Package delivery by means of an automated multi-copter uas/uav dispatched from a conventional delivery vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200438-A1
Application number	US-201614989870-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

First claim

1 . A method of package delivery utilizing a multi-rotor UAS/UAV as an autonomous or as a semi-autonomous courier, dispatched from and returning to a delivery vehicle.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a package is secured to and appropriately released from the UAS/UAV.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAS/UAV autonomously navigates to a delivery destination by means of GPS navigation, and is further guided in final descent and package drop-off by precision land sensors and other methods with the additional means of remote guidance by a human operator, if necessary, to ensure an accurate delivery process.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle, by means of GPS navigation and other tracking technology.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle and is further guided in final descent and docking by precision land sensors and other methods with the additional means of remote guidance by a human operator, if necessary, to ensure an accurate re-docking process.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAS/UAV can recharge its internal batteries from the delivery vehicle.

7 . A method of delivering a package to a delivery destination comprising the steps of:
reading location data of the delivery destination off of the package; loading the location data into a flight control system onboard of a UAS/UAV; loading the package onto a package holding mechanism of the UAS/UAV while onboard a delivery vehicle; launching the UAS/UAV and package from the delivery vehicle into a flight pattern based on the location data; guiding the UAS/UAV and package to the delivery destination; landing the UAS/UAV and package at the delivery destination; unloading the package from the UAS/UAV at the delivery destination; returning the UAS/UAV to the delivery vehicle; and docking the UAS/UAV with the delivery vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the reading step further comprises:
scanning at least one of a barcode and a QR code displayed on the package.

9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the delivery vehicle is an electrically powered ground vehicle and the UAS/UAV is an electrically powered flight vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 7 wherein the launching, returning and docking steps are each automated.

11 . The method of claim 7 wherein the guiding and unloading steps each further comprises human intervention and supervision.

12 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
electrically charging the UAS/UAV from the delivery vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from a depot to a general area remote from the delivery destination, the package and UAS/UAV being onboard the delivery vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the general area back to the depot.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the delivery vehicle has a plurality of packages initially onboard, each package having a distinct delivery destination and the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages from the delivery vehicle at the general area to the associated delivery destination.

16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the delivery vehicle has a plurality of packages initially onboard, each package having a distinct delivery destination, the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages of a first set of the packages from the delivery vehicle at the general area to the respective delivery destination, the method further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the general area to a further general area with a second set of the packages onboard, the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages of the second set from the delivery vehicle at the further general area to the respective delivery destination.

17 . The method of claim 11 wherein the guiding and unloading steps are controlled via human intervention and supervision from a control center remote from both the delivery vehicle and the delivery destination.

18 . A method of delivering a package to a delivery destination comprising the steps of:
driving an electrically powered ground delivery vehicle to a general area remote from the delivery destination, the package and an electrically powered UAS/UAV flight vehicle being onboard the delivery vehicle; scanning at least one of a barcode and a QR code displayed on the package for location data of the delivery destination; loading the location data into a flight control system onboard of the UAS/UAV; loading the package onto a package holding mechanism of the UAS/UAV while onboard the delivery vehicle; launching the UAS/UAV and package from the delivery vehicle into a flight pattern based on the location data; guiding the UAS/UAV and package to the delivery destination; landing the UAS/UAV and package at the delivery destination; unloading the package from the UAS/UAV at the delivery destination; returning the UAS/UAV to the delivery vehicle; docking the UAS/UAV with the delivery vehicle; electrically charging the UAS/UAV from the delivery vehicle; wherein the launching, returning and docking steps are each automated; wherein the guiding and unloading steps each further comprises human intervention and supervision from a control center remote from both the delivery vehicle and the delivery destination; and driving the delivery vehicle from the general area back to a depot.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the delivery vehicle has a plurality of packages initially onboard, each package having a distinct delivery destination and the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages from the delivery vehicle at the general area to the associated delivery destination.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the delivery vehicle has a plurality of packages initially onboard, each package having a distinct delivery destination, the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages of a first set of the packages from the delivery vehicle at the general area to the respective delivery destination, the method further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the general area to a further general area with a second set of the packages onboard, the UAS/UAV serially delivering each of the packages of the second set from the delivery vehicle at the further general area to the respective delivery destination.

Assignees

• Workhorse Group Inc

Inventors

• Bokeno Elliot T
• Bort Jr Thaddeus M
• Burns Stephen S
• Rucidlo Martin
• Wei Wei
• Wires Donald L

Classifications

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• Y02T90/16

  Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L2200/10

  Air crafts · CPC title

• B60L2240/622

  by satellite navigation · CPC title