Automated delivery system and method
First Claim
1. In a method for the delivery of at least one ordered item to at least one locked storage containers, associated with a corresponding customer comprising, following the ordering of said delivery, determining the availability of the said locked storage container to receive said delivery at one or more times;
- identifying a time interval during which said delivery can be made to said locked storage container;
sending a signal to said locked storage container allowing access by a delivery agent that is delivering said at least one ordered item to said locked storage container only during said time interval, the improvement wherein said delivery agent is an unmanned delivery aircraft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and system for the delivery of at least one ordered item to at least one locked storage containers, associated with a corresponding customer comprising, following the ordering of the delivery, determining the availability of the the locked storage container to receive the delivery at one or more times; identifying a time interval during which the delivery can be made to the locked storage container; sending a signal to the locked storage container allowing access by a delivery agent that is delivering the at least one ordered item to the locked storage container only during the time interval, the improvement wherein the delivery agent is an unmanned delivery_aircraft.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a method for the delivery of at least one ordered item to at least one locked storage containers, associated with a corresponding customer comprising, following the ordering of said delivery, determining the availability of the said locked storage container to receive said delivery at one or more times;
- identifying a time interval during which said delivery can be made to said locked storage container;
sending a signal to said locked storage container allowing access by a delivery agent that is delivering said at least one ordered item to said locked storage container only during said time interval, the improvement wherein said delivery agent is an unmanned delivery aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- identifying a time interval during which said delivery can be made to said locked storage container;
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9. A delivery system comprising at least one locked storage container corresponding to a customer, an order receiver for receiving orders for delivery by an unmanned aircraft of one or more goods for the customer;
- an availability determiner for determining the availability of the locked storage container to receive deliveries at one or more times;
a scheduler for receiving availability information from the availability determiner and operable to identify a time interval during which the delivery can be made and operable to send to a locked storage container an access signal allowing an unmanned aircraft that is delivering a delivery to access the locked storage container only during the time interval identified by the scheduler, wherein the storage container is equipped with an element for receiving the access signal and landing and loading docks whereby an unmanned aircraft may dock therewith, access the interior of the locked storage container and deliver goods thereinto.; and
an unmanned aircraft.
- an availability determiner for determining the availability of the locked storage container to receive deliveries at one or more times;
Specification