Protected unmanned vehicle delivery receptacle

• US 10,028,606 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John K. Ritchie
• Original Assignee: John K. Ritchie
• Inventors: Ritchie, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US15/587,115
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 232 45, 232 19, 232 17, 232 30- 32, 232 34- 37, 3405681, 340569, 340 573, 70 63, 70158, 200 6163, 244114 R
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/12 Mail or newspaper receptacles, e.g. letter-boxes; Openings in doors or the like for delivering mail or newspapers A47G29/14 takes precedence ; for desktop use B42F7/10; chutes for mail in buildings B65G11/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1214 including a receiver located remotely from the letter-box and a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

A system for the delivery and secure receipt of packages from unmanned vehicles to improve security and protection of the packages upon delivery. A UAV receptacle provides a water-protected interior to protect a package. The UAV receptacle includes a door in one side that allows a reception tray to extend out and back in, and which locks to protect the package so received. The UAV receptacle detects a drone in proximity. Upon confirming that delivery is for the UAV receptacle, the reception tray extends to a reception position. A sensor detects the package on the reception tray upon delivery from the drone. The reception tray is of a mesh material to reduce water retention. The UAV receptacle retracts the reception tray and closes a door to seal the package within the UAV receptacle. The UAV receptacle may notify user devices that the package has been received.

Claims

1. An unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus, comprising:

a door defining at least a portion of a side of a housing of the unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus, the door configured to form a water-tight seal when shut;

a reception tray within the housing that comprises a mesh base and a sensor configured to detect placement of a package on the reception tray as the reception tray is extended exterior to the housing;

a transceiver configured to communicate with an unmanned vehicle within a proximity of the housing and assert a proximity signal in response to detecting the unmanned vehicle; and

a controller configured to receive the proximity signal and, in response to the proximity signal;

actuate the door from a shut position to an open position;

actuate the reception tray from a storage position within the housing to a reception position extended exterior to the housing through an opening in the housing created from the door in the open position;

actuate the reception tray from the reception position to the storage position in response to detecting receipt of a delivery package from the unmanned vehicle via the sensor asserting a detection signal; and

actuate the door from the open position to the shut position.

2. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pickup pad in a recess of an upper portion of the housing, the pickup pad sized to hold a box for pickup from a retrieving unmanned vehicle,

wherein a pickup signal is asserted in response to placement of the box for pickup on the pickup pad.

3. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the reception tray and the door are combined together such that an actuator coupled to the reception tray actuates the reception tray and the door, and

the unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus further comprises;

a solar panel attached to an upper portion of the housing and configured to provide power to a battery within the housing, wherein the battery is configured to supply power to the actuator coupled to the reception tray, actuators coupled to the sensor and the transceiver, and the controller.

4. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an expansion door defining at least a portion of a different side of the housing than the door, the expansion door configured to form a water-tight seal when shut and securely engage with an expansion reception box when open; and

a retractable arm within the housing comprising a proximal end attached to an interior surface of the housing and a distal end configured to;

engage with a package surface of the package to push the package into the expansion reception box when engaged with the expansion reception box; and

remain retracted within the housing when the expansion door is shut.

5. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit, via the transceiver, a receipt signal to a management server in response to actuating the door from the open position to the shut position and the detection signal remaining asserted, the receipt signal triggering a notification from the management server to a user device associated with a user of the unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus.

6. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to maintain the door in the shut position and unlock in response to the controller receiving the proximity signal or in response to receiving a user input that matches a required credential.

7. The unmanned vehicle delivery receiving apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller, in response to the locking mechanism unlocking in response to receiving the user input, is further configured to:

actuate the door to the open position;

actuate the reception tray from the storage position to the reception position with the delivery package for retrieval; and

actuate the reception tray to the reception position and the door to the shut position in response to detecting a deassertion of the detection signal from the sensor.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a door, the door configured to form a water-tight seal in a shut position;

a reception tray maintained in the housing in a storage position and slidably connected to the housing to extend to a reception position external the housing, the reception tray comprising a mesh base and a reception tray sensor configured to assert a detection signal in response to a delivery;

a proximity sensor configured to detect an unmanned vehicle that enters a proximity of the apparatus and assert a proximity signal in response thereto;

a transceiver configured to communicate with a management server that is separate from the apparatus in response to detecting receipt of a package from the unmanned vehicle and assertion of the detection signal by the reception tray sensor; and

a controller configured to assert a door open actuation signal to transition the door from the shut position to an open position in response to the assertion of the proximity signal, a tray actuation signal to transition the reception tray to the reception position after the door reaches the open position, and a reception signal in response to detecting the receipt of the package and the assertion of the detection signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the transceiver is further configured to communicate a challenge to the unmanned vehicle in response to the proximity signal being asserted and receive a response to the challenge from the unmanned vehicle, the response comprising a positive response for a package delivery and a negative response for no delivery, and

the controller is further configured to assert the door open actuation signal based on the response being the positive response.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the transceiver is further configured to receive a package delivery signal from the unmanned vehicle in response to delivery of the package, and

the controller is further configured to delay transmitting the reception signal to the management server until both the detecting the receipt of the package and receipt of the package delivery signal occur.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

transmit a notification to a user device associated with, and separate from, the apparatus in response to the detecting the receipt of the package.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reception tray and the door are combined together such that an actuator coupled to the reception tray actuates the reception tray and the door, and the door open actuation signal and tray actuation signal comprise a single actuation signal to transition the combined reception tray and door to the reception position.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a solar panel attached to the housing and configured to provide power to a battery associated with the housing;

a pickup pad located in a first recess of an upper portion of the housing; and

a stand housing located in a second recess of a lower portion of the housing, the stand housing configured to couple with a stand to support the housing above a surface.