System and method for utilizing a drone for a package delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019263521-A1
Application number	US-201916285810-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2019
Priority date	Feb 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 29, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems of utilizing a drone for a package delivery are provided. An example method can include: receiving, by a central server, a request from a customer device, the request comprising one or more ordered items and a delivery destination; determining, by a processor at a central server and based on the request, instructions of a flight mission for a drone at a distribution center; instructing a first control system at a distribution center to place the ordered items into a bag; loading the bag into one of a plurality of cargo bays; providing the instructions of the flight mission to a second control system to control the drone to navigate to the delivery destination; and controlling the drone by the second control system to automatically release the bag with the ordered items from the cargo bay, the cargo bay remaining with the drone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a central server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory; a distribution center comprising a first control system; a drone comprising:
a second control system;
a modular container comprising a side-hatch release mechanism; a multi-directional hook system; a drone payload area; and
wherein the central server is configured to:
receive a request from a customer device via the central server, the request comprising one or more ordered items and a delivery destination;
determine, based on the request, instructions of a flight mission for the drone at a distribution center; and
instruct a first control system at a distribution center to place the ordered items into a bag and load the bag into a modular container;
wherein the second control system is configured to:
receive the instructions of the flight mission;
automatically load the modular container to the drone payload area;
control the drone to navigate to the delivery destination; and
when the drone arrives at the delivery destination, automatically control the drone to release the bag with the ordered items by the multi-directional hook system from the modular container, the modular container remaining with the drone.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side-hatch release mechanism is configured to load and unload the ordered items to and from the modular container.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional hook system is configured to automatically latch onto and release the bag with the ordered items to the delivery destination.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a supplemental packaging system that is configured to use an airbag to package and protect fragile items.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bag has multiple handles up and is made from durable, reusable, cost-effective, or disposable material.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional hook system comprises a plurality of hooks configured to grab the multiple handles of the bag for releasing the bag to the delivery destination.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional hook system further comprises a spring loaded cable, wherein the spring loaded cable has two ends, and a first end of the spring loaded cable is connected to a hook and a second end of the spring loaded cable is connected to the drone.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drone further comprises:
a double tambour door which opens at a bottom to allow the bag to be lowered down; a robotic arm with an elbow to secure and lower the bag; an open top with petal like door elements located the bottom of the drone for delivery based on a gravity; a fitted box configured to secure to the drone for transport of bagged items while the drone descends diagonally and opens a side door to eject the bag; and a winch to be configured to lower a hinge which supports the ordered items in the bag.

9 . A system comprising:
a central server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory; a distribution center comprising a first control system; a drone comprising: a second control system; a modular container comprising a side-hatch release mechanism; a multi-directional hook system; a drone payload area; and a plurality of cargo bays configured to be inserted into the drone to accommodate a number of different package sizes and weights; wherein the central server is configured to:
receive a request from a customer device, the request comprising one or more ordered items and a delivery destination;
determine, based on the request, instructions of a flight mission for the drone at a distribution center; and
instruct a first control system at a distribution center to place the ordered items into a bag;
wherein the second control system is configured to:
receive the instructions of the flight mission;
automatically load the bag with the ordered items to one of plurality of cargo bays located at a drone payload area;
control the drone to navigate to the delivery destination; and
when the drone arrives at the delivery destination, automatically control the drone to release the bag with the ordered items by the multi-directional hook system from the cargo bay, the cargo bay remaining with the drone.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the side-hatch release mechanism is configured to load and unload the ordered items to and from the modular container.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the multi-directional hook system is configured to automatically latch onto and release the bag with the ordered items to the delivery destination.

12 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a supplemental packaging system that is configured to use an airbag to package and protect fragile items.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the bag has multiple handles up and is made from durable, reusable, cost-effective, or disposable material.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the multi-directional hook system comprises a plurality hooks configured to grab the multiple handles of the bag for releasing the bag to the delivery destination.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the multi-directional hook system further comprises a spring loaded cable, wherein the spring loaded cable has two ends, and a first end of the spring loaded cable is connected to a hook and a second end of the spring loaded cable is connected to the drone.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the drone further comprises:
a double tambour door which opens at a bottom to allow the bag to be lowered down; a robotic arm with an elbow to secure and lower the bag; an open top with petal like door elements located at the bottom of the drone for delivery based on a gravity; a fitted box configured to secure to the drone for transport of bagged items while the drone descends diagonally and opens a side door to eject the bag; and
a winch to be configured to lower a hinge which supports the ordered items in the bag.

17 . The system of claim 9 , wherein one or more cargo bays is configured to accommodate a bag with the ordered items.

18 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a central server, a request from a customer device, the request comprising one or more ordered items and a delivery destination; determining, by a processor at a central server and based on the request, instructions of a flight mission for a drone at a distribution center; instructing a first control system at a distribution center to place the ordered items into a bag; loading the bag into one of a plurality of cargo bays; providing the instructions of the flight mission to a second control system to control the drone to navigate to the delivery destination; and when the drone arrives at the delivery destination, controlling the drone by the second control system to automatically release the bag with the ordered items by a multi-directional hook system from the cargo bay, the cargo bay remaining with the drone.

19 . A method of claim 18 , wherein the drone comprises a plurality of cargo bays which are configured to be inserted into the drone to accommodate a number of packages with different sizes and weights.

20 . A method of claim 19 , further comprising:
loading the bag into a modular container; and loading the modular container into one of plurality of cargo bays.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• O'Brien John J
• High Donald R
• Schuhardt Justin
• Mchale Brian
• Cantrell Robert

Classifications

• B64U2101/60

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

• B64D1/12

  Releasing · CPC title

• B64D1/10 Primary

  Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• B64D9/00

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title