Systems and methods for delivering products via unmanned aerial vehicles to delivery locations designated by customers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11074545-B2
Application number	US-201715850197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for facilitating delivery, via unmanned aerial vehicles, of products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a customer-selected physical location of a person other than the customer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for facilitating delivery of products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a physical location of a person other than the customer of the retailer via an unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
an order processing server of the retailer configured to process an order for a product placed by a customer using an electronic computing device of the customer, wherein the order for the product placed by the customer specifies that the product be delivered by the unmanned aerial vehicle to a physical location of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer;
a computing device of the retailer including a processor-based control circuit, the computing device of the retailer configured to obtain global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the physical location of the person other than the customer;
wherein the control circuit is configured to:
analyze the obtained GPS coordinates of the physical location of the person other than the customer; and
determine a product drop off zone for the unmanned aerial vehicle carrying the product ordered by the customer at the physical location of the person other than the customer,
receive from a mobile computing device of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer, a first digital photograph of the product drop off zone captured at the product drop off zone by the mobile computing device of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer;
receive a second digital photograph of the product drop off zone from the unmanned aerial vehicle;
compare the first and second digital photographs to verify the product drop off zone; and
in response to a verification of the product drop off zone based on a comparison of the first and second digital photographs, transmit a first electronic notification to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the first electronic notification including landing instructions to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to land at the product drop off zone; and

wherein the unmanned delivery vehicle, upon receipt of the first electronic notification from the computing device of the retailer, is configured to land at the product drop off zone based on the landing instructions, and to permit the person other than the customer to retrieve the product ordered by the customer from the unmanned delivery vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the order for the product placed by the customer specifies that the product be delivered to a physical location of a mobile computing device of the person other than the customer, and wherein the computing device of the retailer is configured to obtain global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the physical location of the mobile computing device of the person other than the customer.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to analyze the obtained GPS coordinates of the physical location of the person other than the customer and transmit a satellite image of the physical location of the person other than the customer to a graphical interface on an electronic computing device of the customer, and wherein the customer is permitted to at least one of zoom in on, shift, rotate, and center the satellite image in the graphical interface, and to place a cursor on the satellite image in the graphical interface to indicate the product drop off zone for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a transmission from the electronic computing device of the customer, the transmission indicating the placement of the cursor on the satellite image in the graphical interface by the customer to indicate the product drop off zone for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and to transmit the first electronic notification to the unmanned aerial vehicle including the landing instructions based on the received transmission from the electronic computing device of the customer.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the graphic interface on the electronic computing device of the customer includes a clickable product drop off zone location button, and the customer is permitted to click the product drop off zone location button after placement of the cursor on the satellite image in the graphical interface to indicate the product drop off zone for the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, an electronic confirmation that the product ordered by the customer has been delivered to the person other than the customer at the physical location of the person other than the customer.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein in response to receipt, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, of the electronic confirmation that the product ordered by the customer has been delivered to the person other than the customer, the control circuit is further configured to transmit, to an electronic computing device of a customer, an electronic confirmation that the product ordered by the customer has been delivered to the person other than the customer at the physical location of the person other than the customer.

8. A method for facilitating delivery of products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a physical location of a person other than the customer of the retailer via an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
providing an order processing server of the retailer;
processing, by the order processing server, an order for a product placed by a customer using an electronic computing device of the customer, the order for the product placed by the customer specifying that the product be delivered by the unmanned aerial vehicle to a physical location of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer;
providing a computing device of the retailer including a processor-based control circuit, the computing device of the retailer configured to obtain global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the physical location of the person other than the customer;
analyzing, via the control circuit of the computing device of the retailer, the obtained GPS coordinates of the physical location of the person other than the customer;
determining, via the control circuit of the computing device of the retailer, a product drop off zone for an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying the product ordered by the customer at the physical location of the person other than the customer;
receiving, by the computing device, from a mobile computing device of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer, a first digital photograph of the product drop off zone captured at the product drop off zone by the mobile computing device of the person other than the customer who placed the order for the product using the electronic computing device of the customer;
receiving, by the computing device, a second digital photograph of the product drop off zone from the unmanned aerial vehicle;
comparing, by the computing device, the first and second digital photographs to verify the product drop off zone; and
in response to a verification, by the computing device, of the product drop off zone based on the comparing of the first and second digital photographs, transmitting a first electronic notification to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the first electronic notification including landing instructions to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to land at the product drop of

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Winkle David C
• High Donald R
• Mattingly Todd D

Classifications

• B64U2201/104

  using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title