Methods and systems for multiple drone delivery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10139838-B2
Application number	US-201615277245-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments for managing drones by a processor are described. A plurality of drones are detachably coupled to each other at a first location. While the plurality of drones are detachably coupled to each other, the plurality of drones travel from the first location to a second location. At least one of the plurality of drones detaches from the others of the plurality of drones at the second location. The at least one detached drone travels from the second location to a third location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, by a processor, for managing drones, comprising:
enabling a plurality of drones to couple to each other at a first location;
while the plurality of drones are coupled to each other, controlling the plurality of drones such that the plurality of drones travel from the first location to a second location;
enabling at least one of the plurality of drones to detach from the others of the plurality of drones at the second location;
controlling the at least one detached drone such that the at least one detached drone travels from the second location to a third location;
before the plurality of drones travel from the first location to the second location, enabling a respective product of a plurality of products to be loaded onto each of the plurality of drones; and
after the at least one detached drone travels from the second location to the third location, controlling the at least one detached drone to deliver the respective product to the third location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including, after the at least one of the plurality of drones is detached from the others of the plurality of drones, controlling the others of the plurality of drones such that the others of the plurality of drones transport the respective products loaded thereon from the second location to a fourth location.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of drones includes at least one coupling mechanism configured to cause the coupling of the plurality of drones to each other, and wherein said coupling is performed using at least one of a mechanical force and a magnetic force.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is substantially identical.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of drones are configured to transfer at least one of electrical energy or propulsion energy between the plurality of drones when the plurality of drones are coupled to each other.

7. A system for managing drones, comprising:
a processor that
enables a plurality of drones to couple to each other at a first location;
while the plurality of drones are coupled to each other, controls the plurality of drones such that the plurality of drones travel from the first location to a second location;
enables at least one of the plurality of drones to detach from the others of the plurality of drones at the second location;
controls the at least one detached drone such that the at least one detached drone travels from the second location to a third location;
before the plurality of drones travel from the first location to the second location, enables a respective product of a plurality of products to be loaded onto each of the plurality of drones; and
after the at least one detached drone travels from the second location to the third location, controls the at least one detached drone to deliver the respective product to the third location.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor, after the at least one of the plurality of drones is detached from the others of the plurality of drones, controls the others of the plurality of drones such that the others of the plurality of drones transport the respective products loaded thereon from the second location to a fourth location.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of drones includes at least one coupling mechanism configured to cause the coupling of each of the plurality of drones to each other, and wherein said coupling is performed using at least one of a mechanical force and a magnetic force.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is substantially identical.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of drones are configured to transfer at least one of electrical energy or propulsion energy between the plurality of drones when the plurality of drones are coupled to each other.

13. A computer program product for managing drones by a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion that enables a plurality of drones to couple to each other at a first location, wherein each of the plurality of drones has a respective one of a plurality of products loaded thereon;
an executable portion that, while the plurality of drones are coupled to each other, controls the plurality of drones such that the plurality of drones transport the plurality of products from the first location to a second location;
an executable portion that enables at least one of the plurality of drones to detach from the others of the plurality of drones at the second location;
an executable portion that controls the at least one detached drone such that the at least one detached drone transports the respective product from the second location to a third location to deliver the product to a customer;
an executable portion that, before the plurality of drones travel from the first location to the second location, enables a respective product of a plurality of products to be loaded onto each of the plurality of drones; and
an executable portion that, after the at least one detached drone travels from the second location to the third location, controls the at least one detached drone to deliver the respective product to the third location.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions further include an executable portion that, after the at least one of the plurality of drones is detached from the others of the plurality of drones, controls the others of the plurality of drones such that the others of the plurality of drones transport the respective products loaded thereon from the second location to a fourth location.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of drones includes at least one coupling mechanism configured to cause the coupling of each of the plurality of drones to each other, and wherein said coupling is performed using at least one of a mechanical force and a magnetic force.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is substantially identical.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of drones is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of drones are configured to transfer at least one of electrical energy or propulsion energy between the plurality of drones when the plurality of drones are coupled to each other.

19. A multiple drone delivery system, comprising:
a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), wherein each of the plurality of UAVs is substantially identical to the others of the plurality of UAVs, each of the plurality of UAVs configured to load and carry a respective product of a plurality of products; and
a plurality of coupling mechanisms, each of the plurality of coupling mechanisms being connected to at least one of the plurality of UAVs and being configured to couple the at least one of the plurality of UAVs to another of the plurality of UAVs; wherein, using the plurality of coupling mechanisms, the plurality of UAVs are each configured to be

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Lection David B
• Rakshit Sarbajit K
• Stevens Mark B
• Wilson John D

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• G05D1/104 Primary

  involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying (traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00) · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64D27/24

  using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title