Unmanned aerial vehicle and landing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10453022-B2
Application number	US-201815870122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An enhanced parcel delivery system for delivering parcels via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:
a UAV support mechanism comprising:
a pair of opposing rails extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the opposing rails are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction, the opposing rails defining:
a landing region;
a takeoff region positioned opposite the landing region;
a transport region positioned between the takeoff region and the landing region, wherein the transport region comprises a conveyor comprising powered rollers positioned within the opposing rails, and wherein the powered rollers are configured to engage the reduced width portion of the UAV chassis when the UAV is positioned within the transport region; and
at least one UAV comprising:
an upper portion having an upper portion width evaluated in a lateral direction;
a lower portion positioned below the upper portion in a vertical direction, the lower portion having a lower portion width evaluated in the lateral direction; and
a reduced width portion positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion, the reduced width portion having a width evaluated in the lateral direction, wherein the width of the reduced width portion is less than the upper portion width and the lower portion width, and wherein the reduced width portion is configured to engage the pair of opposing rails of the UAV support mechanism.

2. The enhanced parcel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the opposing rails define an upper surface positioned above the powered rollers and oriented to face upward, and wherein the UAV chassis further comprises landing gear configured to engage the upper surface when the UAV is positioned within the transport region.

3. The enhanced parcel delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the landing gear comprises a pair of rollers coupled to the upper portion of the UAV chassis.

4. The enhanced parcel delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the landing gear comprises a pair of landing skids coupled to the upper portion of the UAV chassis and oriented to face downward.

5. The enhanced parcel delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the landing gear of the UAV chassis is positioned on opposing sides of the reduced width portion.

6. An enhanced parcel delivery system for delivering parcels via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:
a UAV support mechanism comprising:
a pair of opposing rails extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the opposing rails are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction, the opposing rails defining:
a landing region;
a takeoff region positioned opposite the landing region;
a transport region positioned between the takeoff region and the landing region, wherein the opposing rails converge toward one another moving along the landing region toward the transport region and a width evaluated between the opposing rails is greater at the landing region as compared to the transport region; and
at least one UAV comprising:
an upper portion having an upper portion width evaluated in a lateral direction;
a lower portion positioned below the upper portion in a vertical direction, the lower portion having a lower portion width evaluated in the lateral direction; and

a reduced width portion positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion, the reduced width portion having a width evaluated in the lateral direction, wherein the width of the reduced width portion is less than the upper portion width and the lower portion width, and wherein the reduced width portion is configured to engage the pair of opposing rails of the UAV support mechanism.

7. An enhanced parcel delivery system for delivering parcels via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:
a UAV support mechanism comprising:
a pair of opposing rails extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the opposing rails are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction, the opposing rails defining:
a landing region;
a takeoff region positioned opposite the landing region;
a transport region positioned between the takeoff region and
the landing region; and
at least one UAV comprising:
an upper portion having an upper portion width evaluated in a lateral direction;
a lower portion positioned below the upper portion in a vertical direction, the lower portion having a lower portion width evaluated in the lateral direction; and
a reduced width portion positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion, the reduced width portion having a width evaluated in the lateral direction, wherein the width of the reduced width portion is less than the upper portion width and the lower portion width, and wherein the reduced width portion is configured to engage the pair of opposing rails of the UAV support mechanism; and

the UAV further comprises a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis, the parcel carrier comprising an engagement housing and a parcel carrying mechanism.

8. The enhanced parcel delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the engagement housing of the parcel carrier has a parcel carrier width that is greater than a width evaluated between the opposing rails in the transport region.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Gil Julio

Classifications

• E05F15/77

  using wireless control · CPC title

• B65G1/06

  with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G1/0435

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title

• B64F1/32

  for handling freight · CPC title

• B64F1/22

  for handling aircraft · CPC title