Targeted location product delivery systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10535037-B2
Application number	US-201615343477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Nov 6, 2015
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivery packages using unmanned delivery aircrafts. Some embodiments include product delivery systems, comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; 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, from a customer, an authorization to deliver a product by an unmanned delivery aircraft; receive, from a portable user interface unit associated with the customer, global location information of a current location of the user interface unit and that designates a delivery location where the customer would like the product delivered; and initiate a delivery, by an unmanned delivery aircraft, of the product to the delivery location defined by the global location information received from the user interface unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product delivery system, comprising:
a transceiver;
a control circuit;
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, from a customer, an authorization to deliver a product by an unmanned delivery aircraft;
receive, from a portable user interface unit associated with the customer, location information of a current location of the user interface unit and that designates a delivery location where the customer would like the product delivered;
receive an image captured by a camera of the user interface unit, wherein the image is captured at approximately the time the location information is identified by the user interface unit and prior to scheduling the delivery;
evaluate the image, confirm from the image there is a vertical clearance of at least a threshold diameter extending above the delivery location, and confirm a viability of the delivery location for a delivery by the delivery aircraft;
receive, from the user interface unit, wireless communication signal strength and identify the delivery location as invalid when there is not a sufficient communication bandwidth to effectively allow a remote pilot at a location remote from the delivery location to take over at least some of the control of the delivery aircraft;
identify, based in part on the image, when the delivery location is invalid, and communicate a notification to the user interface unit to be displayed by the user interface unit, wherein the notification comprises an explanation of why the delivery location is invalid;
communicate corrective instructions, in response to the identification that the delivery location is invalid based on the image, to the user interface unit comprising actions to be taken by the customer to address an issue inhibiting delivery to the delivery location, and confirm the action is taken within a threshold time;
initiate a delivery, by an unmanned delivery aircraft, of the product to the delivery location defined by the location information received from the user interface unit; and
wherein the initiating the delivery comprises initiating the delivery when the delivery location is confirmed as viable;
wherein the control circuit, in receiving the image captured by the camera of the user interface unit, is configured to receive two images directed away from each other such that a first image is captured of a surface where the product is to be deposited by the unmanned delivery aircraft at the delivery location and a second image is captured in a directed that is substantially 180 degrees from the direction captured by the first image and generally directed toward the sky;
wherein the control circuit in confirming the viability of the delivery location is further configured to confirm based on at least the first image that the surface where the product is to be deposited by the unmanned delivery aircraft as having a delivery area that has at least a delivery area threshold upon which the product can be deposited.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit in confirming the viability of the delivery location is further configured to:
confirm the delivery location is within a flight distance threshold of a launch location; and
confirm there are no flight restrictions corresponding to the received location information and one or more flight paths between the launch location and the delivery location that inhibit directing the delivery aircraft to the delivery location.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit in receiving the location information and the image comprises receiving both the location information and the image in response to a selection by the customer of a single option presented to a customer through a software application implemented on the user interface unit that causes the user interface unit to identify the location information and activate the camera to capture the image.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive a delivery aircraft image captured by an aircraft camera on the delivery aircraft while the delivery aircraft is positioned within a delivery distance threshold from the location information; and
obtain a confirmation, based on the delivery aircraft image, that one or more delivery rules are satisfied prior to initiating a delivery of the product.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pilot control system comprising:
a pilot control circuit, a user interface coupled with the pilot control circuit, and a transceiver, wherein the pilot control circuit is configured to:
receive a notification that pilot assistance is requested while the delivery aircraft is within a threshold pilot control distance of the delivery location; and
establish, through the transceiver and in response to the notification, remote control over the delivery aircraft such that commands received through the user interface from a pilot are communicated to the delivery aircraft to implement the commands such that the pilot controls the delivery aircraft during a depositing of the product at the delivery location.

6. A method of delivery products using unmanned delivery aircrafts, comprising:
by a control circuit:
receiving, from a customer, an authorization to deliver a product by an unmanned delivery aircraft;
receiving, from a portable user interface unit associated with the customer, location information of a current location of the user interface unit and that designates a delivery location where the customer would like the product delivered;
initiating a delivery, by an unmanned delivery aircraft, of the product to the delivery location defined by the location information received from the user interface unit;
receiving an image captured by a camera of the user interface unit, wherein the image is captured at approximately the time the location information is identified by the user interface unit; and
evaluating the image, confirming from the image there is a vertical clearance of at least a threshold diameter extending above the delivery location and confirming a viability of the delivery location for a delivery by the delivery aircraft;
receiving, from the user interface unit, wireless communication signal strength and identifying the delivery location as invalid when there is not a sufficient communication bandwidth to effectively allow a remote pilot at a location remote from the delivery location to take over at least some of the control of the delivery aircraft;
identifying, based in part on the image, when the delivery location is invalid, and communicating a notification to the user interface unit to be displayed by the user interface unit, wherein the notification comprises an explanation of why the delivery location is invalid; and
communicating corrective instructions, in response to the identification that the delivery location is invalid based on the image, to the user interface unit comprising actions to be taken by the customer to address an issue inhibiting delivery to the delivery location, and confirm the action is taken within a threshold time;
wherein the initiating the delivery comprises initiating the delivery when the delivery location is confirmed as viable;
wherein the receiving the image captured by the camera of the user interface unit further comprises receiving two images directed away from each other such that a first image is captured of a ground at the delivery location and a second image is captured in a directed that is substantially 180 degrees from the direction captured by the first image and generally directed toward the sky;
wherein the confirming the viability of the delivery location further comprises co

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• High Donald R
• Jones Nathan G
• Natarajan Chandrashekar
• Thompson John P
• Hicks Gregory A

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• G01S19/13

  Receivers · CPC title

• G06Q10/08355 Primary

  Routing methods · CPC title

• G06Q10/0835 Primary

  Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers · CPC title

• G01S19/14

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title