Landing pad receptacle for package delivery and receipt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018092484-A1
Application number	US-201715712510-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A landing pad receptacle receives and stores a package delivered by an unmanned vehicle, comprising: a housing; a storage compartment in the housing; and a validation device that detects a presence of a package delivered by a unmanned vehicle in the storage compartment and authenticates a package for return by a unmanned vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A landing pad receptacle that receives and stores a package delivered by an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
a housing; a storage compartment in the housing; and a validation device that detects a presence of a package delivered by an unmanned vehicle in the storage compartment and authenticates a package for return by an unmanned vehicle.

2 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

3 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a theft-deterrent mesh material.

4 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the validation device includes a weight sensor comprising:
a platform on which the package is positioned; and a spring or hydraulic mechanism under the platform that detects a force applied to the platform, the force including the weight of the package.

5 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 4 , further comprising a cover at an opening to the housing, the cover automatically covering the opening to the housing when the weight sensor detects the weight of the package positioned on the platform of the weight sensor.

6 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a lock that automatically secures the package in the storage compartment in response to the validation device detecting the presence of the package.

7 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes or fluorescent rim about the periphery of an opening to the housing for identifying the opening or for notifying a viewer of the presence of the package in the storage department.

8 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising an on-board wireless interface for communicating with the unmanned vehicle.

9 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising an on-board navigation system for directing the unmanned vehicle to the landing pad.

10 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 9 , wherein the navigation system includes a spatial or obstruction sensor or related object recognition device to guide the unmanned vehicle to the landing pad away from dangerous objects about the landing pad.

11 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising an alarm device for generating an alarm when an object is near the landing pad when the compartment includes the package.

12 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising an Internet of Things (IoT) device.

13 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 12 , wherein the IoT device comprises a temperature controller for determining a temperature of the storage compartment.

14 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 12 , wherein the storage compartment comprises a first compartment that is temperature controlled at cold temperatures, and a second compartment that is temperature controlled at hot temperatures.

15 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment is configured for receiving at least removable modular unit for accommodating a particular package.

16 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 15 , wherein the storage compartment includes a plurality of regions, each configured for being assigned and receiving a different package.

17 . The landing pad receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the validation device confirms the authenticity of the package for return by the unmanned vehicle.

18 . A system for package delivery and receipt, comprising:
a landing pad receptacle that receives and stores a package delivered by an unmanned vehicle; and a navigation system for directing the unmanned vehicle to the landing pad receptacle.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the landing pad receptacle comprises:
a storage compartment; and a validation device that detects a presence of a package delivered by the unmanned vehicle in the storage compartment and authenticates a package for return by the unmanned vehicle.

20 . A method for operation of a landing pad repository, comprising:
detecting by the landing pad repository an approach by the unmanned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle either carrying a package for delivery or for retrieving a package from the landing pad repository, wherein detecting the approach of the unmanned vehicle includes performing object recognition to confirm that the approach is safe; providing access to a storage compartment of the landing pad repository for the depositing of the package or retrieval of the package; and detecting a presence of the package in the storage compartment.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• Lewis Steven
• Biermann Matthew Dwain
• Charles Kevin Matthew

Classifications

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• A47G29/141 Primary

  comprising electronically controlled locking means · CPC title

• A47G29/20

  with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles · CPC title

• A47G2200/223

  indicator · CPC title

• A47G2029/145

  the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code · CPC title