Automated package delivery to a delivery receptacle
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method to automate package deliveries, comprising:
- receiving from a package delivery system processor, by one or more computing devices associated with a delivery device, delivery information associated with a package, the delivery information comprising a delivery location and instructions for the delivery device to approach the delivery location from a particular direction, the instructions further being provided to a delivery receptacle to provide a basis for directing one or more first beacons at the delivery location prior to arrival of the delivery device;
transporting, by the delivery device, the package to the delivery location;
locating, by the delivery device, the one or more first beacons being transmitted by the delivery receptacle at the delivery location;
triangulating, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, a position of the delivery vehicle relative to the one or more first beacons;
navigating, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, the delivery device toward the delivery receptacle based on the triangulated position;
transmitting, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, a second beacon to the delivery receptacle, the second beacon providing a basis for the delivery receptacle to adjust a direction of the one or more first beacons during navigation of the delivery device toward the delivery receptacle; and
depositing, by the delivery device, the package into the delivery receptacle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improving automated package delivery to mobile delivery receptacles to allow accurate and reliable package deliveries comprises a delivery receptacle for an automated package delivery via an unmanned aerial delivery device. The delivery receptacle is notified of a pending delivery and travels to a receiving location. The delivery receptacle emits infrared (“IR”) beacons from one or more IR beacon transmitters. An aerial delivery device detects the IR beacon and uses the beacons to navigate to the delivery receptacle. The delivery receptacle receives IR beacon responses from the aerial delivery device and continually or periodically directs the IR beacons in the direction of the aerial delivery device. The aerial delivery device deposits the package in the delivery receptacle. After receiving the package, the delivery receptacle transports the package to a secure location, such as into a garage.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method to automate package deliveries, comprising:
-
receiving from a package delivery system processor, by one or more computing devices associated with a delivery device, delivery information associated with a package, the delivery information comprising a delivery location and instructions for the delivery device to approach the delivery location from a particular direction, the instructions further being provided to a delivery receptacle to provide a basis for directing one or more first beacons at the delivery location prior to arrival of the delivery device; transporting, by the delivery device, the package to the delivery location; locating, by the delivery device, the one or more first beacons being transmitted by the delivery receptacle at the delivery location; triangulating, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, a position of the delivery vehicle relative to the one or more first beacons; navigating, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, the delivery device toward the delivery receptacle based on the triangulated position; transmitting, by the one or more computing devices associated with the delivery device, a second beacon to the delivery receptacle, the second beacon providing a basis for the delivery receptacle to adjust a direction of the one or more first beacons during navigation of the delivery device toward the delivery receptacle; and depositing, by the delivery device, the package into the delivery receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system to deliver packages in specified locations, comprising:
-
a storage device associated with a delivery device; and a processor communicatively coupled to the delivery device storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device to cause the system to; receive, from a package delivery computing system, delivery information associated with a package, the delivery information comprising a delivery address location; transport the package to the delivery address; detect one or more first beacons being transmitted by a delivery receptacle at the delivery address; navigate toward the delivery receptacle based on the detected one or more first beacons; transmit a second beacon to the delivery receptacle, the second beacon providing a basis for the delivery receptacle to adjust a direction of the one or more first beacons during navigation of the delivery device toward the delivery receptacle; and deposit the package into the delivery receptacle, and a delivery receptacle storage device; and a processor communicatively coupled to the delivery receptacle storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the delivery receptacle storage device to cause the system to; receive a communication that the delivery device is transporting the package to the delivery receptacle; transmit the one or more first beacons in an expected direction of arrival of the delivery device; receive the second beacon from the delivery device; determine a relative position of the delivery device with respect to the delivery receptacle based on the second beacon; adjust the transmission direction of the one or more first beacons based on the relative position of the delivery device with respect to the delivery receptacle wherein the direction of the one or more first beacons is adjusted by a mechanical device; and receive the package from the delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer cause the computer to receive packages, the computer readable instructions comprising; computer-readable program instructions to receive a communication that a delivery device is transporting a package to a delivery receptacle; computer-readable program instructions to transmit one or more first beacons in an expected direction of arrival of the delivery device; computer-readable program instructions to receive a second beacon from the delivery device; computer-readable program instructions to determine a relative position of the delivery device with respect to the delivery receptacle based on the received second beacon; and computer-readable program instructions to adjust the transmission direction of the one or more first beacons based on the relative position of the delivery device with respect to the delivery receptacle, wherein the direction of the one or more first beacons is adjusted by a mechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
Specification