Secure delivery via unmanned vehicles

• US 10,121,296 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• 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:
  US16/035,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20180322717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 116 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. An unmanned vehicle for secure delivery configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving instructions to travel to a delivery destination with a payload, the instructions based on a request for on-demand delivery associated with a user profile;

traveling to the delivery destination with the payload;

initiating an interaction with a person;

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

granting access to the payload following the verification process.

2. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein verifying the input comprises:

transmitting, to a remote control center, a verification request comprising information associated with the input; and

receiving, from the remote control center, a notification verifying the input.

3. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein initiating an interaction comprises:

determining that a person has approached the unmanned vehicle; and

prompting the person to enter personal information.

4. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 3, wherein the determining is based on at least one of a camera input, a motion sensor input, a transaction card swipe, a fingerprint scan, a voice input, or a biometric input.

5. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 3, wherein the prompting comprises at least one of a prompt to enter information using an interface, a prompt to swipe a transaction card, a prompt to position the user for a photograph, a prompt to speak into a microphone, or a prompt to scan a fingerprint.

6. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein verifying the input comprises:

determining a match percentage between the input and the user profile; and

verifying a user identity based on the match percentage and a predetermined match threshold.

7. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein verifying the input comprises:

transmitting the input to a control center; and

receiving, from the control center, a verification of a user identity based on a match percentage and a predetermined match threshold.

8. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein the person is not physically located near the unmanned vehicle, and granting access comprises granting access to another person.

9. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein granting access is based on a proximity detection of a device.

10. The unmanned vehicle of claim 9, wherein the device is one of a personal computer, a vehicle computer, a mobile device, a smart-watch, smart-spectacles, a tablet, a thin client, a wearable device, a chip embedded in clothing, a personal vehicle, or an implanted chip.

11. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

transmitting, to a control center, a status while traveling to the delivery destination.

12. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 11,

wherein the transmitting causes the control center to detect a tampering event based on the status, and

wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the control center, updated instruction to travel to a new destination; and

traveling to the new destination.

13. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 11, wherein the status comprises at least one of a location, a speed, a temperature, an indicator of a tampering event, an altitude, a payload state, or an indicator of a malfunction.

14. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, the operations further comprising adjusting the payload state.

15. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 14, wherein adjusting the payload state comprises marking the payload.

16. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

detecting a tampering event based on at least one of detecting an attempt to pry open a chamber, detecting an attempt to damage the unmanned vehicle, or failing authentication a predetermined number of times; and

performing at least one of adjusting a payload state, sending an alert to a control center, or traveling to a new destination.

17. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

performing at least one of dispensing cash, printing a check, printing a document, or producing a transaction card.

18. The unmanned vehicle for secure delivery of claim 1, wherein:

the request further comprises a request for location-tracking delivery; and

the delivery destination is based on the location of a device.

19. A method for secure delivery by an unmanned vehicle comprising:

receiving, by the unmanned vehicle, instructions to travel to a delivery destination with a payload, the instructions based on a request associated with a user profile;

traveling, by the unmanned vehicle, to the delivery destination with the payload;

initiating, by the unmanned vehicle, an interaction with a person;

conducting, by the unmanned vehicle, an authentication process comprising verifying an input provided by the person with information in the user profile associated with the request; and

granting, by the unmanned vehicle, access to the payload following the verification process.

20. A system for secure delivery by an unmanned vehicle 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;

receive a payload from a loading location; and

travel to the location of another vehicle with the payload;

initiate an interaction with a component of the other vehicle;

dock on the other vehicle;

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

deliver the payload to another vehicle following the authentication process.