Apparatus and method for providing aerial animal food delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10420322-B2
Application number	US-201715474986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing aerial animal food delivery. In one embodiment, a system for providing aerial animal food delivery comprises: an unmanned aerial vehicle, an animal food container coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the animal food container being configured to hold animal food during transport by the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a central computer system communicatively coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the central computer system being configured to: instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel to a service location at a service time with the animal food container and instruct a release of the animal food from the animal food container in an unpackaged form at the service location such that the animal food is accessible to and edible by one or more animals upon release.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for providing aerial animal food delivery, comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle;
an animal food container coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the animal food container being configured to hold animal food during transport by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
a central computer system communicatively coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the central computer system being configured to:
instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel to a service location at a service time with the animal food container based on an animal feeding service order; and
instruct a release of the animal food from the animal food container in an unpackaged form at the service location such that the animal food is accessible to and edible by one or more animals upon release;
wherein the animal food is released into a food receptacle that is accessible by the one or more animals at the service location; and
wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further transports the food receptacle to the service location and is configured to release the food receptacle at the service location prior to releasing the animal food into the food receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to locate the food receptacle with a sensor and hover over the food receptacle to release the animal food.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the animal food container is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via an extendable crane.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the animal food container comprises a bottom opening configured to remain closed during transport and open when a bottom of the food container contacts a firm surface.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the animal food container comprises a plurality of compartments for storing different animal food types associated with multiple animals or animal feeding service orders.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central computer system is further configured to: provide an animal status notification to a user associated with the animal feeding service order based on data captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle at the service location.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central computer system is further configured to: provide video images of the service location captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle to a user associated with the animal feeding service order.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the animal food is select from a plurality of animal food types based on the animal feeding service order.

9. A method for providing aerial animal food delivery, comprising:
instructing, with a control circuit, an unmanned aerial vehicle to travel to a service location at a service time with an animal food container based on an animal feeding service order, the animal food container being configured to hold animal food during transport by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
instructing a release of the animal food from the animal food container in an unpackaged form at the service location such that the animal food is accessible to and edible by one or more animals upon release;
wherein the animal food is released into a food receptacle at the service location; and
wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further transports the food receptacle to the service location and is configured to release the food receptacle at the service location prior to releasing the animal food into the food receptacle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to locate the food receptacle with a sensor and hover over the food receptacle to release the animal food.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the animal food container is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via an extendable crane.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the animal food container comprises a bottom opening configured to remain closed during transport and open when a bottom of the food container contacts a firm surface.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the animal food container comprises a plurality of compartments for storing different animal food type associated with multiple animals or animal feeding service orders.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing an animal status notification to a user associated with the animal feeding service order based on data captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle at the service location.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing video images of the service location captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle to a user associated with the animal feeding service order via a user interface.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the animal food is select from a plurality of animal food types based on the animal feeding service order.

17. An apparatus for providing aerial animal food delivery, comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to travel to a service location based on instructions received from a central computer system; and
an animal food container coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the animal food container being configured to hold animal food during transport by the unmanned aerial vehicle;
wherein, in response to instructions received from the central computer system, the unmanned aerial vehicle is further configured to cause the animal food container to release the animal food in an unpackaged form at the service location such that the animal food is accessible to and edible by one or more animals upon release;
wherein the animal food is released into a food receptacle at the service location; and
wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further transports the food receptacle to the service location and is configured to release the food receptacle at the service location prior to releasing the animal food into the food receptacle.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nathan G
• High Donald R

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• A01K5/0291 Primary

  with timing mechanisms, e.g. pet feeders · CPC title

• B64D1/12

  Releasing · CPC title

• B64D1/02

  Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles (jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12) · CPC title