Unmanned aerial vehicle payload delivery

• US 9,650,136 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haskin, Menashe, LeGrand, III, Louis LeRoi, Ran, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/740,109
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/67 the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/00 Undercarriages

Abstract

Techniques for using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload may be provided. For example, upon arrival to a delivery location, the UAV may release the payload and lower a tether coupling the payload to the UAV. Based on a distance associated with the lowering of the payload, the UAV may release the cable. This release may decouple the payload and at a least a portion of the cable from the UAV, thereby delivering the payload at the delivery location.

Claims

1. A system associated with using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a package associated with an electronic marketplace, the system comprising:

a frame;

a severing mechanism associated with the frame and comprising an electrical conductor contact surface;

a cable associated with the frame; and

a computing system associated with the UAV and comprising one or more processors and one or more memories, wherein the one or more memories store computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors configure the computing system to instruct the UAV to;

fly to a location associated with the delivery of the package, the package including an item ordered from the electronic marketplace;

release the package from a compartment of the UAV based at least in part on detecting that the UAV has arrived to the location;

lower the package at a controlled speed based at least in part on extending the cable from the UAV, the cable coupling the package to the UAV;

operate, based at least in part on detecting that the package has been lowered by a distance, the severing mechanism of the UAV to sever the cable, the cable severed based at least in part on a thermoelectric effect applied to the cable, severing the cable causing the delivery of the package and of at least a portion of the cable; and

fly away from the location without the package and the at least a portion of the cable based at least in part on the severing of the cable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance indicates a height between the package and a surface associated with the delivery, wherein the height reduces a potential of damage to the item based at least in part on the delivery.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance indicates that the package sits at a surface associated with the delivery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the severing mechanism comprises further a blade, wherein operating the severing mechanism further comprises mechanically activating the severing mechanism to apply the blade to the cable causing the severing of the cable.

5. A system associated with using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories, wherein the one or more memories store computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors configure the system to instruct the UAV to;

lower the payload with a tether from the UAV based at least in part on detecting that the UAV has arrived to a location associated with a mission of the UAV, the tether coupling the payload to the UAV and comprising perforations;

release, based at least in part on detecting that the payload has been lowered by a distance, at least a portion of the tether from the UAV, the portion of the tether released based at least in part on contact between the perforations of the tether and a head, edge, or surface within the UAV, releasing the at least a portion of the tether causing a delivery of the payload and of the at least a portion of the tether; and

fly away from the location without the payload and the at least a portion of the tether based at least in part on the releasing of the at least a portion of the tether.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the payload comprises an item, wherein the mission comprises the delivery of the payload based at least in part on an order of the item from an electronic marketplace, wherein the tether comprises a cable, and wherein the cable is selected based at least in part on one or more of:

the mission, content of the payload, weight of the payload, or an expected environment associated with the location.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the distance indicates that the payload is at a height from a surface associated with the delivery, and wherein the computer-readable instructions further configure the system to determine that the height is acceptable for releasing the at least a portion of the tether based at least in part on one or more of:

content of the payload or an expected environment associated with the location.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein releasing the at least a portion of the tether comprises decoupling the tether from the UAV.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein releasing the tether comprises severing the tether based at least in part on separating portions of the tether along the perforations.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein severing the tether comprises reducing an integrity of a structure of the tether based at least in part on lowering the payload, and wherein the tether is severed based at least in part on a mass of the payload and on the reduced integrity of the structure.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein severing the tether comprises cutting the tether based at least in part on applying a friction surface within the UAV.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the tether is lowered at a controlled speed based at least in part on applying friction to at least one of:

the tether or a spool configured to roll the tether.

13. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to deliver a payload, the UAV comprising:

a frame;

a cable associated with the frame and comprising a weakness point that is defined based at least in part on a mass of the payload;

a computing system comprising one or more processors and one or more memories, wherein the one or more memories store computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors configure the UAV to;

hold the payload during a portion of a flight associated with a delivery of the payload; and

deliver the payload by at least;

lowering the payload by using the cable; and

releasing at least a portion of the cable at or around the weakness point based at least in part on lowering the payload by a distance, the releasing causing the delivery of the payload and of the at least a portion of the cable.

14. The UAV of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable instructions further configure the computing system to manage the flight of the UAV.

15. The UAV of claim 13, wherein the weakness point of the cable is configured to sustain a tension associated with lowering the payload and is further configured to break based at least in part on the lowering being stopped.

16. The UAV of claim 13, wherein releasing the cable further comprises severing the cable based at least in part on applying a thermoelectric effect to the cable.

17. The UAV of claim 13, wherein releasing the cable further comprises severing the cable based at least in part on a reduction of a tension of the cable indicative of the payload reaching a surface associated with the delivery.

18. The UAV of claim 13, wherein the weakness point comprises perforations, and wherein releasing comprises separating the cable at one or more of the perforations as the cable is being lowered or once as the payload is lowered by the distance.

19. The UAV of claim 13, wherein an end of the cable is integrated with the payload, wherein the weakness point comprises a link, wherein the link connects an other end of the cable to an other component of the UAV, wherein the cable has a sufficient strength to lower the payload, wherein the link lacks the sufficient strength, and wherein the releasing at least a portion of the cable comprises releasing the cable based at least in part on breaking the link based at least in part on a mass of the payload.

20. The UAV of claim 13, wherein releasing at least a portion of the cable comprises severing the cable at the weakness point based at least in part on operating a propulsion system of the UAV to provide a thrust sufficient to cause the severing.