Gust resistant location marker

• US 10,268,208 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hopwood Thomas, James Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/795,160
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 235375
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/14 Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk , or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles , i.e. food or large parcels
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods

Abstract

A location marker may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may be configured with folds and or apertures to provide aerodynamics that prevent or minimize movement of the location marker when subjected to moving air, such as wind or downwash created by the UAV. A location marker may be delivered to an address prior to a parcel delivery by a UAV, and may form a part of the packaging of a prior parcel delivery. Alternatively, a location marker may be delivered to an address electronically and printed and configured into a gust-resistant shape and placed in a suitable location to provide information to a UAV.

Claims

1. A portable location marker, comprising:

an upper generally flat top surface, the top surface being bounded by one or more edges defined by one or more lines of weakness;

a plurality of sidewalls extending downwardly from the one or more edges, wherein the one or more lines of weakness promote the plurality of sidewalls to be folded with respect to the top surface;

a plurality of apertures formed in the top surface, adjacent the one or more edges; and

an indicia on the top surface, the indicia readable by an unmanned aerial vehicle to provide at least information about a delivery location.

2. The portable location marker as in claim 1, wherein a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls extends from one of the edges in an obtuse angle measured between the top surface and the sidewall.

3. The portable location marker as in claim 1, wherein the portable location marker is delivered as an electronic computer file and is printed onto paper media along with instructions for configuring the location marker with the plurality of sidewalls and the plurality of apertures.

4. The portable location marker as in claim 1, further comprising a shipping container having a first side, the first side comprising the portable location marker that is removable from the shipping container.

5. The portable location marker as in claim 1, further comprising one or more shapes in the top surface defined by perforations through the portable location marker that facilitate the shapes being removed from the portable location marker to form the plurality of apertures.

6. The portable location marker as in claim 1, wherein the information about the delivery location comprises at least one of:

a location at the delivery location to deliver a parcel;

a waypoint to be used for navigation;

or

information about an obstruction proximate the delivery location.

7. The portable location marker as in claim 1, wherein the portable location marker is delivered with an instruction to deploy the portable location marker on a day during a time window.

8. A method, comprising:

providing an electronic file associated with a location marker associated with a delivery location, the electronic file comprising set-up instructions to print and configure the location marker by creating at least one of a fold or a hole in the location marker;

providing an instruction to deploy the location marker;

dispatching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the delivery location;

capturing, by the UAV, one or more images of the location marker, the location marker further comprising instructions for the UAV;

analyzing, by the UAV, the one or more images of the location marker to determine the instructions for the UAV; and

executing, by the UAV, the instructions for the UAV.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the instruction to deploy the location marker indicates a day and a time for deploying the location marker.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the instructions for the UAV include information that identifies the delivery location to the UAV.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the instructions for the UAV include a location at the delivery location to deliver a parcel.

12. The method as in claim 8, wherein the electronic file includes computer-readable instructions to operate a three-dimensional printer.

13. The method as in claim 8, wherein the electronic file includes image and text to print on at least one of an inkjet or laser printer.

14. A portable location marker, comprising:

one or more predefined lines to facilitate folding the portable location marker;

one or more shapes that define one or more apertures in the portable location marker once the shapes are removed; and

indicia on the portable location marker that provides instructions to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

15. The portable location marker as in claim 14, further comprising a shipping container having a first side, the first side comprising an outline defining an outer boundary of the portable location marker, the portable location marker being removable from the first side.

16. The portable location marker as in claim 15, wherein the shipping container comprises a corrugated box.

17. The portable location marker as in claim 14,

wherein the indicia on the portable location marker comprises one or more a first indicia identifying the portable location marker and further comprises a second indicia that provides delivery information to the UAV associated with a physical location.

18. The portable location marker as in claim 17, wherein the second indicia is affixed to the portable location marker.

19. The portable location marker as in claim 17, wherein the second indicia is provided as an electronic file that can be printed and affixed to the portable location marker.

20. The portable location marker as in claim 14, further comprising instructions on the portable location marker for configuring the portable location marker into a gust-resistant shape.

21. The portable location marker as in claim 14, wherein the one or more predefined lines comprise at least one line of weakness.