Aerial package delivery system

• US 10,131,437 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanlon, Jon T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanderson, Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US15/499,601
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/002 Braking propellers, e.g. for measuring the power output of an engine
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/22 Load suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/44 forming part of load
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/60 by static line
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• 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: B64U 2101/69 the UAVs provided with means for airdropping goods, e.g. deploying a parachute during descent
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4233 Cards, coupons, labels or the like formed separately from the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering packages via aerial vehicles are disclosed. The system can comprise a label that includes a parachute to enable the packages to be dropped from the aerial vehicle, yet land at the package'"'"'s destination without damage. The system can include a self-adhesive backing, a plurality of parachute cords, a parachute, and a breakaway cover. The parachute cords can include a shock absorber to reduce the shock on the package of the parachute opening. The parachute and/or the breakaway cover can include graphics to provide address, velocity, or spin information for the package. The parachute cords can include a harness to separate the cords and reduce tangling of the cords and spinning of the parachute canopy with respect to the package.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a package to deliver to a delivery location, the package including a shipping label parachute system comprising a backing sheet, a parachute canopy, a plurality of parachute cords, and a transparent breakaway cover;

receiving, from a central control at the UAV, the delivery location at an onboard navigation of the UAV;

determining, with the onboard navigation, that the UAV has arrived at the delivery location;

activating a sensor system on the UAV to record at least a portion of a descent of the package from the UAV to a ground level; and

releasing the package from the UAV;

wherein the parachute canopy comprises one or more identifying features printed on the parachute canopy; and

wherein at least one of the one or more identifying features is visible through the transparent breakaway cover in a stowed position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level at the delivery location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level comprises:

detecting, with the sensor system, a distance from the UAV to the package;

detecting, with the sensor system, an altitude of the UAV above the ground level; and

determining, with a processor on the UAV, that the distance from the UAV to the package corresponds to the altitude of the UAV.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level comprises:

capturing, with a camera on the UAV, an image of the package at the ground level;

sending, with a transceiver on the UAV, the image to the central control; and

receiving, with the transceiver on the UAV, a signal from the central control indicating that the package is on the ground level.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level comprises determining that a velocity of the package is zero.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the sensor system, that the UAV is at, or above, a predetermined height prior to releasing the package from the UAV.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, with a transceiver on the UAV, the predetermined height from the central control;

wherein the predetermined height is calculated, at the central control, based at least in part on a size of a parachute canopy of the shipping label parachute system and a weight of the package.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, with the sensor system, a distance from the UAV to the package;

detecting, with the sensor system, an altitude of the UAV above the ground level;

determining, with a processor on the UAV, that the distance from the UAV to the package is smaller than the altitude of the UAV; and

sending, with a transceiver on the UAV, a signal to the central control indicating that the package did not reach the ground level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more identifying features comprise one or more of a quick response (QR) code, bar code, pattern, warning label, or address label.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a package to deliver to a delivery location, the package including a shipping label parachute system comprising a backing sheet, a parachute canopy, a plurality of parachute cords, and a breakaway cover;

receiving, from a central control at the UAV, the delivery location at an onboard navigation of the UAV;

determining, with the onboard navigation, that the UAV has arrived at the delivery location;

activating a sensor system on the UAV to record at least a portion of a descent of the package from the UAV to a ground level; and

releasing the package from the UAV;

wherein the parachute canopy comprises one or more patterns to enable the sensor system to detect at least one of a spin rate or a descent rate of the package.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level at the delivery location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level comprises determining, with the sensor system, that the parachute canopy is lying slack on the ground.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, with the sensor system, a distance from the UAV to the package;

detecting, with the sensor system, an altitude of the UAV above the ground level;

determining, with a processor on the UAV, that the distance from the UAV to the package is less than the altitude of the UAV above the ground level; and

sending, from the UAV to the central control, a message that the package is still above ground level.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, with the sensor system, that the package has landed in an upright position.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining that the package has landed in an upright position comprises determining that the backing sheet is visible by the sensor system.

16. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a transceiver to send and receive at least one of wired transmissions or wireless transmissions;

an onboard navigation system;

a processor to enable the UAV to receive instructions from a central control and travel from a pick-up location to a delivery location;

a propulsion system to enable the UAV to travel from the pick-up location to the delivery location; and

memory including computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to;

receive, at the UAV, a package to deliver to the delivery location, the package including a shipping label parachute system comprising a parachute canopy, a plurality of parachute cords, and a breakaway cover;

receive, from the central control at the transceiver, the delivery location;

navigate, with the onboard navigation system and the propulsion system, from the pick-up location to the delivery location;

determine, with the onboard navigation system, that the UAV has arrived at the delivery location;

activate a sensor system on the UAV to record at least a portion of a descent of the package from the UAV to a ground level; and

release the package from the UAV;

wherein the parachute canopy comprises one or more patterns to enable the sensor system to detect at least one of a spin rate or a descent rate of the package.

17. The UAV of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions further causing the processor to:

determine, with the sensor system, that the package is on the ground level at the delivery location.

18. The UAV of claim 17, wherein determining that the package is on the ground level comprises determining, with the sensor system, that a velocity of the package is zero.

19. The UAV of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions further causing the processor to:

detect, with the sensor system, a distance from the UAV to the package;

detect, with the sensor system, an altitude of the UAV above the ground level;

determine, with the processor, that the distance from the UAV to the package is less than the altitude of the UAV above the ground level; and

send, with the transceiver, a message to the central control that the package is still above ground level.

20. The UAV of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions further causing the processor to:

detect, with the sensor system, a distance from the UAV to the package;

detect, with the sensor system, an altitude of the UAV above the ground level;

determine, with the processor, that the distance from the UAV to the package is the same as the altitude of the UAV above the ground level; and

send, with the transceiver, a message to the central control that the package has been delivered.