Item delivery with an unmanned aerial vehicle and unmanned aerial vehicle retrieval system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828092-B1
Application number	US-201514623465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2015
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

Described is a system and method for utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”) to facilitate delivery of ordered items to user specified delivery destinations. In one implementation, the UAV may be configured as a one-way UAV that is designed to transport ordered items to the user specified delivery destination but not return to a materials handling facility under its own power. Instead, the one-way UAV may remain at the delivery destination for later retrieval by a retrieval unit (e.g., truck).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed by one or more processors causing the one or more processors to at least:
receive an order for an item, wherein the order is associated with a user;
determine a delivery destination for the item;
instruct an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) to aerially navigate with the item to the delivery destination and terminate aerial navigation at the delivery destination; and
cause a request to be sent to one or more devices, the request indicating that the UAV be placed at a retrieval location by at least one of a retrieval time or a retrieval date, wherein the one or more devices are associated with the user.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
determine the retrieval location from which the UAV is to be retrieved; and
instruct a retrieval unit to navigate to the retrieval location and retrieve the UAV.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein the retrieval location is at least one of the delivery destination or a UAV retrieval container.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
determine a plurality of retrieval locations, each retrieval location corresponding to at least one UAV, wherein the plurality of retrieval locations includes the retrieval location;
plan a retrieval route that includes each of the plurality of retrieval locations; and
instruct a retrieval unit to navigate the retrieval route and retrieve UAVs from the plurality of retrieval locations.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
plan the retrieval route to further include a location corresponding to a second item; and
instruct the retrieval unit to retrieve or deliver the second item as it navigates the retrieval route.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:
the UAV includes a payload container into which the item is placed;
the payload container includes a lid; and
the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
cause a signal to be transmitted from the UAV when the lid of the payload container is opened to confirm a delivery of the item.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
determine a UAV configuration for delivery of the item, wherein the UAV configuration is based at least in part on one or more of:
a lifting capacity of the UAV;
a weight of the item;
a size of the item;
a shape of the item;
a distance between a materials handling facility containing the item and the delivery destination;
a weather between the materials handling facility containing the item and the delivery destination; or
a power requirement for the UAV to aerially navigate from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
send a request to the one or more devices that the UAV be returned using a ground based carrier service.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
subsequent to a selection of a retrieval option being received from the one or more devices,
cause a retrieval unit to navigate to the retrieval location in accordance with the selected retrieval option.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions;
receiving an order for an item, wherein the order is associated with a user;
determining a delivery destination for the item;
instructing a vehicle to navigate with the item to the delivery destination and terminate navigation at the delivery destination; and
causing a request to be sent to one or more devices, the request indicating that the vehicle be placed at a retrieval location by at least one of a retrieval time or a retrieval date, wherein the one or more devices are associated with the user.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining the retrieval location from which the vehicle is to be retrieved; and
instructing a retrieval unit to navigate to the retrieval location and retrieve the vehicle.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the retrieval location is at least one of: the delivery destination or a retrieval container.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining a plurality of retrieval locations, each retrieval location corresponding to at least one vehicle, wherein the plurality of retrieval locations includes the retrieval location;
planning a retrieval route that includes each of the plurality of retrieval locations; and
instructing a retrieval unit to navigate the retrieval route and retrieve vehicles from the plurality of retrieval locations.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:
planning the retrieval route to further include a location corresponding to a second item; and
further instructing the retrieval unit to retrieve or deliver the second item as it navigates the retrieval route.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein:
the vehicle includes a payload container into which the item is placed;
the payload container includes a lid; and
in response to the lid of the payload container being opened, a signal is transmitted from the vehicle to confirm a delivery of the item.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is an aerial vehicle and configured to aerially transport items having a weight of no more than approximately one pound.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a vehicle configuration for delivery of the item, wherein the vehicle configuration is based at least in part on one or more of:
a capacity of the vehicle;
a weight of the item;
a size of the item;
a shape of the item;
a distance between a materials handling facility containing the item and the delivery destination;
a weather between the materials handling facility containing the item and the delivery destination; or
a power requirement for the vehicle to navigate from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
causing a request to be sent to the one or more devices that the vehicle be returned using a ground based carrier service.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
instructing a retrieval unit to navigate to the retrieval location after the vehicle has been placed at the retrieval location.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising:
receiv

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Navot Amir
• Ben-Israel Elad

Classifications

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• G06Q10/08355

  Routing methods · CPC title

• G01C21/20 Primary

  Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• B64C39/024 Primary

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