×

Delivering selected products with aerial drones

  • US 10,081,437 B2
  • Filed: 06/17/2016
  • Issued: 09/25/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A computer-implemented method of optimizing an operation of an aerial drone to transport a product to a customer, the computer-implemented method comprising:

  • receiving, by one or more processors, an online order for a product from a customer, wherein the product is initially stored in a warehouse;

    determining, by one or more processors, whether the customer is authorized to have the product delivered by an aerial drone, wherein the aerial drone has a predetermined travel range, and wherein the aerial drone has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as power sources for turning propellers on the aerial drone;

    in response to determining that the customer is authorized to have the product delivered by the aerial drone, identifying, by one or more processors, a weight, size, item type, and value of the product;

    determining, by one or more processors, whether the aerial drone is physically able to lift and transport the product having the identified weight, size, item type, and value while using the electric motor as the power system for the propellers on the aerial drone;

    retrieving, by one or more processors, a physical address of the customer;

    calculating, by one or more processors, a distance from the warehouse to the physical address of the customer;

    comparing, by one or more processors, a first cost of delivering the product using the aerial drone to a second cost of delivering the product using a ground-based mode of transportation;

    in response to the distance from the warehouse to the physical address of the customer being less than the predetermined travel range of the aerial drone, and in response to the first cost being less than the second cost, and in response to the aerial drone being physically able to lift and transport the product, assigning, by one or more processors, the aerial drone to deliver the product to the customer;

    coupling, via an electrically actuated retention device, the aerial drone to the product;

    launching, by a drone on-board computer on the aerial drone, the aerial drone with the product coupled to the aerial drone from the warehouse towards the physical address of the customer, wherein the electric motor is engaged to the propellers on the aerial drone;

    receiving, by the drone on-board computer, sensor readings from sensors on the aerial drone, wherein the sensor readings detect a change in flight conditions while the aerial drone is flying between the warehouse and the physical address of the customer; and

    in response to the sensors on the aerial drone detecting a change in the flight conditions while the aerial drone is flying between the warehouse and the physical address of the customer, disengaging, by the drone on-board computer, the electric motor from the propellers and engaging an internal combustion engine to the propellers.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×