Mobile base utilizing automated aerial vehicles for delivering items

• US 10,457,392 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, Ethan Zane, Kalyan, Atishkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/489,538
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• 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 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/29 Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/93 for use on a land or nautical vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4182 manipulators and conveyor only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

A mobile base is provided that travels through delivery areas and utilizes associated transportation units (e.g., automated aerial vehicles) for delivering items from the mobile base to delivery locations. The transportation units may be carried on the mobile base, and may travel back and forth to the mobile base when making deliveries. The mobile base may include an extraction point (e.g., an opening in the roof of the mobile base) where items may be engaged by transportation units for delivery.

Claims

1. A system to deliver items, the system comprising:

a mobile base configured to transport items to a delivery area, the delivery area comprising delivery locations;

an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) configured to deliver an item from the mobile base to a delivery location; and

a computing system, comprising;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

determine a delivery location as specified in a user order for an item, wherein the ordered item is transported by the mobile base to the delivery area and the delivery location is in the delivery area;

provide instructions directing the AAV to transport the ordered item from the mobile base to the delivery location, wherein the instructions directing the AAV to transport the ordered item include a route from the mobile base to the delivery location;

provide instructions directing the AAV to disengage the ordered item at the delivery location; and

provide instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base, the mobile base is moved to a new location, and the instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base include the new location of the mobile base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the AAV comprises a battery and the mobile base comprises a charging member and the program instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to provide instructions directing the AAV to engage with the charging member to recharge the battery of the AAV after travelling from the delivery location to the mobile base.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the AAV is stationed on the mobile base and is transported by the mobile base.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile base comprises a roof with an opening in the roof of the mobile base that serves as an extraction point where the ordered item is provided to the AAV for transport to the delivery location.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the AAV comprises an engagement mechanism that operates as a container that contains the ordered item that is transported to the delivery location.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the mobile base is a truck.

7. A system to deliver items, the system comprising:

a mobile base configured to transport items to a delivery area, the delivery area comprising delivery locations, the mobile base comprising a roof with an opening in the roof of the mobile base that serves as an extraction point for an item in the mobile base that is to be delivered to a delivery location;

an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) configured to deliver an item from the mobile base to a delivery location; and

a computing system, comprising;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

provide instructions directing the AAV to take off from the mobile base after an item in the mobile base has been received by the AAV at the extraction point of the mobile base, wherein the item is an ordered item and a user order for the item specifies a delivery location where the ordered item is to be delivered;

provide instructions directing the AAV to transport the ordered item from the mobile base to the delivery location, wherein the instructions directing the AAV to transport the ordered item include a route from the mobile base to the delivery location; and

provide instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base and to land on the mobile base.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base, the mobile base is moved to a new location, and the instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base include the new location of the mobile base.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the delivery area further comprises a second delivery location that the mobile base transports a second ordered item to.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile base comprises a truck.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the AAV comprises an engagement mechanism that receives the ordered item at the extraction point of the mobile base.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the AAV comprises a frame and a plurality of propeller motors that are spaced about the frame to fly to the AAV to transport the ordered item.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of propeller motors comprises at least eight propeller motors.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the AAV further comprises at least one battery to provide power for the plurality of propeller motors, and the mobile base further comprises charging capabilities that are utilized to recharge the at least one battery after the AAV travels from the delivery location to the mobile base.

15. A computer implemented method, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions;

determining a delivery location as specified in a user order for an item, wherein the ordered item is transported in a mobile base to a delivery area that includes the delivery location;

providing instructions directing an automated aerial vehicle (AAV to transport the ordered item that is received by the AAV from the mobile base at an extraction point of the mobile base, wherein the instructions directing the AAV to transport the ordered item include the delivery location where the AAV is to deliver the ordered item;

providing instructions directing the AAV to disengage the ordered item at the delivery location; and

providing instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base and to land on the mobile base, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base, the mobile base is moved to a new location and the AAV travels from the delivery location to the mobile base at the new location.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the instructions directing the AAV to travel from the delivery location to the mobile base include the new location of the mobile base.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the new location is a stopping point where the mobile base stops before continuing to travel along a scheduled route.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising providing instructions directing the AAV to utilize charging capabilities of the mobile base to recharge the AAV after the AAV travels from the delivery location to the mobile base.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the mobile base comprises a roof with an opening in the roof that serves as the extraction point where the ordered item is received by the AAV.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19, wherein the ordered item is carried by the AAV through the opening in the roof of the mobile base that serves as the extraction point when the AAV takes off from the mobile base to transport the ordered item to the delivery location.