Methods for parcel delivery and pickup via an unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10860971-B2
Application number	US-201816216782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2018
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

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

What is claimed is:

1. A method for picking up a parcel via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
navigating a UAV to a location that has a parcel, the UAV comprising:
a UAV chassis, a camera, and
a parcel carrier removably secured to the UAV chassis, the parcel carrier having an engagement housing and at least two parcel carrying arms extending from the engagement housing;
using the UAV, engaging the parcel with the parcel carrying arms of the parcel carrier by moving the parcel carrying arms to an engaged position;
utilizing the camera to position the parcel carrying arms of the parcel carrier around the parcel; and
navigating the UAV and the parcel away from the location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UAV chassis comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion coupled to the lower portion at a reduced width area, the reduced width area having a width that is less than a width of the upper portion and that is less than a width of the lower portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
navigating the UAV and the parcel to a UAV support mechanism, the UAV support mechanism comprising two opposing rails;
engaging the UAV with the two opposing rails at the reduced width area; and
releasing the parcel carrier and the parcel from the UAV.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the parcel from the UAV.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein releasing the parcel from the UAV further comprises releasing the parcel carrier from the UAV.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the parcel carrier to the UAV, wherein the parcel carrier comprises a power source for the UAV.

7. A method for picking up a parcel via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
navigating a UAV to a location that has a parcel, the UAV comprising:
a UAV chassis, a camera, and
a parcel carrier removably secured to the UAV chassis, the parcel carrier having at least two parcel carrying arms;
engaging the parcel with the parcel carrying arms;
utilizing the camera to position the parcel carrying arms of the parcel carrier around the parcel; and
navigating the UAV and the parcel away from the location.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the parcel carrier further comprises an engagement housing, and wherein the at least two parcel carrying arms extend outward from the engagement housing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the engagement housing is sized to at least partially fit within a cavity of the UAV chassis.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising releasing the parcel from the UAV by disengaging the engagement housing from the UAV chassis.

11. A method of releasing a parcel using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
determining that a UAV is navigating to a serviceable point, the UAV comprising:
a UAV chassis, a camera, and
a parcel carrier having an engagement housing removably secured to the UAV chassis, and having a parcel carrying mechanism positioned below the engagement housing, the parcel carrying mechanism engaging a parcel;
receiving, via a UAV computing entity, a notification that the parcel is disengaged with the parcel carrying mechanism and released at the serviceable point; and
determining that the UAV is navigating away from the serviceable point.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the UAV further comprises a ground probe, and wherein the method further comprises receiving an indication that the ground probe is depressed, and receiving an indication that the parcel is released from the parcel carrying mechanism in response to depression of the ground probe.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the UAV further comprises a camera, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a recording of a photo or video captured by the camera of the UAV, the photo or the video indicative of the release of the parcel from the parcel carrying mechanism at the serviceable point.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising communicating a confirmation of delivery of the parcel to a user computing entity, wherein the confirmation comprises the video and the video is a 360° video.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising communicating a confirmation of delivery of the parcel to a user computing entity, wherein the confirmation includes the photo or the video.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising communicating an indication to the user computing entity, the indication prompting a user to input a confirmation of the delivery of the parcel.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising communicating a confirmation of delivery of the parcel to a user computing entity, wherein the confirmation comprises the video, and wherein the video is a live video feed captured by the camera of the UAV.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising communicating an indication to the user computing entity, the indication prompting a user to input a confirmation of the delivery of the parcel.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
associating the parcel with the photo or the video recorded by the camera of the UAV; and
storing the photo or the video as associated with the parcel at a central computing entity.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Gil Julio
• Cooper Jeffrey

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