Methods and systems for multiple drone delivery system with in-flight handoff

• US 10,593,216 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chow, Stephen, Miller, Grant D., Nassar, Nader M., Newhook, Richard J., Walls, Erich D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Ana D
• Application Number:
  US15/465,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20180276993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• 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 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Embodiments for managing drones by one or more processors are described. A first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto is controlled such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location. A second aerial drone is controlled such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location. While the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone. After the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, the second aerial drone is controlled such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

Claims

1. A method, by one or more processors, for managing drones, comprising:

controlling a first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location;

controlling a second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location;

while the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, enabling the payload to be detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone;

wherein the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone do not make physical contact prior to transferring the payload; and

after the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, controlling the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

3. The method of claim 1, further including controlling at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the payload is coupled to at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone, at least a portion of the payload is rotatable relative to the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone about a payload axis, wherein the payload axis is not orthogonal to the non-vertical axis.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis includes:

controlling the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone performs a first in-flight rotation before the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone; and

controlling the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone simultaneously perform a second in-flight rotation after the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone and before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis further includes controlling the first aerial drone such that the first aerial drone performs a third in-flight rotation after the payload is detached from the first drone.

7. The method of claim 1, further including enabling the payload to be detached from the second aerial drone at the third location.

8. A system for managing drones, comprising:

at least one processor that

controls the first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location;

controls a second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location;

while the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, enables the payload to be detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone;

wherein the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone do not make physical contact prior to transferring the payload; and

after the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, controls the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor controls at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein when the payload is coupled to at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone, at least a portion of the payload is rotatable relative to the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone about a payload axis, wherein the payload axis is not orthogonal to the non-vertical axis.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis includes:

controlling the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone performs a first in-flight rotation before the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone; and

controlling the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone simultaneously perform a second in-flight rotation after the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone and before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis further includes controlling the first aerial drone such that the first aerial drone performs a third in-flight rotation after the payload is detached from the first drone.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor further enables the payload to be detached from the second aerial drone at the third location.

15. A computer program product for managing drones by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that controls the first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location;

an executable portion that controls a second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location;

an executable portion that, while the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, enables the payload to be detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone;

wherein the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone do not make physical contact prior to transferring the payload; and

an executable portion that, after the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, controls the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further include an executable portion that controls at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein when the payload is coupled to at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone, at least a portion of the payload is rotatable relative to the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone about a payload axis, wherein the payload axis is not orthogonal to the non-vertical axis.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis includes:

controlling the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone performs a first in-flight rotation before the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone; and

controlling the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone simultaneously perform a second in-flight rotation after the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone and before the payload is detached from the first aerial drone.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the controlling of the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone such that the at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone performs at least one in-flight rotation about a non-vertical axis further includes controlling the first aerial drone such that the first aerial drone performs a third in-flight rotation after the payload is detached from the first drone.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further include an executable portion that enables the payload to be detached from the second aerial drone at the third location.