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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915956-B2
Application number	US-201614989870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

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

We claim:

1. 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 at a first location 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;
re-locating the delivery vehicle to a second location which is different from the first location;
returning the UAS/UAV to the delivery vehicle at the second location; and
docking the UAS/UAV with the delivery vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reading step further comprises:
scanning at least one of a barcode and a QR code displayed on the package.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivery vehicle is an electrically powered ground vehicle and the UAS/UAV is an electrically powered flight vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
electrically charging the UAS/UAV from the delivery vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the launching, returning and docking steps are each automated.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from a depot to the first location which is remote from the delivery destination, the package and UAS/UAV being onboard the delivery vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the second location back to the depot.

8. The method of claim 7 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 to the associated delivery destination.

9. The method of claim 6 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 first location to the respective delivery destination, the method further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the first location to the second location 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 second location to the respective delivery destination.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the guiding and unloading steps are controlled and supervised from a control center remote from both the delivery vehicle and the delivery destination.

11. A method of delivering a package from a depot to a delivery destination comprising the steps of:
driving an electrically powered ground delivery vehicle from the depot to a first location 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 while at the first location into a flight pattern based on the location data;
re-locating the delivery vehicle to a second location which is different from the first location;
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 at the second location;
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 intervention and supervision from a control center remote from both the delivery vehicle and the delivery destination; and
driving the delivery vehicle from the second location back to the depot.

12. The method of claim 11 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 to the associated delivery destination.

13. The method of claim 11 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 first location to the respective delivery destination, the method further comprising:
driving the delivery vehicle from the first location to the second location 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 second location to the respective delivery destination.

14. A method of delivering a first package to a first delivery destination, the method comprising the steps of:
loading the first delivery destination into a flight control system of a UAS/UAV;
loading the first package into a package holding mechanism of the UAS/UAV while onboard a delivery vehicle;
launching the UAS/UAV and the first package from the delivery vehicle at a first location;
flying the UAS/UAV and the first package toward the first delivery destination;
unloading the first package from the UAS/UAV at the first delivery destination;
re-locating the delivery vehicle to a second location which is different from the first location;
returning the UAS/UAV to the delivery vehicle at the second location; and
docking the UAS/UAV with the delivery vehicle at the second location.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
delivering a second package to a second delivery destination while the delivery vehicle is at the second location.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a plurality of the UAS/UAV's are onboard the delivery vehicle for package delivery.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle at the second location.

Assignees

• Workhorse Group Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• Y02T90/16

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• B60L53/53

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• B60L2240/622

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• Y02T10/7072

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

• B60L2200/10

  Air crafts · CPC title