METHOD OF DRONE DELIVERY USING AIRCRAFT

• US 20170038780A1
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gerald N. Fandetti
• Original Assignee: Gerald N. Fandetti
• Inventors: Fandetti, Gerald N.
• Application Number:
  US14/817,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/22 Arrangement of cabins or gondolas
• 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 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A drone delivery method is provided. The present invention includes an aircraft having a cargo area. The cargo area may include at least one package and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The aircraft flies to a location. The aircraft then releases the UAV from the cargo area while the aircraft is flying or hovering. The package is secured to the UAV prior to releasing the UAV from the cargo area. The UAV is then directed to a delivery destination. Once the UAV has reached the delivery destination, the package is released for delivery. Once the package has been released, the UAV may be directed back to the cargo area within the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method of drone delivery comprising the steps of:

providing an aircraft comprising a cargo area containing at least one package and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle;

flying the aircraft to a location; and

releasing the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle from the cargo area while the aircraft is flying or hovering, wherein the at least one package is secured to the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of directing the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle to a delivery destination.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of releasing the package from the unmanned aerial vehicle at the delivery destination.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of directing the unmanned aerial vehicle back to the cargo area after the step of releasing the package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a blimp comprising a control gondola.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the cargo area is within the control gondola.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one package comprises a plurality of packages.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles.

9. A method of drone delivery comprising the steps of:

providing an aircraft comprising a cargo area containing at least one package and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle;

flying the aircraft to a location;

releasing the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle from the cargo area while the aircraft is flying or hovering in the air, wherein the at least one package is secured to the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle;

directing the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle to a delivery destination; and

releasing the package from the unmanned aerial vehicle at the delivery destination.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of directing the unmanned aerial vehicle back to the cargo area after the step of releasing the package.