Location marker with retroreflectors

• US 10,032,384 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyd, Scott Patrick, Cui, Chengwu, Graber, Sarah, O'Brien, Barry James, Watson, Joshua John, Wilcox, Scott Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/250,778
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340321, 340331, 34053913, 3408154, 340948, 340953, 244114 R, 362183, 362237, 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/15 Aircraft landing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A location marker that may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may include a plurality of retroreflectors that may form a pattern readable by a vehicle or other device. The pattern may be read to extract an identifier of a location, such as an address or an identifier of a person. A global positioning system (GPS) device may transmit a general location of the location marker to the vehicle, while the location marker may provide a unique visual location identifier to a device within visual range of the location marker. In some embodiments, the location marker may also include lights that may be individually sequenced on and off at different times to create a time domain signal sequence that is readable by the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing to form a three-dimensional shape, the housing including a base; and

a plurality of retroreflectors arranged about the housing, one or more first retroreflectors of the plurality of retroreflectors arranged along a first plane to form a first three-dimensional pattern and one or more second retroreflectors of the plurality of retroreflectors arranged along a second plane to form a second three-dimensional pattern, the first three-dimensional pattern readable by a vehicle that is in view of the one or more first retroreflectors to communicate at least a location identifier to the vehicle.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the location identifier includes an address of a delivery location.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the location identifier is one of a group of different location identifiers, the location identifier being associated with a person.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more first retroreflectors is arranged as a grid, the first three-dimensional pattern being formed on the grid based on placement of individual retroreflectors on the grid.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lights arranged about the first plane, the plurality of lights under control of a light controller, and wherein the light controller selectively causes the plurality of lights to turn on and off to form a time domain signal sequence.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second three-dimensional pattern is different from the first three-dimensional pattern.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second three-dimensional pattern includes the first three-dimensional pattern.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of retroreflectors further comprises one or more third retroreflectors of the plurality of retroreflectors arranged along a third plane to form a third three-dimensional pattern.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plane includes at least one hood that physically blocks a view of the one or more first retroreflectors from a first angle of view while allowing view of the one or more first retroreflectors from a second angle of view.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of retroreflectors is movable relative to the housing.

12. A location marker comprising:

a housing including a base and a surface opposite the base; and

a plurality of retroreflectors arranged about the surface to form a pattern, the pattern readable by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is in view of the plurality of retroreflectors to communicate a location identifier to the UAV, wherein;

at least one of the plurality of retroreflectors is movable relative to the housing, and

an arrangement of the plurality of retroreflectors further provides directionality information to the UAV.

13. The location marker as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of retroreflectors is arranged as a grid, the pattern being formed on the grid based on placement of individual retroreflectors on the grid.

14. The location marker as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of retroreflectors reflect light at less than a 360-degree angle around the location marker.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing to form a three-dimensional shape, the housing including a base; and

a plurality of retroreflectors, one or more first retroreflectors of the plurality of retroreflectors arranged along a first plane that form a first three-dimensional pattern and one or more second retroreflectors of the plurality of retroreflectors arranged along a second plane that form a second three-dimensional pattern, the first three-dimensional pattern readable by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is in view of the first three-dimensional pattern to communicate specific information to the UAV to assist the UAV in successfully depositing a package.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the specific information includes a presence of one or more obstacles.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the specific information includes information associated with at least one of a preferred approach path or a preferred departure path in relation to the housing.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the specific information includes information on where to deposit the package.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of lights arranged about the first plane; and

a light controller to control operation of the plurality of lights, the light controller selectively causing the plurality of lights to turn on and off to form a time domain signal sequence.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a display area on the housing to communicate information to at least one of a UAV or a person.