Payload-release device and operation thereof
First Claim
1. A delivery device comprising:
- a housing including;
(i) a channel configured to receive a payload mount attachment of a payload, and (ii) a tether anchor configured to couple the housing to a tether operable to suspend the housing via the tether;
a retaining rod coupled to the housing, wherein the retaining rod is configured to be positioned in;
(i) a first position in which a portion of the retaining rod engages the payload mount attachment when the payload mount attachment is inserted in the channel, and (ii) a second position in which the retaining rod does not engage the payload mount attachment;
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon; and
a processor operable to execute the program instructions to;
(i) during a delivery operation in which the delivery device is lowered to the ground via the tether, position the retaining rod in the first position to engage the payload mount attachment and secure the payload to the delivery device;
(ii) determine that the delivery device is at or near the ground; and
(iii) in response to determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground, move the retaining rod from the first position to the second position such that the payload is released from the delivery device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The delivery device can include a channel in which a payload mount attachment for a payload can be inserted. The payload mount attachment can include an aperture for receiving a retaining rod to secure the attachment, and thus the payload, to the delivery device. The retaining rod can assume either an engaged position, in which a portion of the retaining rod engages the payload mount attachment while the payload mount attachment is inserted in the channel, or a disengaged position, in which the retaining rod does not engage the payload mount attachment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A delivery device comprising:
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a housing including;
(i) a channel configured to receive a payload mount attachment of a payload, and (ii) a tether anchor configured to couple the housing to a tether operable to suspend the housing via the tether;a retaining rod coupled to the housing, wherein the retaining rod is configured to be positioned in;
(i) a first position in which a portion of the retaining rod engages the payload mount attachment when the payload mount attachment is inserted in the channel, and (ii) a second position in which the retaining rod does not engage the payload mount attachment;a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon; and a processor operable to execute the program instructions to; (i) during a delivery operation in which the delivery device is lowered to the ground via the tether, position the retaining rod in the first position to engage the payload mount attachment and secure the payload to the delivery device; (ii) determine that the delivery device is at or near the ground; and (iii) in response to determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground, move the retaining rod from the first position to the second position such that the payload is released from the delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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while a delivery device is being lowered from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a tether coupled to the delivery device and the UAV, receiving sensor data that is generated by one or more sensors arranged on or within the delivery device, wherein the sensor data is indicative of a location of the delivery device; determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground, wherein determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground comprises; (i) determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the delivery device is within a threshold distance of the ground; (ii) in response to determining that the delivery device is within the threshold distance of the ground, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that an instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds a first threshold; and (iii) subsequent to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds the first threshold, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is lower than the first threshold; and in response to determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground, releasing a payload from the delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a retractable delivery system comprising; (i) a delivery device releasably coupled to a payload; (ii) one or more sensors arranged on or within the delivery device, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to generate sensor data indicative of a location of the delivery device; (iii) a tether coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the delivery device; and (iv) a retraction system coupled to the tether and operable to lower the delivery device from the UAV; a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon; and a processor operable to execute the program instructions to; (i) while the UAV hovers over a delivery location, use the retractable delivery system to initiate delivery, wherein initiating delivery comprises, while the delivery device is secured to the payload, lowering the delivery device from the UAV such that the payload descends from the UAV; (ii) receive sensor data from the one or more sensors; (iii) determine that the delivery device is at or near the ground based at least in part on the received sensor data, wherein determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground comprises; (a) determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the delivery device is within a threshold distance of the ground; (b) in response to determining that the delivery device is within the threshold distance of the ground, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that an instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds a first threshold; and (c) subsequent to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds the first threshold, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is lower than the first threshold; and (iv) in response to determining that the payload is at or near the ground, cause the retractable delivery system to release the payload from the delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification