Systems, methods, and devices for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020130833-A1
Application number	US-201816172665-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 30, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles. Example methods may include positioning a first component at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the first component to a winch; positioning a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of a lifting component to: operatively connect to the first component and the second component, connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a first component at a first elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected to a winch; a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable:
operatively connected to the first component and the second component,
configured to connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and
configured to lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable is a first cable, and wherein the system further comprises a lowering component comprising a second cable, the lowering component configured to lower the vehicle toward the first elevation using the winch.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lifting component includes a motor, the motor including at least one of an electric motor, a hydraulic, a pneumatic motor, or an internal combustion motor.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second component includes a balloon, a blimp, or a thermal airship.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second component is passive against air currents or actively resists air currents.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component includes a stationary component or a mobile component.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the stationary component includes a distribution center and the mobile component includes a second vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable configured to lift the vehicle between the first component and the second component using the winch further comprises the cable configured to lift the vehicle to a third elevation that is lower than the second elevation.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the third elevation is based on a travel distance for transporting a payload associated with the vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component may include a charging unit for charging the vehicle.

12 . A system, comprising:
a first component at a first elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected to a winch; a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation: a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable:
operatively connected to the first component and the second component,
configured to connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and
configured to lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch; and
a third component at a third elevation, the third component configured to receive the vehicle from the second component.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is a first vehicle, and wherein the second component is further configured to receive a second vehicle from the third component.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cable is a first cable, and wherein the second component further comprises a lowering component comprising a second cable, the lowering component configured to vertically lower the vehicle to the first elevation using the winch.

16 . The system of claim 12 wherein the second component is passive against air currents or actively resists air currents.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first component includes a stationary component or a mobile component.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first component includes one of a stationary component that includes a distribution center or a mobile component that includes a second vehicle.

19 . A method, comprising:
positioning a first component at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the first component to a winch; positioning a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of a lifting component to:
operatively connect to the first component and the second component,
connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and
lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Miller Kenneth
• Leone Thomas
• Dudar Aed

Classifications

• B66D1/54

  Safety gear · CPC title

• B64D1/22 Primary

  Taking-up articles from earth's surface · CPC title

• B66D1/60

  adapted for special purposes · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C2201/082

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic