Multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery

• US 20170073085A1
• Filed: 06/11/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantium Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Simon Tremblay
• Inventors: Tremblay, Simon, Bharucha, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 10,377,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 : Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The invention consists of an actuated box and navigation aid for automatic delivery by unmanned vehicles (UAV) or drones. It also incorporates delivery information via the web linking orders, enclosure status, package specific drone homing signals, delivery confirmations and more.

This system incorporates a novel and effective means for providing a standardized and predicable area for safe landing during delivery by functionalized drones. It also secures the package from theft, vandalism, animals and the weather and provides features necessary for air-traffic management.

Claims

1. An automated retraceable landing pad that provides predictable, clean and secure landing area for delivery drones that protects the said delivered package inside an enclosure and keeps it in the interior of the enclosure for release to the owner.

2. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, that allows the package to be deposited gently into the box while closing.

4. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, in which landing pad flaps that provides a safe electrical power source for the landing craft. Power may be transferred by electrode contact, inductively, by other radiative media or battery swapping operations.

5. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, in which optical, or audio, visual (camera) or RF communication established between the approaching drone and the receptacle box using for example pulsed and/or color changing lights at the landing pad.

6. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1 with landing pad with mechanical or magnetic anchoring systems that allows anchoring of the drone to the landing pad while charging.

7. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1 with a receptacle box'"'"'s interior that is cooled and/or heated maintaining temperature within an optimal range for perishable goods.

8. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1 with a temperature and or humidity sensor for initiating a defrost cycles in areas that have temperature below 0 Celsius ambient temperatures.

9. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, comprising a communication system that sends a confirmation of delivery to the drone and a delivery status to the customer.

10. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, has a led or display providing a visual cue showing that that a package has been received and is held inside the box.

11. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1 possessing a backup battery and or solar panels built into the flaps for auxiliary power allowing operation in the case of power outage.

12. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, flaps that may have different colors on the roof side and on the landing side allowing camera localization by the drone.

13. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 1, with a coded image (like a QR code) may be placed on the landing side of the flap providing redundant means of identification.

3. An automated communication system allowing final destination honing, approach opening and closing of a destination point or storage compartment by an authorized drone with request and authorization encrypted keys. The said communication systems may be implemented with RF, ultrasonic, light emission, laser or other medium.

14. An automated retraceable landing pad of claim 3 integrating an RF spectrum analyzer that detects drone ID with RF power which are transmitted periodically by WiFi or other wireless means to an aviation control agencies allowing air space management and spatial tracking of illegal air space use.