Multi-use unmanned aerial vehicle docking station

• US 9,527,605 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gentry, Nicholas Kristofer, Hsieh, Raphael, Nguyen, Luan Khai
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fabula, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US14/576,096
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/14 Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk , or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles , i.e. food or large parcels
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/99 Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/02 Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a series of multiuse UAV docking stations. The docking stations can be networked with a central control and a plurality of UAVs. The docking stations can include a number of services to facilitate both UAV guidance and maintenance and community acceptance and benefits. The docking stations can include package handling facilities and can act as a final destination or as a delivery hub. The docking stations can extend the range of UAVs by providing recharging/refueling stations for the UAVs. The docking stations can also include navigational aid to guide the UAVs to the docking stations and to provide routing information from the central control. The docking stations can be incorporated into existing structures such as cell towers, light and power poles, and buildings. The docking stations can also comprise standalone structures to provide additional services to underserved areas.

Claims

1. A docking station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a light pole extending vertically from a ground location;

a light coupled to an upper end of the light pole to illuminate an area proximate the light pole;

an elevated landing platform disposed proximate the light, the elevated landing platform including at least;

a package transfer system to transfer a package from the elevated landing platform to a package storage system proximate the ground location to store the package.

2. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a UAV securing system to secure the UAV to the elevated landing platform;

wherein the UAV securing system comprises one or more electromagnets disposed in the elevated landing platform to magnetically secure the UAV to the elevated landing platform.

3. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more beacons in communication with the UAV to enable the UAV to find the elevated landing platform.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a weather station to provide weather data to at least one of the UAV or to a central control that facilitates operation of the UAV.

5. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a recharging station to recharge a modular power supply on the UAV.

6. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more communications devices to provide communications between at least the UAV and the docking station.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a UAV securing system to secure the UAV to the elevated landing platform.

8. A docking station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the docking station comprising:

a vertical structure;

an elevated landing platform disposed proximate an upper end of the vertical structure;

a package transfer system to transfer a package from the elevated landing platform to a package storage system disposed proximate a lower end of the vertical structure to store the package; and

an access door disposed in the elevated landing platform to provide access by the UAV to the package transfer system;

wherein the package transfer system comprises a pneumatic tube.

9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the package transfer system comprises:

one or more gates to direct packages within the package storage system.

10. A docking station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the docking station comprising:

a light pole extending vertically from a ground location;

a light coupled to an upper end of the light pole to illuminate an area proximate the light pole;

an elevated landing platform disposed proximate the light, the elevated landing platform including;

a recharging station to recharge a modular power supply of the UAV; and

a package transfer system to transfer a package form the elevated landing platform to a package storage system proximate the ground location to store the package; and

one or more communications devices to provide communications between at least the UAV and the docking station.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the package storage system comprises:

a plurality of lockers to store packages, each of the plurality of lockers comprising;

a digital lock that uses a resettable access code.

12. The docking station of claim 10, further comprising one or more cellular antennas mounted to at least one of the elevated landing platform and the light pole.

13. The docking station of claim 10, further comprising one or more wireless local area network (WLAN) antennas mounted to at least one of the elevated landing platform and the light pole.

14. The docking station of claim 10, further comprising one or more solar panels to provide power to the docking station.

15. The docking station of claim 10, the elevated landing platform further comprising a turntable to rotate the UAV on the elevated landing platform.

16. The docking station of claim 10, further comprising:

a UAV securing system comprising;

one or more retainers operable between an unlocked position and a locked position;

wherein, in the locked position, the one or more retainers secure the UAV to the docking station.

17. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the one or more communications devices comprise a homing beacon to enable the UAV to find the elevated landing platform.

18. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the elevated landing platform further comprises two or more recharging stations to recharge the UAV.

19. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the elevated landing platform further comprises a refueling nozzle engageable with a refueling probe on the UAV to refuel the UAV.

20. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the elevated landing platform further comprises one or more high contrast landing patterns to enable the UAV to find the elevated landing platform.