In flight transfer of packages between aerial drones
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first aerial drone having a first transfer member and a first controller, the first transfer member having a first coupling device on one end, the first transfer member being configured to carry a payload, the first controller including a processor configured to change a first altitude and first orientation of the first aerial drone;
a second aerial drone having a second transfer member and a second controller, the second transfer member having a second coupling device on one end, the second transfer member being configured to receive the payload, the second controller including a processor configured to change a second altitude and a second orientation of the second aerial drone; and
wherein the first controller and the second controller cooperate to change at least one of the first altitude, the second altitude, the first orientation and the second orientation to operably engage the first coupling device to the second coupling device for transferring the payload from the first transfer member to the second transfer member while the first aerial drone and second drone are in-flight.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects include a system for transferring a payload between drones. The system includes a first drone having a first member and a first controller, the first member having a first coupling device on one end, the first member being configured to carry a payload, the first controller being configured to change a first altitude and orientation of the first drone. A second drone includes a second member and controller, the second member having a second coupling device on one end, the second member being configured to receive the payload, the second controller being configured to change a second altitude and orientation of the second drone. The controllers cooperate to change at least one of the first and second altitude, and the first and second orientation to operably engage the first coupling device to the second coupling device for transferring the payload from the first member to the second member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first aerial drone having a first transfer member and a first controller, the first transfer member having a first coupling device on one end, the first transfer member being configured to carry a payload, the first controller including a processor configured to change a first altitude and first orientation of the first aerial drone; a second aerial drone having a second transfer member and a second controller, the second transfer member having a second coupling device on one end, the second transfer member being configured to receive the payload, the second controller including a processor configured to change a second altitude and a second orientation of the second aerial drone; and wherein the first controller and the second controller cooperate to change at least one of the first altitude, the second altitude, the first orientation and the second orientation to operably engage the first coupling device to the second coupling device for transferring the payload from the first transfer member to the second transfer member while the first aerial drone and second drone are in-flight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aerial drone comprising:
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a fuselage; a plurality of thrust producing devices coupled to the fuselage; a transfer member coupled to the fuselage, the transfer member configured to move a payload to a second aerial drone; and a controller operably coupled to the plurality of thrust producing devices, the controller including a processor that is responsive to executable computer instructions to adjust the plurality of thrust producing devices to change at least one of an orientation and altitude of the transfer member to move the payload to the second aerial drone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of in-flight transferring of a payload between aerial drones, the method comprising:
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providing a first aerial drone having a first transfer member; providing a second aerial drone having a second transfer member; changing at least one of an altitude and an orientation of at least one of the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone to position the first transfer member adjacent the second transfer member; and moving the payload from the first aerial drone to the second aerial drone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification