PACKAGE ACCEPTANCE, GUIDANCE, AND REFUEL SYSTEM FOR DRONE TECHNOLOGY

• US 20180290764A1
• Filed: 04/05/2018
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Droneterminus Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DroneTerminus, LLC
• Inventors: MCMILLIAN, Joseph Barry, MESSINA, Mark, CAPRIOLI, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,450,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• 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 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• 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 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

Some embodiments described herein relate to a drone landing platform. One or more sensors coupled to the drone landing platform can detect local conditions in the vicinity of the drone landing platform. A communications system can be operable to transmit information related local conditions to a drone.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a condition in a vicinity of a drone landing area;

a communication system; and

a processor and a memory configured to;

apply a machine learning task to data collected from the sensor, the machine learning task operable to identify patterns of activity in the vicinity of the drone landing area, the machine learning task configured to recognize a transient hazard in the vicinity of the drone landing area based on the transient hazard deviating from patterns of activity; and

send a signal to the communication system to cause the communication system to transmit a warning of the transient hazard to the drone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drone landing platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a package storage receptacle configured to receive a package from the drone when the drone has landed on the drone landing platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a charging module configured to provide energy to the drone when the drone has landed on the drone landing platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor is configured to detect a hazard; and

the communication system is configured to send a signal to alert the drone to the hazard.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor is configured to detect a hazard while the drone is grounded at the drone landing area; and

the communication system is configured to send a signal inviting the drone to remain grounded at the drone landing area while the hazard is present.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to transmit a flight plan to the drone.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a drone landing platform;

a package storage receptacle configured to receive a package from a drone located on the drone landing platform;

a verification system configured to identify a user and provide access to the package upon identifying the user;

a sensor configured to detect transient hazards in a vicinity of the drone landing platform; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of a transient hazard.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the transmitter, the processor configured to analyze patterns of transient hazards to predict future hazards, the processor configured to cause the sensor to transmit an alert of a predicted future hazard.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a processor configured to calculate a flight path for the drone and cause the transmitter to transmit the flight path to the drone.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the verification system is configured to identify the user after receiving a signal from the user'"'"'s cellular phone.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the verification system includes a biometric sensor configured to identify the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a conveyor configured to move the package from the drone landing platform into the package storage receptacle.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a package verification system configured to capture an image of the package and transmit the image of the package to the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a package verification system configured to:

capture an image of the package;

transmit the image of the package to the user; and

receive an indication of acceptance of the package from the user.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a drone, a request to deliver a package;

sending, to the drone, an indication of a local condition detected via a stationary sensor; and

directing the drone to land in a vicinity of the stationary sensor such that the drone travels to the vicinity of the stationary sensor based, at least in part, on the indication of the local condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the stationary sensor is a first stationary sensor from a plurality of stationary sensors; and

receiving the request to deliver the package includes receiving a request to deliver the package to a vicinity of a second stationary sensor, the method further comprising;

receiving from the plurality of sensors, indications of conditions local to each stationary sensor;

applying a machine learning task to data collected from the plurality of sensors, the machine learning task operable to identify typical and hazardous configurations;

determining, using the machine learning task, that a hazardous configuration exists in a vicinity of the second stationary sensor from the plurality of stationary sensors, the drone directed to land in a vicinity of the first stationary sensor based on the determination of the hazardous condition in the vicinity of the second stationary sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending an approach path to the drone; and

receiving, from the drone, an acceptance of the approach path.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending an approach path to the drone;

receiving, from the drone, a rejection of the approach path; and

sending, to the drone a modified approach path based on receiving the rejection of the approach path.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the stationary sensor is a first stationary sensor, the method further comprising:

sending an approach path for the drone to land in a vicinity of a second stationary sensor; and

receiving, from the drone, a rejection of the approach path, the drone directed to land in the vicinity of the first stationary sensory based on the rejection of the approach path.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the drone is a first drone, the method further comprising:

receiving, from a second drone, a request to land; and

sending, to the second drone, a negative acknowledgement such that the second drone is instructed not to land in the vicinity of the first stationary sensor.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending, to the drone, a flight path for the drone to follow to land in the vicinity of the stationary sensor.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending, to the drone, a flight path for the drone to follow to land in the vicinity of the stationary sensor;

receiving, from the drone and in response to sending the flight path information, a modified flight path; and

sending, to the drone an acceptance of the modified flight path such that the drone follows the modified flight path and lands in the vicinity of the stationary sensor.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the package from the drone; and

transferring the package to a storage receptacle.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the package from the drone;

transferring the package to a package storage receptacle;

receiving an indication that the recipient is present in the vicinity of the first sensor; and

providing the recipient access to the package storage receptacle.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the drone is a first drone, the method further comprising:

receiving, from a second drone, a request to pick-up the package;

directing the second drone to land in the vicinity of the first sensor;

providing the package to the second drone; and

sending the second drone a flight path to a destination of the package.