Secure delivery via unmanned vehicles

• US 10,055,915 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2018
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Inventors: Rephlo, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US15/904,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20180225897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• Field of Search: 340 52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for on-demand delivery of a payload by an unmanned vehicle. An unmanned vehicle may comprise a chamber configured to house a payload and adjust a payload state. The payload state may be adjusted based on detection of a tampering event. An unmanned vehicle may also comprise an authentication system configured to allow access to the payload.

Claims

1. A method for secure delivery via an unmanned vehicle, the method comprising:

creating a user profile;

receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload, wherein the request is associated with the user profile;

transmitting, to the unmanned vehicle, instructions to;

travel to a delivery destination with the payload;

initiate an interaction with a user associated with the user profile;

conduct an authentication process comprising verifying information provided by the user with the information in the user profile associated with the request; and

grant access to the payload following the verification process.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring travel of the unmanned vehicle, and;

sending command signals to the unmanned vehicle based on a status of the unmanned vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the instructions comprises:

selecting the unmanned vehicle from among a plurality of unmanned vehicles based at least on an estimated delivery speed before transmitting the instructions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for on-demand delivery further comprises a request for location-tracking delivery;

and the delivery destination is based on location-tracking delivery.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, before delivery of the payload, an updated request; and

transmitting, to the unmanned vehicle, instructions to travel to an updated delivery destination based on the updated request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions to initiate an interaction comprises instructions to:

transmit, to a user device associated with the request, an alert when the unmanned vehicle is near the delivery location.

7. The method of claim 6, the instructions to initiate an interaction further comprising instructions to:

transmit, to a user device associated with the request, an alert providing a new delivery destination if the unmanned vehicle determines that the specified delivery destination is not available.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication process further comprises confirming the verification with a control center.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload is loaded into the unmanned vehicle prior to receiving the request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises a personal identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises biometric data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, prior to transmitting the instructions, that the payload is located at a financial institution; and

transmitting, to the financial institution, request data for the payload.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the unmanned vehicle, an indication that a malfunction occurred; and

transmitting, to the unmanned vehicle, instructions to travel to a specified location.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a tampering event has occurred; and

transmitting, to the unmanned vehicle, instructions to perform at least one of adjusting a payload state, self-destructing, or taking evasive measures.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining that a tampering event has occurred is based on a received status from the unmanned vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining that a tampering event has occurred is based on a loss of communication between a control center and the unmanned vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein determining that a tampering event has occurred is based on a predetermined number of failed attempts to conduct the authentication process.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting a payload state comprises destroying the payload.

19. A system for secure delivery via an unmanned vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory for storing instructions for secure delivery via unmanned vehicles;

a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to;

create a user profile;

receive a request for on-demand delivery of a payload, wherein the request is associated with the user profile;

transmit, to an unmanned vehicle, instructions to;

travel to a delivery destination with the payload;

initiate an interaction with a user associated with the user profile;

conduct an authentication process comprising verifying information provided by the user with the information in the user profile associated with the request; and

grant access to the payload following the authentication process.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored instructions, which when executed, cause at least one processor to perform operations for secure delivery via an unmanned vehicle comprising:

creating a user profile;

receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload, wherein the request is associated with the user profile;

transmitting, to an unmanned vehicle, instructions to;

travel to a delivery destination with the payload;

initiate an interaction with a user associated with the user profile;

conduct an authentication process comprising verifying user information provided by the user with the information in the user profile associated with the request; and

grant access to the chamber containing the loaded payload following the authentication process.