Item delivery with an aerial vehicle

• US 10,287,015 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Navot, Amir, Ben-Israel, Elad
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US15/822,005
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Described is a system and method for utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”) to facilitate delivery of ordered items to user specified delivery destinations. In one implementation, the UAV may be configured as a one-way UAV that is designed to transport ordered items to the user specified delivery destination but not return to a materials handling facility under its own power. Instead, the one-way UAV may remain at the delivery destination for later retrieval by a retrieval unit (e.g., truck).

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a payload container;

a plurality of propellers, each propeller coupled to one of a plurality of motors;

a power module coupled to the payload container and to the plurality of motors, wherein the power module is configured to provide power to the plurality of motors to aerially transport an item from a materials handling facility to a delivery destination;

a deactivation component configured to disable operability of the aerial vehicle responsive to completion of aerial navigation to the delivery destination; and

wherein at least a portion of the aerial vehicle is manufactured from a material that is recyclable or biodegradable.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the item weighs less than one pound.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory receiver configured to receive a memory module that includes navigation instructions; and

wherein the item is the memory module and the memory module includes navigation instructions for aerially navigating the aerial vehicle from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the aerial vehicle is configured to follow the navigation instructions to aerially navigate from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination, without receiving additional instructions.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the navigation instructions are configured to be removed from memory module before the memory module is removed from the memory receiver of the aerial vehicle.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the item is configured to be ordered, via an electronic commerce system, by a user;

the delivery destination is specified by the user;

the payload container is a cavity having four sides and a base; and

the payload container is configured to at least receive the item.

7. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power module is configured to provide power that is sufficient to enable aerial transport of the item only from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination and not back to the materials handling facility from the delivery destination.

8. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is a one-way aerial vehicle that is at least one of recyclable, compostable, consumable, or disposable upon completion of an aerial transport of the item.

9. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

one or more propulsion mechanisms configured to propel the aerial vehicle;

a power module coupled to at least one of the one or more propulsion mechanisms, wherein the power module is configured to provide power to transport an item from a materials handling facility to a delivery destination;

a deactivation component configured to disable the one or more propulsion mechanisms responsive to arrival of the aerial vehicle at the delivery destination; and

a payload container that is configured to at least receive the item.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

the item is configured to be ordered, via an electronic commerce system, by a user; and

the delivery destination is specified by the user.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a memory receiver that is configured to receive a memory module, the memory module including navigation instructions for aerially navigating the aerial vehicle from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination; and

wherein the navigation instructions are configured to be deleted from the memory module before the memory module may be removed from the memory receiver of the aerial vehicle.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a control system that is configured to at least cause the deactivation component to disable operability of the aerial vehicle responsive to completion of navigation by the aerial vehicle to the delivery destination.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the control system is further configured to at least determine that the aerial vehicle has completed aerial navigation to the delivery destination by determining that the aerial vehicle has landed at the delivery destination.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein the power module is configured to provide power that is sufficient to enable aerial transport of the item only from the materials handling facility to the delivery destination and not back to the materials handling facility from the delivery destination.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein the deactivation component includes a switch that is configured to selectively disconnect the power module from the one or more propulsion mechanisms.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

an image capture device that is configured to capture an image of a space around the aerial vehicle; and

a communications system that is configured to at least send the image to an inventory management system.

17. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of propulsion mechanisms configured to propel the aerial vehicle;

a power module coupled to the plurality of propulsion mechanisms, wherein the power module is configured to provide power to transport an item from a materials handling facility to a delivery destination;

a payload container that includes a lid;

a plurality of radial arms extending away from the payload container;

wherein;

the payload container is configured to at least receive the item;

the lid includes at least a portion of a control system; and

each of the propulsion mechanisms is coupled to a respective one of the radial arms;

and

a deactivation component configured to disable the plurality of propulsion mechanisms responsive to arrival of the aerial vehicle at the delivery destination.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the item is configured to be ordered, via an electronic commerce system, by a user; and

the delivery destination is specified by the user.

19. The aerial vehicle of claim 17,

wherein the control system is configured to at least cause a signal to be transmitted from the aerial vehicle responsive to opening of the lid of the payload container to confirm a delivery of the item.

20. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, wherein the control system is configured to at least cause the deactivation component to disable one or more of the plurality of propulsion mechanisms responsive to completion of a navigation by the aerial vehicle to the delivery destination.