System and method for controlling drone delivery or pick up during a delivery or pick up phase of drone operation

• US 10,163,177 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emmett Farris, William F. Mcgee II
• Original Assignee: Emmett Farris, William F. Mcgee II
• Inventors: Farris, Emmett, McGee, II, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US14/814,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20160033966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 701 15
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/146 the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/122 Parts, details, or accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, devices for leaving messages A47G29/1201 - A47G29/1218 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/30 Accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, means for leaving messages
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/66 for retrieving parcels
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system including a landing location where a drone at least one of delivers and acquires a parcel, and a homing device to interact with the drone to guide the drone to the landing location independent of interaction from another source. The homing device guides the drone during the landing phase of a flight plan. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a landing location for a drone; and

a homing device configured to;

broadcast a beacon signal capable of being received by the drone when the drone is in proximity to the landing location, independent of whether the drone is in communication with another source and independent of whether the drone has sent a message to the homing device,

if there is a verification signal from the drone, in response to the drone detecting the beacon signal, indicating that the drone is authorized to communicate with the homing device, then in response to the verification signal, provide guidance data to the drone while the drone is in proximity to the landing location, independent of whether the drone remains in communication with the another source, and

if there is no verification signal from the drone, then take no action with respect to the drone.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the homing device is formed integral to the landing location.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the landing location comprises a container configured to receive a package.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the container comprises a transportation subsystem configured to move the container from a first geographic area to an alternative landing location in a second geographic area upon receipt of a command from the homing device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first path the drone will take to reach the landing location and commands the container to move from the first geographic area to the second geographic area to create a second path for the drone to reach the alternative landing location when the homing device determines that the first path is not suitable for the drone.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the container comprises a locking mechanism to restrict access into the container to an authenticated drone and a user of the container.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the landing location comprises a landing pad.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the landing pad comprises a transportation subsystem configured to move the landing pad from a first geographic area to an alternative landing location in a second geographic area upon receipt of a command from the homing device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the homing-device further comprises a navigator that comprises at least one navigation subsystem to provide navigation commands to the drone.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the homing device further communicates with a communication device of at least one of a recipient of a package and a sender of the package to provide delivery status.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a mission of the drone is to at least one of deliver and acquire a package.

12. A system comprising a homing device configured to:

broadcast a beacon signal capable of being received by a drone, independent of whether the homing device and the drone are positioned in a line of sight relative to each other and independent of whether the drone has sent a message to the homing device;

if there is a verification signal from the drone, if there is a verification signal from the drone indicating that the drone, in response to the drone detecting the beacon signal, is authorized to communicate with the homing device, then in response to the verification signal, provide guidance data to the drone; and

if there is no verification signal from the drone, take no action with respect to the drone.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a landing location and wherein the homing device is in proximity to the landing location.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the landing location comprises at least one of a container configured to receive a package and a landing pad.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the container and the landing pad comprises a transportation subsystem to move the at least one of the container and the landing pad from a current geographic area to another geographic area.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first path of the drone and commands the at least one of the container and the landing pad to move from the current geographic area to the another geographic area to create a second path for the drone to reach the at least one of the container and the landing pad.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein a mission of the drone is to at least one of deliver and acquire a package.

18. A method comprising:

detecting, by a homing device, a drone when the drone is within proximity of a landing location and the drone is about to transition to a landing phase of a flight plan;

broadcasting a beacon signal, by the homing device, independent of whether the homing device has received a signal from the drone;

determining, by the homing device, whether the drone is authorized to land at the landing location based on a signal received from a drone in response to the drone receiving the beacon signal; and

if the drone is authorized to land at the landing location and in response to receiving a verification signal indicating that the drone is authorized to communicate with the homing device, guiding, by the homing device, the drone to the landing location independent of whether the drone remains in communication with another source.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising determining, by the homing device, whether a designated path to be taken by the drone to the landing location is acceptable.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising locating, by the homing device, an auxiliary geographic landing location and directing, by the homing device, the drone to the auxiliary geographic landing location when the designated path is determined to be unacceptable.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising commanding, by the homing device, the landing location to move to an auxiliary geographic location and directing, by the homing device, the drone to the auxiliary geographic location when the designated path is determined to be unacceptable.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising communicating, by the homing device, with at least one of a recipient of a package and a sender of the package to provide delivery status of the package at the landing location.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the guiding step is one of guiding the drone to deliver or acquire a package.

24. A system comprising a homing device configured to initiate interaction with a drone by broadcasting a beacon signal and provide, in response to receiving a verification signal from the drone in response to the drone detecting the beacon signal indicating that the drone is authorized to communicate with the homing device, guidance data to the drone to a landing location through interaction between the drone and the homing device while the drone remains in contact with another source.

25. The system according to claim 24, further comprising a landing location where the drone lands and takes off.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the landing location comprises one of a container configured to receive a package and a landing pad.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the one of the container and the landing pad comprises a transportation subsystem to move the one of the container and the landing pad to an alternative geographic location.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first flight path of the drone and commands the landing location to move from a current geographic position to another geographic position to create a second flight path for the drone to reach an alternative landing location.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein a mission of the drone is to at least one of deliver and acquire a package.