Customized packaging for unmanned autonomous vehicle item delivery

• US 10,169,735 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lund, Benjamin, Taveira, Michael Franco, Pearce, Lael, Ceribelli, Marcelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US15/151,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/60 UAVs characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

Various embodiments enable delivering an item using an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) in response to receiving an electronic order for an item. Order parameters may be determined based on the electronic order identifying the item and details regarding delivery of the item. UAV components may be selected for operating the UAV based on UAV parameters meeting the order parameters. UAV-compliant packaging parameters may be determined for transporting the item carried by the UAV. Selected UAV-compliant packaging may enable the UAV to meet at least some of the order parameters and the UAV parameters. Assembly of the UAV may be coordinated to include the selected UAV components and selected UAV-compliant packaging with the item therein. The selected UAV-compliant packaging may meet the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters. The assembled UAV and packaging may be dispatched for delivering the item.

Claims

1. A method of delivering an item using an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV), comprising:

receiving, in a processor, an electronic order for an item;

determining, by the processor, order parameters based on the electronic order identifying the item and details regarding delivery of the item;

selecting, by the processor, UAV components for operating the UAV based on UAV parameters meeting the determined order parameters;

determining, by the processor, UAV-compliant packaging parameters for transporting the item carried by the UAV, wherein the UAV-compliant packaging parameters enable the UAV to meet at least some of the determined order parameters and the UAV parameters;

coordinating, by the processor, assembly of the UAV including the selected UAV components and selected UAV-compliant packaging with the item therein, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters; and

dispatching the assembled UAV for delivering the item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining dimensions of the item, wherein the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters are based on the determined dimensions of the item.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

shaping the selected UAV-compliant packaging to conform to the determined dimensions of the item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating assembly of the UAV includes adjusting a packaging structure of the selected UAV-compliant packaging.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the packaging structure further comprises:

applying an altering agent to a material portion of the packaging structure, wherein the altering agent is selected from a group consisting of electromagnetic energy, temperature, mechanical energy, electrical energy, magnetic energy, or chemical energy.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the packaging structure further comprises:

applying an altering agent to a material portion of the packaging structure; and

pressing the item into the material portion to conform the packaging structure to a shape of the item.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the packaging structure further comprises:

changing a shape of a material forming the selected UAV-compliant packaging, wherein the material is configured to hold the changed shape of the material forming the selected UAV-compliant packaging.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging is formed at least in part using three-dimensional (3D) printing methods.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received electronic order includes more than one item, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging is selected to contain the more than one item included in the received electronic order.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging includes UAV elements selected from a group consisting of circuit components and mating elements for securing the selected UAV-compliant packaging to one or more UAV components.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging includes at least one of the selected UAV components.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in the processor, whether the item includes pre-supplied packaging; and

determining, in the processor, whether the pre-supplied packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters in response to determining the item includes the pre-supplied packaging, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging comprises the pre-supplied packaging in lieu of added packaging elements in response to determining the pre-supplied packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging is selected to protect the item from a predetermined environment associated with the delivery of the item.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging is selected to handle at least one selected mode of travel and a travel route.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging is formed at least partially from a frozen liquid.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined order parameters are selected from a group consisting of a timing of delivery, when the electronic order was placed, where the electronic order was placed, when delivery of the item is expected, when delivery of the item is guaranteed, a location of delivery, a travel route for delivery, current weather conditions, predicted weather conditions, travel time, a perishability of the item, a required item protection, one or more types of packaging, a desired item protection, a monetary value of the item, and a cost to deliver the item.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a destination for delivery of the item in the received electronic order transports the item between commonly owned or controlled locations.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting UAV components includes manufacturing or assembling parts to form at least one of the selected UAV components.

19. A delivery system for delivering an item using an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a computing device maintaining an electronic order for an item; and

one or more processors coupled to the computing device, the one or more processors configured to;

receive the electronic order;

determine order parameters based on the electronic order identifying the item and details regarding delivery of the item;

select UAV components for operating the UAV based on UAV parameters meeting the order parameters;

determine UAV-compliant packaging parameters for transporting the item carried by the UAV, wherein the UAV-compliant packaging parameters enable the UAV to meet at least some of the order parameters and the UAV parameters;

coordinate assembly of the UAV including the selected UAV components and selected UAV-compliant packaging with the item therein, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters; and

dispatch the assembled UAV and packaging for delivering the item.

20. The delivery system of claim 19, further comprising:

a form configured to shape packaging, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine dimensions of the item, wherein the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters are based on the determined dimensions of the item.

21. The delivery system of claim 20, wherein the form is configure to shape the selected UAV-compliant packaging to conform to the determined dimensions of the item.

22. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to assemble the UAV by adjusting a packaging structure of the selected UAV-compliant packaging to meet flight specifications for the UAV.

23. The delivery system of claim 19, further comprising:

a three-dimensional (3D) printer coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configure to form the selected UAV-compliant packaging at least in part using 3D printer.

24. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the UAV-compliant packaging parameters to contain more than one item when more than one item is included in the received electronic order.

25. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine whether the item includes pre-supplied packaging; and

determine whether the pre-supplied packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters in response to determining the item includes the pre-supplied packaging,

wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging comprises the pre-supplied packaging in lieu of added packaging elements in response to determining the pre-supplied packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters.

26. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select the selected UAV-compliant packaging for transporting the item carried by the UAV based on a material property of the selected UAV-compliant packaging.

27. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the order parameters are selected from a group consisting of a timing of delivery, when the electronic order was placed, when delivery of the item is expected, when delivery of the item is guaranteed, a location of delivery, a travel route for delivery, current weather conditions, predicted weather conditions, travel time, a perishability of the item, a required item protection, one or more types of packaging, a desired item protection, a monetary value of the item, and a cost to deliver the item.

28. The delivery system of claim 19, wherein the selected UAV components are manufactured or assembled parts to form at least one of the selected UAV components in response to the order parameters being determined.

29. A delivery system for delivering an item using an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV), comprising:

means for receiving an electronic order for an item;

means for determining order parameters based on the electronic order identifying the item and details regarding delivery of the item;

means for selecting UAV components for operating the UAV based on UAV parameters meeting the determined order parameters;

means for determining UAV-compliant packaging parameters for transporting the item carried by the UAV, wherein the UAV-compliant packaging parameters enable the UAV to meet at least some of the determined order parameters and the UAV parameters;

means for coordinating assembly of the UAV including the selected UAV components and selected UAV-compliant packaging with the item therein, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters; and

means for dispatching the assembled UAV and packaging for delivering the item.

30. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an electronic order for an item;

determining order parameters based on the electronic order identifying the item and details regarding delivery of the item;

selecting UAV components for operating the UAV based on UAV parameters meeting the determined order parameters;

determining UAV-compliant packaging parameters for transporting the item carried by the UAV, wherein the UAV-compliant packaging parameters enable the UAV to meet at least some of the determined order parameters and the UAV parameters;

coordinating assembly of the UAV including the selected UAV components and selected UAV-compliant packaging with the item therein, wherein the selected UAV-compliant packaging meets the determined UAV-compliant packaging parameters; and

dispatching the assembled UAV and packaging for delivering the item.