System and method for coordinating unmanned aerial vehicles for delivery of one or more packages

• US 10,604,254 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Brien, John J., High, Donald R., McHale, Brian, Mangosing, Samantha M., Schuhardt, Justin, Cantrell, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US16/264,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20190233105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/368 Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage
• 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 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• 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: B64U 80/10 with means for moving the UAV to a supply or launch location, e.g. robotic arms or carousels
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/20 with arrangements for servicing the UAV
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

System and methods for managing one or more unmanned aerial vehicles. The system can include an unmanned aerial vehicle, a landing station for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a loading station for receiving a package and unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle can be configured to: (i) determine a first confidence level for landing on the landing station, (ii) travel, based on the first confidence level, to the landing station, and (iii) determine a second confidence level for delivering the package to a delivery destination. The loading station can be configured to: (i) receive the second confidence level to deliver the package to the delivery destination from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and (ii) confirm, based on the second confidence level, the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of delivering the package to the delivery destination.

Claims

1. A system for managing unmanned aerial vehicles, comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle;

a landing station for said unmanned aerial vehicle to land thereon; and

a loading station configured to receive a package and said unmanned aerial vehicle,

wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle is stationed away from said landing station and said loading station,

wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle is in communication with said landing station and configured to;

determine a first confidence level for landing on said landing station,

travel, based on said first confidence level, to said landing station, and

determine a second confidence level for delivering said package to a destination, and

wherein said loading station is in communication with said unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to;

receive said second confidence level to deliver said package to said destination from said unmanned aerial vehicle, and

confirm, based on said second confidence level, said unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of delivering said package to said destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to determine said second confidence level after being transported to said landing station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said loading station is configured to determine if said package is compatible with said unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a central server in communication with said landing station and loading station,

wherein said central server is configured to;

monitor a location and status of said unmanned aerial vehicle and said package in said system, and

control transportation of said unmanned aerial vehicle and said package within said system.

5. The system of claim 4, additionally comprising:

a maintenance station for maintaining operation of said unmanned aerial vehicle,

wherein the maintenance station is in communication with said landing station and said central server,

wherein said maintenance station is configured to receive said unmanned aerial vehicle if said first confidence level is below a predefined threshold.

6. The system of claim 5, additionally comprising:

a first conveyor belt configured to transport said unmanned aerial vehicle to said maintenance station; and

a second conveyor belt configured to transport said unmanned aerial vehicle to said loading station,

wherein said first conveyor belt comprises first sensors which check maintenance of one or more components of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and

wherein the second conveyor belt comprises second sensors which check one or more capabilities of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the landing station comprises a rotating swivel attached to the landing station, the rotating swivel configured to rotate and align said unmanned aerial vehicle with said maintenance station or said loading station.

8. The system of claim 4, additionally comprising:

a computer for a distribution center;

a packaging system for a distribution center and comprising a storage for said package,

wherein said packaging system is in communication with the computer to determine one or more packages to be delivered,

wherein the packaging system is in communication with the central server to send said package to be delivered by said unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, additionally comprising:

an identifying system in communication with said packaging system and configured to identify one or more properties of the package,

wherein determining said second confidence level is based on said property of said package.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein determining said second confidence level is further based on one or more properties of said unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a launch station separate from said landing station and said loading station, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle departs from said launch station with said package to said destination.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said loading station configured to receive said unmanned aerial vehicle from said landing station and to receive said package from a packaging system, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to select said package at said loading station.

13. The system of claim 12, additionally comprising:

wherein said loading station comprises a rotating carousel and a trap door, the rotating carousel having a plurality of shelves configured to hold a package and be placed directly beneath the trap door, the trap door configured to open to permit said unmanned aerial vehicle to attach to said package.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first confidence level is −

1, 0, or 1, wherein the first confidence level being −

1 or 0 indicates that said unmanned aerial vehicle is not confident to land or deliver said package, and the first confidence level of +1 indicates that said unmanned aerial vehicle is confident to land or deliver said package.

15. A system for managing unmanned aerial vehicles, comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle;

a landing station for said unmanned aerial vehicle to land thereon,

a maintenance station in communication with said landing station and configured to perform maintenance on said unmanned aerial vehicle;

a packaging system comprising a storage for storing a plurality of packages; and

a loading station configured to receive said unmanned aerial vehicle from said landing station and to receive a package from said packaging system, said loading station in communication with said packaging system,

wherein unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to;

determine a first confidence level for landing on said landing station, and

travel, based on said first confidence level, to said landing station or said maintenance station,

wherein said loading station is configured to;

receive, from said landing station, said unmanned aerial vehicle,

receive, from said packaging system, said package,

determine a second confidence level for said unmanned aerial vehicle to deliver said package,

select, based on said second confidence level, said package for said unmanned aerial vehicle, and

instruct, based on said second confidence level, and unmanned aerial vehicle to select and attach to said package for delivery to a destination.

16. The system of claim 15, additionally comprising:

a maintenance station for maintaining operation of said unmanned aerial vehicle,

wherein the maintenance station is in communication with said landing station,

wherein said maintenance station is configured to receive said unmanned aerial vehicle if said first confidence level is below a predefined threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to receive said package if the first confidence level is above the predefined threshold.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the loading station comprises a plurality of packages including said package, said plurality of packages being stored on a plurality of shelves within the loading station, each shelf within the plurality of shelves holding a package from the plurality of packages.

19. A method for managing unmanned aerial vehicles, comprising:

determining, at a landing station, a first confidence level of an unmanned aerial vehicle to land on said landing station;

instructing, based on said first confidence level, said unmanned aerial vehicle to land on said landing station;

determining, at said landing station, a second confidence level of said unmanned aerial vehicle for maintenance;

transporting, based on said second confidence level, said unmanned aerial vehicle to a loading station;

identifying, at packaging system, a package for delivery;

determining, at said packaging system, a third confidence level of said unmanned aerial vehicle for delivery of said package;

transporting, based on said third confidence level, said package to said loading station;

instructing, at said loading station, said unmanned aerial vehicle to select and attach to said package;

transporting said unmanned aerial vehicle and said package to a launching station; and

launching, at said launching station, said unmanned aerial vehicle and said package to said destination.