UNMANNED AERIAL DELIVERY TO SECURE LOCATION

• US 20170147975A1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., O'Brien, V, John J., Natarajan, Chandrashekar
• Granted Patent: US 10,592,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/147 the receptacle comprising heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• 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 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint

Abstract

A delivery management system comprises a communication device that receives a notification of a communication established between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload and a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload from the UAV when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box and moving in a direction toward the delivery box, the communication including an identity of the UAV; a verification device that processes the notification and validates the identity of the UAV; and an instruction generator that generates an instruction to the delivery box to open the delivery box in response to the verification device validating the identity of the UAV and a determination by the communication device that the communication is established between the UAV and the delivery box. The communication device includes an autolocker communication device that outputs the instruction to the delivery box.

Claims

1. A delivery management system, comprising:

a communication device that receives a notification of a communication established between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload and a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload from the UAV when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box and moving in a direction toward the delivery box, the communication including an identity of the UAV;

a verification device that processes the notification and validates the identity of the UAV; and

an instruction generator that generates an instruction to the delivery box to open the delivery box in response to the verification device validating the identity of the UAV and a determination by the communication device that the communication is established between the UAV and the delivery box, wherein the communication device includes an autolocker communication device that outputs the instruction to the delivery box.

2. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein the instruction generator generates an instruction to the delivery box to unlock the delivery box.

3. The delivery management system of claim 2, wherein the instruction generator generates the instruction to open the box or unlock the box to a robotics mechanism at the delivery box that physically opens or locks the delivery box.

4. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein the communication device determines when the UAV is moving in a direction away from the delivery box and is a predetermined distance from the delivery box after delivery of the payload, and wherein the autolocker communication device outputs an instruction to the delivery box to close the delivery box.

5. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein the determination is made when the UAV flies outside a geofence about the delivery box, and the UAV cannot communicate with the delivery box.

6. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the UAV and the delivery box comprises at least one of a tag for transmitting a beacon signal or a reader for reading a beacon signal.

7. The delivery management system of claim 1, further comprising an order generation unit that generates a delivery order for the payload and determines a flight path for the UAV to the delivery box.

8. The delivery management system of claim 7, further comprising a notification generator that generates and outputs information regarding the delivery order to an electronic device.

9. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein the verification device executes an authorization process to confirm access to the delivery box.

10. The delivery management system of claim 1, further comprising a blockchain processing device that tracks, registers, and authenticates items of the payload moving through a supply chain.

11. The delivery management system of claim 1, wherein validation of the UAV is accomplished through a distribution and sharing of public and/or private keys from the locker system and the UAV, and wherein authentication is verified by comparing acceptable keys from a peer-peer ledger system with keys used by the UAV and locker system.

12. A store item delivery system, comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload to a destination;

a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload;

a geofence system that determines when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box; and

a delivery management system that controls access to the delivery box in response to a determination of the UAV relative to the geofence system.

13. The store item delivery system of claim 12, wherein the delivery management system generates an instruction to the delivery box to unlock the delivery box.

14. The store item delivery system of claim 13, wherein the delivery management system generates the instruction to open the delivery box or unlock the delivery box to a robotics mechanism at the delivery box that physically opens or locks the delivery box.

15. The store item delivery system of claim 12, wherein the delivery management system determines when the UAV is moving in a direction away from the delivery box and is a predetermined distance from the delivery box after delivery of the payload, and outputs an instruction to the delivery box to close the delivery box.

16. The store item delivery system of claim 12, wherein the UAV is tracked by GPS communications that is transmitted from the UAV to the delivery management system.

17. The store item delivery system of claim 16, wherein location data of the GPS communications is transmitted to an electronic device, which displays the location data.

18. The store item delivery system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the UAV and the delivery box comprises at least one of a tag for transmitting a beacon signal or a reader for reading a beacon signal, and wherein the GPS communications complement the beacon signal for determining a location of the UAV and validating for security of opening and closing of the delivery box.

19. The store item delivery system of claim 12, further comprising:

sensors to determine when a product has been received by a locker'"'"'s payload; and

sensors to determine when the payload is clear of obstructions so the locker system can close its'"'"' payload.

20. A method for delivery, comprising:

establishing a communication between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload and a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload from the UAV when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box and moving in a direction toward the delivery box; and

generating an instruction to the delivery box to open the delivery box in response to a validation of the identity of the UAV and a determination that the communication is established between the UAV and the delivery box.