Dispenser for unmanned aerial vehicles, platforms and systems

• US 10,377,489 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angad Singh Sawhney
• Original Assignee: Angad Singh Sawhney
• Inventors: Sawhney, Angad Singh, Suri, Manan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US15/650,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20180016007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/10 Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/14 Absorbing landing shocks
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• 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: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

A device for transporting two or more articles to two or more locations comprising:

• • one or more holding units for carrying the two or more articles
  • one or more orifices for loading and/or delivering the articles
  • a controlling unit for directing the movement and operations of the device
  • a flying attachment for transporting the device through air.

Claims

1. A device for transporting two or more articles to two or more locations comprising:

one or more holding units configured to carry the two or more articles;

one or more orifices configured to load or deliver the articles;

a controlling unit configured to direct the movement and operations of the device;

a flying attachment configured to transport the device through air; and

a panel configured to open to a predetermined angle, wherein the panel is a flat surface having a predefined thickness.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is an unmanned air borne vehicle or drone.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more orifices is at each holding unit for loading or delivering the articles it carries.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel is configured to interface with a mailbox or a landing point.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel is placed under the one or more holding units and extends across an entire length or breadth of the device.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a transceiver unit to communicate with one or more external systems.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more orifice controllers,

wherein the one or more orifices are a plurality of orifices,

wherein the one or more holding units are a plurality of holding units, each of the holding units being configured to hold one of the two or more articles from being dropped out of a respective orifice, and

wherein the one or more orifice controllers are configured to individually open, for delivering the respective article, each of the orifices of each of the holding units based on the device having reached a respective delivery address.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more sensors to sense one or more parameters of the device or the articles inside it or the surroundings.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors is for detecting contraband or explosives.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors is for detecting whether the one or more holding units is empty.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors is for reading the pickup or drop addresses of the two or more articles.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two or more holding units are stacked vertically, horizontally or diagonally, either attached to one another or mounted individually onto a hollow frame.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a memory unit configured to store data or predefined instructions for the device.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said data comprises addresses or coordinates of the locations where the articles from the holding units need to be delivered.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a media capturing unit to capture one or more media at the one or more locations.

16. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the memory unit stores a captured image or video of the locations to which at least one of the articles is transported, the captured image or video being used to enhance accuracy of future article transportations to the same location.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is attached to an aircraft module for airborne movement.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of the device is remotely piloted or the device is autonomous or semi-autonomous.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding unit is a lever or a compartment.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding unit can be controllably manipulated.

21. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articles are suspended from the holding unit through electronic, mechanical or magnetized locks.

22. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more holding units is capable of independent flight.

23. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding units are configured to detach from one another and fly in different directions and then later reattach again, or independently return to a base station.

24. A method for transporting two or more articles to two or more locations by a delivery device, comprising the steps of:

Retrieving the pickup or delivery addresses or coordinates of the locations of the articles;

Holding the articles for delivery;

Determining a flight plan covering the locations;

Determining if the locations for delivery or pick up have been reached; and

Activating one or more holding units for delivering the articles or receiving the articles for delivery or pickup, the delivery or reception of the articles being performed by using a panel configured to open to a predetermined angle, wherein the panel is a flat surface having a predefined thickness.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of determining the altitude at which the delivery device will fly at one or more points in the flight plan or at which it is to drop or pick up the articles.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the steps of receiving changes to update a flight plan or one or more pickup or delivery locations during the course of flight or after the articles have been picked up or delivered.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the flight of the device is monitored or controlled.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of sending one or more notifications comprising estimated delivery time or details related to the flight path.

29. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of determining if the location for delivery or pickup has been reached is based on GPS coordinates, which correspond to a stored address, and

wherein, responsive to the determination that the location has been reached, an orifice of a respective holding unit is activated such that one of the articles is delivered from the delivery device or loaded into the delivery device.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of automatically dispensing or allowing manual retrieval of the two or more articles.

31. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of activating comprises opening the one or more holding units for delivery or access or pickup wherein the holding units contain or are to contain the desired articles.

32. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of lowering the one or more holding units for delivery or access or pick up wherein the holding units contain or are to contain the desired articles.

33. A method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of dispensing the articles using a spring coil by pushing the articles out from the holding units onto a landing surface.

34. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of dispensing an article by ejecting it onto the panel and/or lowering it onto an elevator system to reach the delivery location.

35. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of delivering the articles by ejecting them onto a conveyor system to reach the delivery locations.

36. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of issuing one or more messages pertaining to the pickup or delivery of the two or more articles.

37. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of conveying an estimated arrival time of the articles at the delivery locations.

38. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of receiving one or more requests of delivery or pickup of the articles based on an estimated arrival time or location of the delivery devices.

39. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising the step of lowering a detachable container located at the one or more holding units from a predetermined height to receive the articles in the container.

40. A method for moving an article within a device to deliver it at a location comprising the steps of:

Activating a holding unit presently holding the article to push the article out;

Receiving the article at another holding unit placed near the holding unit; and

Delivering the article at the location by using a panel configured to open to a predetermined angle, when the article reaches the other holding unit or a desired holding unit, wherein the panel is a flat surface having a predefined thickness.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the holding unit comprises a plurality of levers, and wherein the article slides across the plurality of levers, the plurality of levers being angled at one or more predetermined angles to enable the article to slide downwards.

42. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the device has one or more sensors to detect an article moving through it.