by a centralized controller system installed on the package delivery vehicle, operations of the one or more UAVs;
driving the package delivery vehicle to a location within UAV range of a delivery address;
loading at least one of the UAVs with a particular package of the plurality of packages to be delivered to the delivery address; and
launching, by the controller system from the package delivery vehicle, the UAV to deliver the particular package to the delivery address.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
retrieving the UAV at the landing perch.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one landing perch comprises an aperture to facilitate loading the UAV with the particular package.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein loading the UAV with a particular package and launching the UAV to deliver the particular package is managed at the operator console positioned near a front seat of the package delivery vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
retracting the retractable roof based on user input at the operator console after loading the UAV with the particular package.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the package delivery vehicle further comprises a movable elevator.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
raising the movable elevator based on user input at the operator console after loading the UAV with the particular package.

16. A drivable package delivery vehicle comprising:
a package storage area configured for storing packages for delivery;
a roost compartment having a retractable roof and one or more landing perches for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and
one or more UAVs docked on the landing perch.

17. The package delivery vehicle of claim 16 , wherein at least one landing perch comprises an aperture to facilitate loading the UAV with the particular package.

18. The package delivery vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the aperture opens to the package storage area from the roost compartment.

19. The package delivery vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the operator console is positioned near a front seat of the package delivery vehicle.

20. The package delivery vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the package delivery vehicle further comprises a movable elevator.

Assignees

• Cisco Tech Inc

Inventors

• Salgueiro Gonzalo
• Byers Charles Calvin

Classifications

• A47G29/14

  Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk {, or large parcels}; Similar receptacles for {food or} large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles {, i.e. food or large parcels} · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64F5/60 Primary

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title

• B64F1/12

  for anchoring aircraft · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title