UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20180111683A1
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
• Original Assignee: Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
• Inventors: Di Benedetto, Paul, Colacitti, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 10,351,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: 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 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• 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: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, for delivering articles between UAV zones has a computing system having a non-transient memory with executable instructions, the executable instructions including a flight management system to receive at a portal a delivery request to deliver an article from one zone to another. The Instructions are operable: to assign a UAV to the delivery request; if a UAV is not at a first zone, to dispatch a UAV to the first zone; to provide a flight path to the UAV,I at least part of the flight path being predetermined; to communicate the UAV flight path to the UAV; and to monitor the flight of the UAV from the first zone to the second zone and the delivery of the article. A method of planning a route for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is also provided.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, for delivering articles between at least one first UAV zone and at least one second UAV zone, comprising:

at least one computing system having a non-transient memory with executable instructions, the executable instructions including a flight management system;

a first UAV zone;

a second UAV zone;

wherein the computing system is operable with said instructions;

a) to provide an article delivery portal, to receive at the portal at least one delivery request to deliver at least one article from the first zone to the second zone;

b) to assign a UAV to the delivery request;

c) if a UAV is not at the first UAV zone, to dispatch a UAV to the first zone, including providing the UAV with a flight path to the first UAV zone;

d) providing a flight path to the UAV, from the first zone to the second zone, at least part of the flight path being predetermined;

e) to communicate the UAV flight path to the UAV; and

f) to monitor the flight of the UAV from the first zone to the second zone and the delivery of the article.

2. The UAV delivery system of claim 1, wherein the delivery request includes at least:

a UAV category request, a timeframe request, and an article description.

3. The UAV delivery system of claim 2, wherein the article description includes a weight and a set of dimensions of the article.

4. The UAV delivery system of claim 3, wherein the computing system is operable with the instructions to receive a response from the flight management system in response to the delivery request to convert the response into a customer update, and to communicate the update to the portal.

5. The UAV deliver system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second UAV zones provides for controlled access to the UAV zone, and the UAV is only permitted to enter each UAV zone when that zone is secured and free of obstructions.

6. The UAV delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first UAV zone is operable with the computing system to provide for a takeoff of a UAV from the first UAV zone, and the second UAV zone is operable with the computing system to provide for a landing of the UAV in the second UAV zone.

7. The UAV delivery system of claim 1, wherein the computing system is operable with the executable instructions to generate a unique identifier for the article, to communicate the unique identifier to the portal for access by the first party, and to provide an instruction to the first party via said portal to attach said unique identifier to the article.

8. The UAV deliver system of claim 7, wherein:

the UAV delivery system includes at least one UAV;

the at least one UAV has a sensor and a communications module; and

the sensor and communications module are in communication with a processor and are operable with the processor to;

a) read the unique identifier, b) generate a corresponding validation signal, and c) communicate the validation signal to the computing system.

9. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the UAV has a label to identify the UAV.

10. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the UAV has a display operable to display user-instructions, and the computing system is operable with the executable instructions to validate the validation signal and generate a corresponding result, to generate a set of user-instructions based on the result, and to display the set of user-instructions via the display.

11. The UAV delivery system of claim 10, wherein the set of user-instructions includes at least one of:

a) an instruction to reduce the weight of the article by a stated amount, b) an instruction to assign the article to a stated UAV, and c) an instruction to position the UAV on the first UAV zone.

12. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the second UAV zone includes a landing identifier and the UAV is operable with the computing system and flight management system to identify the landing identifier at least during an approach of the UAV to the second UAV zone, and to land at the landing identifier.

13. The UAV delivery system of claim 12, wherein the second UAV zone includes a portable portion, and said portable portion includes the landing identifier.

14. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the computing system is operable with the executable instructions to perform at least a landing at the second UAV zone.

15. The UAV delivery system of claim 11, wherein the first UAV zone includes at least one sensor operable with the computing system to determine when the UAV has been positioned on the UAV zone, and the computing system is operable to request a confirmation from the first party that the party has readied the UAV for takeoff.

16. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the second UAV zone includes at least one sensor operable with the computing system to detect an approach and landing of the at least one UAV and to record a video of the approach and landing.

17. The UAV delivery system of claim 16, wherein the UAV includes at least one sensor operable with the computing system to detect an approach to and landing of the UAV at the second UAV zone and to record a video of the approach and landing.

18. The UAV delivery system of claim 8, wherein the UAV is operable to engage at least one article and includes at least one sensor mountable to the article, and the sensor is operable with at least one of the computing system and the processor to sense at least one of:

a) forces applied to the article, and b) acceleration of the article.

19. The UAV delivery system of claim 18, wherein:

Said computing system is operable with said executable instructions to perform at least one of;

a) provide for the viewing of the forces and acceleration via the portal in at least one of;

real-time, near real-time, and at custom time interval;

b) record a time plot of the forces and acceleration and provide the time-plot for at least one of review and download via the portal; and

c) identify a maximum force and a maximum acceleration in the forces and acceleration, respectively, and provide the maximum force and acceleration for at least one of review and download via the portal.

20. The UAV delivery system of claim 19, wherein the computing system is operable to determine at least one safe range of the forces and acceleration, and to provide the range for at least one of:

review, download, and analysis via the portal.

21. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, for delivery of articles between locations, the system comprising:

at least one UAV;

at each of at least two locations a secure zone for UAV landing and taking off;

a portal for receiving a request from a customer for a delivery of an article between two locations;

a computer platform, for checking on the status of the customer, and if the customer is in good standing, further executing a customer request.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein a computer platform includes a flight management system and a mission planner, the mission planner planning a route between two locations requested by the customer, and transmitting the route to the UAV, for execution semi-autonomously by the UAV.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the mission planner selects routes from a database of existing routes, and where required determining and providing route sections not in the database.

24. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the computer platform includes at least one of the logistics system and an asset management system.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the computer platform additionally includes at least one of a billing system, a ticketing system and ground control.

26. A system as claimed in claim 24, including a plurality of different communication channels, optionally including Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite.

27. A method of delivering an article with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) between two locations, and the method comprising:

receiving a request from customer to deliver the article between the two locations;

checking on the customer status, and if the customer is in good standing, executing the customer'"'"'s request;

checking for the availability of a UAV at the departure location and the availability of the landing zone at the destination location, and further executing the customer request when these are available; and

securing the article to the UAV and executing a mission to deliver the article from the departure location to the destination location.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, including planning a route between the departure and destination locations, and transmitting the route to the UAV for semi-autonomous execution by the UAV.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, including selecting a route from a database routes that form a route network that has been given regulatory approval, and checking that the route does not exceed the capabilities of the UAV, optionally including accounting for at least one of the weight of the article and available battery life for the UAV, and where required determining and providing route sections not in the database.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, including providing the route as a series of way points and checking each way point and ensure that it is acceptable.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, including adjusting the route depending upon weather conditions, optionally including enhancing the effect of any tailwind and minimizing the effect of any headwind.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30, including, after verifying a route, sending the route for regulatory approval.

33. A method as claimed in claim 27, including checking that a credit available to the customer is adequate to cover the cost of the requested mission.

34. A method as claimed in claim 27, including have the UAV transmits status information during execution of the mission.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, including, after execution of the mission, submitting the flight path to the regulatory authorities for verification, and having the article removed or separated from the UAV.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, including billing the customer for the delivery of the article.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, including checking if any additional missions are assigned to the UAV.

38. A method as claimed in claim 27, including providing secured access at the departure location and at the destination location, and the steps of:

having the UAV approach and land at the departure location, only when the departure location is secure and clear of all personnel;

with the UAV stationary at the departure location permitting access to the departure location, for loading of an article to the UAV;

after loading the article to the UAV, only permitting the UAV to depart after all personnel have left the departure location and the departure location has been secured;

permitting the UAV to land at the destination location, only when the destination location is secure and clear of all personnel; and

after the UAV has landed at the destination location, permitting access to the destination location, to retrieve the article.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein at the departure locations, only permitting access to personnel having permission from the customer, and at the destination location and until the article is separated from the UAV and removed from the destination location, only permitting access personnel having permission from the customer.

40. A method of planning a route for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

providing a plurality of locations, each of which may serve as at least one of a departure location including a departure zone and a destination location including a destination zone;

establishing a route network comprising a database of route sections connected between nodes at waypoints and UAV zones at the locations in the route network;

obtaining advance regulatory approval of the route network;

selecting a UAV to fly between two locations;

checking the database for an existing flight path, comprising at least one route section, between the two locations suitable for the selected UAV; and

when existing flight path is available, verifying the flight path.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, including providing each flight path as a series of way points, and checking each way point.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, including checking that the flight path distance does not exceed the capabilities of the UAV, taking into account at least one of weather conditions and weight of an article to be carried by the UAV.

43. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein verifying the way points of the selected flight path includes, for the first and last way points, checking that the way point elevation is set to 0 and that the way point is not in a restriction database.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, including for each of the second or second to last way points, checking that:

the way point elevation is set to a desired elevation;

the desired elevation exceeds an elevation floor and is less than an elevation ceiling; and

the way point is not in a restriction database.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44, including, for way points other than the first and last way points and the second and second last way points checking that:

the way point elevation is set to a desired elevation;

that the desired elevation exceeds an elevation floor; and

that the way point is not in the restriction database.

46. A method as claimed in claim 45, including checking, for each way point that a weather score for that way point does not exceed a predetermined value, the weather score being determined for a predetermined period around the UAV anticipated arrival time at that way point.

47. A flight route network comprising:

a plurality of UAV zones where UAVs can land and take off;

a plurality of way points and nodes at the waypoints;

a plurality of route sections providing connections between the nodes and the UAV zones, with each route section providing a connection between one node or one UAV zone and another node or another UAV zone; and

for each route section, minimum and maximum altitudes, and a lateral width of the route section, wherein the route network has been subject to regulatory approval.

48. A flight route network as claimed in claim 47, wherein each route section is defined by a centre line and a cross section around the centre line.

49. A flight route network as claimed in claim 48, wherein the cross-section is rectangular.

50. A flight route network as claimed in claim 48, wherein the cross-section is circular or elliptical.

51. A flight route network as claimed in claim 47, wherein, for at least some route sections, a portion of each route section is straight and a portion of each route section is curved.

52. A flight route network as claimed in claim 47, wherein at least some of the route sections comprise two or more corridors.

53. A flight route network as claimed in claim 52, wherein the corridors are spaced apart vertically and/or horizontally.

54. A flight network as claimed in claim 52, wherein at least one corridor is designated for travel in one direction and at least one other corridor is designated for travel in an opposite direction.

55. A flight network as claimed in claim 52, including two corridors for travel in one direction and two corridors for travel in an opposite direction, wherein, for each direction, there is one corridor for UAVs traveling at a first range of speeds, and a second corridor for UAVs traveling at a second and different range of speeds.

56. A flight network as claimed in claim 47, wherein the altitudes are absolute altitudes relative to local terrain.

57. A flight network as claimed in claim 47, wherein the altitudes are true altitudes relative to mean sea level.

58. A flight network as claimed in claim 47, including obtaining regulatory approval for the flight network and any additional route sections that need to be determined and provided, and that meet predetermined regulatory limits.

59. A method of establishing a flight route network, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of UAV zones where UAVs can land and take off;

identifying and selecting a plurality of way points and defining nodes at the waypoints;

identifying and selecting a plurality of route sections providing connections between the nodes and the UAV zones, with each route section providing a connection between one node or one UAV zone and another node or another UAV zone; and

for each route section, defining minimum and maximum altitudes, and defining a lateral width of the route section; and

obtaining regulatory approval for the route network, whereby when a route is late selected that extends entirely over at least part of the route network, no further regulatory approval is required.