Unmanned aerial vehicle payload delivery
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system associated with using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a package associated with an electronic marketplace, the system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system associated with using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to deliver a payload, the UAV comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification