Systems and methods to allocate unmanned aircraft systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080179-B2
Application number	US-202318222419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2023
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to allocate unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Some embodiments, provide UAS allocation systems, comprising: a UAS database that stores for each registered UAS an identifier and corresponding operational capabilities; an allocation control circuit configured to: obtain a first set of multiple task parameters specified by a first customer and corresponding to a requested first predefined task that the customer is requesting a UAS be allocated to perform; identify, from the UAS database, a first UAS having operational capabilities to perform the first set of task parameters while implementing the first task; and cause an allocation notification to be communicated to a first UAS provider, of the multiple UAS providers, associated with the first UAS requesting the first UAS provider to allocate the identified first UAS to implement the first task.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) allocation system, comprising:
a UAS database storing information corresponding to multiple registered different UASs, wherein the UAS database stores, for each of the multiple registered different UASs, corresponding operational capabilities, wherein a plurality of the multiple registered different UASs have different operational capabilities;
a registration control circuit coupled with the UAS database and configured to obtain the operational capabilities of each of the multiple registered different UASs and register each of the multiple registered different UASs comprising storing, in the UAS database, the operational capabilities in association with a respective one of the multiple registered different UASs; and
an allocation control circuit coupled with the UAS database and configured to allocate a respective one of the multiple registered different UASs, based on a respective threshold correlation between one or more of the respective operational capabilities and a corresponding one of a set of one or more task parameters, to implement at least part of a respective one of multiple requested tasks that are each received in association with a different one of a plurality of customers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the allocation control circuit is configured to:
obtain a first set of task parameters associated with a first customer, of the plurality of customers, and corresponding to a requested first task, of the multiple requested tasks, that is requested to be performed, on behalf of the first customer, by at least one of the multiple registered different UASs be allocated to perform;
identify a first UAS, of the multiple registered different UASs, having the respective threshold correlation between one or more of the first set of task parameters and corresponding one or more of a set of one or more of the operational capabilities; and
cause an allocation notification to be communicated, in response to the identification of the first UAS having the respective threshold correlation, to initiate implementation of the first task by the first UAS.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first task of the multiple requested tasks comprises a package delivery task; and
wherein the allocation control circuit, in allocating the respective one of the multiple registered different UASs, is configured to identify a first UAS, of the multiple registered different UASs, to perform the package delivery task based on a delivery payload task parameter relative to a lift capacity capability of the first UAS.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface system comprising an interface control circuit configured to:
communicate user interface information configured to populate at least a request user interface comprising predefined fields to receive one or more task parameters corresponding to a first requested task of the multiple requested tasks; and
receive, through the request user interface, the one or more task parameters corresponding to the first requested task to be performed by at least a first UAS of the multiple registered different UASs.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the allocation control circuit is further configured to cause a first set of task parameters to be communicated that are to be applied in utilizing a first UAS, of the multiple registered different UASs, in implementing a first task in accordance with the first set of task parameters, wherein the first set of task parameters define functions to be performed by the first UAS in completing at least a portion of the first task.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the registration control circuit is configured to obtain an identifier of each of the multiple registered different UASs to be allocated to implement one or more tasks; and
wherein the registration control circuit in registering each of the multiple registered different UASs stores, in the UAS database, each identifier of the multiple registered different UASs, and stores, in relation to a corresponding one of the identifiers, the operational capabilities of the corresponding one of the multiple registered different UASs.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the registration control circuit is further configured to associate each of a set of UASs of the multiple registered different UASs with at least one of multiple predefined delivery tasks based on a relationship between the operational capabilities of each of the multiple registered different UASs and a corresponding set of one or more delivery task parameters.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the registration control circuit is configured to:
associate a set of one or more UASs, of the multiple registered different UASs, that are authorized to perform a defined first task based on a first set of defined task parameters of the first task and corresponding capabilities of each of the set of one or more UASs.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the registration control circuit is further configured to:
obtain an identifier UAS of the set of one or more UASs; and
obtain the operational capabilities of each of the UASs of the set of one or more UASs; and
wherein the registering each of the UASs of the set of one or more UASs comprising storing, in the UAS database, the corresponding UAS identifier of each UAS of the set of one or more UASs, and storing in relation to a corresponding one of the UAS identifiers the operational capabilities of a corresponding UAS of the set of one or more UASs.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the allocation control circuit is further configured to coordinate a completion of a first task, of the multiple requested tasks, between two or more different UASs of the multiple registered different UASs.

11. A method of allocating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), comprising:
maintaining a UAS database storing information corresponding to multiple registered different UASs, wherein the UAS database stores for each of the multiple registered different UASs, corresponding operational capabilities, wherein a plurality of the multiple registered different UASs have different operational capabilities;
obtaining the operational capabilities of each of the multiple registered different UASs;
registering each of the multiple registered different UASs comprising storing, in the UAS database, the operational capabilities in association with a respective one of the multiple registered different UASs; and
directing an allocation of a respective one of the multiple registered different UASs, based on a respective threshold correlation between one or more of the respective operational capabilities and a corresponding one of a set of one or more task parameters, to implement at least part of a respective one of multiple requested tasks that are each received in association with a different one of a plurality of customers.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
obtaining a first set of task parameters associated with a first customer, of the plurality of customers, and corresponding to a requested first task, of the multiple requested tasks, that is requested to be performed, on behalf of the first customer, by at least one of the multiple registered different UASs be allocated to perform; and
identifying a first UAS, of the multiple registered different UASs, having the respective threshold correlation between one or more of the first set of task parameters and corresponding one or more of a set of one or more of the operational capabilities;
wherein the directing the allocation of the respective one of the multiple registered different UASs comprises causing an allocation notification to be c

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• High Donald R
• Taylor Robert C
• Winkle David C
• Thompson John P

Classifications

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• G08G5/20

  Arrangements for acquiring, generating, sharing or displaying traffic information (arrangements for monitoring traffic G08G5/72) · CPC title