Portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, and methods of delivering products utilizing aircraft launch systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501182-B2
Application number	US-201816192350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Sep 23, 2015
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system, comprising:
a first portable launch pad system comprising:
a first deck;
an unmanned delivery aircraft deck configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft, wherein the aircraft deck is secured relative to the first deck; and
one or more modular coupling structures each fixed with at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck, wherein the one or more modular coupling structures enable temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first portable launch pad system and one or more additional portable launch pad systems at least temporarily cooperating together the first portable launch pad system and the one or more additional portable launch pad systems in a modular fashion.

2. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more modular coupling structures comprise at least three modular coupling structures coupled with and arranged relative to the at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck enabling temporary coupling and decoupling of the first portable launch pad system with at least three of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems.

3. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises:
a recharging system comprising:
an electrical connector cooperated with one of the one or more modular coupling structures configured to enable electrical coupling with another of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems.

4. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises:
a user interface;
a communications transceiver configured to communicate with one or more devices separate from the first portable launch pad system;
a control circuit; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of:
receive, through the user interface, a secure package command; and
communicate, in response to receiving the secure package command, an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft.

5. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft deck has a U-shape.

6. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 5 , wherein the U shaped aircraft deck exposes the first deck to an unmanned delivery aircraft when supported by the aircraft deck.

7. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 5 , wherein the U shaped aircraft deck comprises an opening defined by two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, wherein the opening provides an opening between the aircraft deck and the first deck and the extension arms are configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening.

8. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 7 , wherein the opening is configured to enable the unmanned delivery aircraft to launch from and move away from the aircraft deck in a direction away from the frame pad and along the opening while a package is moved out of a package area defined between the package deck and the aircraft deck.

9. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1 , further comprising a lift system cooperated with the aircraft deck and configured to adjust a distance between the aircraft deck and the first deck.

10. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 9 , wherein the lift system comprises:
a control circuit configured to obtain a dimension of a package and activate the lift system to cause a change in distance between the first deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the dimension of the package.

11. A method of preparing portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, comprising:
positioning a first portable launch pad system relative to one or more additional portable launch pad systems, wherein the first portable launch pad system comprises a first deck, an unmanned delivery aircraft deck configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft, and one or more modular coupling structures each fixed with at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck; and
cooperating the first portable launch pad system with at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems through at least one of the one or more modular coupling structures to temporarily and rigidly couple the first portable launch pad system with the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, through a user interface of the first portable launch pad system, a secure package command; and
communicating an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck of the first portable launch pad system to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein further comprising:
obtaining, through a control circuit of the first portable launch pad system, a dimension of a package; and
controlling, through the control circuit, a lift system of the first portable launch pad system to cause a change in distance between the first deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the dimension of the package.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cooperating the first portable launch pad system with the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems comprises cooperating the first portable launch pad system through the one or more modular coupling structures with each of at least three additional portable launch pad systems.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving electrical power at the first portable launch pad system and transferring the electrical power to the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems through an electrical connector cooperated with a first modular coupling structure of the one or more modular coupling structures.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
cooperating a package, which is positioned on the first deck, with an unmanned delivery aircraft through an opening of the aircraft deck.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cooperating the package comprises cooperating the package through the opening in the aircraft deck comprising a U-shape defining the opening along one edge and between two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, with the unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening and being supported by the extension arms.

18. The method of claim 17 , launching the unmanned delivery aircraft to lift from and move away from the aircraft deck in a direction away from the frame pad and along the opening while the package is moved out of a package area defined between the package deck and the aircraft deck.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
securing the aircraft deck at one of multiple different distances from the first deck through a lift system.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
receiving a separation distance command; and
activating one or more motors of the lift system to cause a change in dis

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nathan G
• Hicks Gregory A
• High Donald R

Classifications

• B64C37/02 Primary

  Flying units formed by separate aircraft (towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00) · CPC title

• B64F1/12

  for anchoring aircraft · CPC title

• B64F1/32

  for handling freight · CPC title

• E01F3/00

  Landing stages for helicopters, e.g. located above buildings (layout of airfields B64F; buildings or like structures for special purposes E04H) · CPC title

• B64C2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic