Methods for delivering a parcel to a restricted access area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9928749-B2
Application number	US-201715582150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for accessing a restricted access area by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
electronically storing, by a computing entity of the UAV, an access code associated with a restricted access area, wherein (a) the restricted access area is at a serviceable point, (b) a user computing entity at the serviceable point is configured to selectively allow access to the restricted access area in response to receipt of the access code, and (c) the UAV comprises the UAV computing entity;
after navigation of the UAV proximate the restricted access area at the serviceable point, communicating, by the computing entity of the UAV, the access code to the user computing entity, wherein (a) a parcel is selectively coupled to a UAV chassis of the UAV, and (b) the user computing entity allows entry into the restricted access area responsive to receiving the access code; and
after the user computing entity allows entry into the restricted access area, navigating, by the computing entity of the UAV, the UAV into the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the parcel from a parcel carrier of the UAV in the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising navigating the UAV from the restricted access area of the serviceable point to a UAV support mechanism subsequent to releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising communicating a notification to the user computing entity after releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier of the UAV.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the restricted access area is a garage and allowing entry into the restricted access area comprises moving a garage door from a first position in which the garage door is closed to a second position in which the garage door is at least partially open.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising releasing the parcel from a parcel carrier of the UAV at the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising navigating the UAV from the restricted access area of the serviceable point to a position outside of the restricted access area subsequent to releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein subsequent to navigating the UAV to the position outside of the restricted access area, the UAV computing entity sends a notification to the user computing entity, and the user computing entity is configured to, in response to receiving the notification from the UAV computing entity, move the garage door from the second position to the first position.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access code is associated with a user profile corresponding to the serviceable point.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access code is a single-use code.

11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) computing entity comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the UAV computing entity to at least:
electronically store an access code associated with a restricted access area, wherein (a) the restricted access area is at a serviceable point, (b) a user computing entity at the serviceable point is configured to selectively allow access to the restricted access area in response to receipt of the access code, and (c) a UAV comprises the UAV computing entity;
after navigation of the UAV proximate the restricted access area at the serviceable point, communicate the access code to the user computing entity, wherein (a) a parcel is selectively coupled to a UAV chassis of the UAV, and (b) the user computing entity allows entry into the restricted access area responsive to receiving the access code; and
after the user computing entity allows entry into the restricted access area, navigate the UAV into the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

12. The UAV computing entity of claim 11 , wherein the computing entity is further configured to release the parcel from a parcel carrier of the UAV at the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

13. The UAV computing entity of claim 12 , wherein the computing entity is further configured to navigate the UAV from the restricted access area of the serviceable point to a UAV support mechanism subsequent to releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier.

14. The UAV computing entity of claim 12 , wherein the computing entity is further configured to communicate a notification to the user computing entity after releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier of the UAV.

15. The UAV computing entity of claim 11 , wherein the restricted access area is a garage and allowing entry into the restricted access area comprises moving a garage door from a first position in which the garage door is closed to a second position in which the garage door is at least partially open.

16. The UAV computing entity of claim 15 , wherein the UAV computing entity is further configured to release the parcel from a parcel carrier of the UAV at the restricted access area of the serviceable point.

17. The UAV computing entity of claim 16 , wherein the computing entity is further configured to navigate the UAV from the restricted access area of the serviceable point to a position outside of the restricted access area subsequent to releasing the parcel from the parcel carrier.

18. The UAV computing entity of claim 17 , wherein subsequent to navigating the UAV to the position outside of the restricted access area, the computing entity is further configured to send a notification the user computing entity, and the user computing entity is configured to, in response to receiving the notification, move the garage door from the second position to the first position.

19. The UAV computing entity of claim 11 , wherein the access code is associated with a user profile corresponding to the serviceable point.

20. The UAV computing entity of claim 11 , wherein the access code is a single-use code.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Gil Julio
• Cooper Jeffrey

Classifications

• E05F15/77

  using wireless control · CPC title

• B65G1/06

  with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G1/0435

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title

• B64F1/32

  for handling freight · CPC title

• B64F1/22

  for handling aircraft · CPC title