Modular air delivery
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a program that, when executed by at least one computing device, directs the at least one computing device to perform a method comprising:
- assessing weather along a route to a delivery zone for an airborne delivery of a shipping container;
evaluating an approach to drop the shipping container at the delivery zone;
calculating an amount of time remaining until a target delivery time for the airborne delivery;
identifying a set of modular components to assemble an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the airborne delivery based in part on at least one of the weather along the route, the approach to drop the shipping container, and the amount of time remaining; and
directing assembly of the UAV using the set of modular components, wherein identifying the set of modular components comprises;
selecting a modular platform;
selecting a thruster arrangement to provide thrust to the modular platform;
selecting a control system to control the thruster arrangement; and
selecting at least one sensor to provide data to a computing device of the UAV connected to the control system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of modular airborne delivery are described. When a shipping container is provided to an airborne carrier for delivery, the airborne carrier may assess weather across a route for airborne delivery of the shipping container, evaluate an approach to drop the shipping container at a delivery zone, and calculate a remaining amount of time until a target delivery time, for example. The airborne carrier may then select components to assemble a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on those or other factors, and assemble the UAV using the selected components. The modular UAV may then be directed to deliver the shipping container according to instructions from the airborne carrier. According to the concepts described herein, flexibility and other advantages may be achieved using modular UAVs for airborne delivery.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a program that, when executed by at least one computing device, directs the at least one computing device to perform a method comprising:
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assessing weather along a route to a delivery zone for an airborne delivery of a shipping container; evaluating an approach to drop the shipping container at the delivery zone; calculating an amount of time remaining until a target delivery time for the airborne delivery; identifying a set of modular components to assemble an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the airborne delivery based in part on at least one of the weather along the route, the approach to drop the shipping container, and the amount of time remaining; and directing assembly of the UAV using the set of modular components, wherein identifying the set of modular components comprises; selecting a modular platform; selecting a thruster arrangement to provide thrust to the modular platform; selecting a control system to control the thruster arrangement; and selecting at least one sensor to provide data to a computing device of the UAV connected to the control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system, comprising:
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at least one computing device; and an application stored in a memory that, when executed in the at least one computing device, directs the at least one computing device to perform a method comprising; assessing weather along a route to a delivery zone for airborne delivery of a shipping container; evaluating an approach to drop the shipping container at the delivery zone; calculating an amount of time remaining until a target delivery time for the airborne delivery; selecting a modular platform of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivery of the shipping container based in part on at least one of the weather along the route, the approach to drop the shipping container, and the amount of time remaining; selecting a thruster arrangement to provide thrust to the modular platform; selecting a control system to control the thruster arrangement; and selecting at least one sensor for navigation of the UAV based in part on at least one of the approach at the delivery zone and the weather along the route. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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assessing weather along a route to a delivery zone for airborne delivery of a shipping container; evaluating an approach to drop the shipping container at the delivery zone; calculating, by at least one computing device, an amount of time remaining until a target delivery time for the airborne delivery of the shipping container; selecting a modular platform of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivery of the shipping container based in part on at least one of the weather along the route, the approach to drop the shipping container, and the amount of time remaining; selecting a thruster arrangement to provide thrust to the modular platform; selecting a control system to control the thruster arrangement; and selecting at least one sensor for navigation of the UAV based in part on at least one of the approach at the delivery zone and the weather along the route. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification