Method and Apparatus for Dispatching an Airborne Drone to Carry an Item to a Customer
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- by a control circuit;
dispatching a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer towards a delivery zone;
when the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone, dispatching the airborne drone to carry the item to the customer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit dispatches towards a delivery zone a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer. When the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone, the drone is dispatched to carry the item to the customer. By one approach the drone exits the terrestrial vehicle without bearing the item. The item can be automatically moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a position such that the item is at least partially exposed external to the terrestrial vehicle. The airborne drone, subsequent to exiting the terrestrial vehicle, can engage the item in order to then deliver that item to the customer. By one approach the terrestrial vehicle includes one or more platforms that support one or more airborne drones and that can be moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a deployed position external to the terrestrial vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
by a control circuit; dispatching a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer towards a delivery zone; when the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone, dispatching the airborne drone to carry the item to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer in a delivery zone; a control circuit configured to dispatch the airborne drone to carry the item to the customer when the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification