Unmanned aerial vehicle including a removable power source
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivering a parcel, the UAV comprising:
- a UAV chassis comprising;
a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis;
an internal cavity; and
a UAV electrical interface electrically coupled to the plurality of propulsion members;
a parcel carrier selectively coupled to and removable from the UAV chassis, the parcel carrier comprising;
an engagement housing configured for being secured to the UAV chassis, wherein the engagement housing includes a carrier electrical interface configured for being electrically coupled to the UAV electrical interface when the parcel carrier is coupled to the UAV chassis, wherein the engagement housing is configured for being at least partially inserted within the internal cavity of the UAV chassis;
a parcel carrying mechanism coupled to the engagement housing, wherein the parcel carrying mechanism is configured to engage a parcel and comprises a pair of parcel carrying arms, each comprising;
an upper portion extending outward from the engagement housing;
a lower portion extending downward from the upper portion; and
a parcel carrying rail positioned on the bottom of the lower portion and extending in a direction that is transverse to the lower portion;
a ground probe that is coupled to and extends downward from one of the parcel carrying rails; and
a power source electrically coupled to the carrier electrical interface and configured for powering the plurality of propulsion members when the parcel carrier is coupled to the UAV chassis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.
620 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivering a parcel, the UAV comprising:
-
a UAV chassis comprising; a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis; an internal cavity; and a UAV electrical interface electrically coupled to the plurality of propulsion members; a parcel carrier selectively coupled to and removable from the UAV chassis, the parcel carrier comprising; an engagement housing configured for being secured to the UAV chassis, wherein the engagement housing includes a carrier electrical interface configured for being electrically coupled to the UAV electrical interface when the parcel carrier is coupled to the UAV chassis, wherein the engagement housing is configured for being at least partially inserted within the internal cavity of the UAV chassis; a parcel carrying mechanism coupled to the engagement housing, wherein the parcel carrying mechanism is configured to engage a parcel and comprises a pair of parcel carrying arms, each comprising; an upper portion extending outward from the engagement housing; a lower portion extending downward from the upper portion; and a parcel carrying rail positioned on the bottom of the lower portion and extending in a direction that is transverse to the lower portion; a ground probe that is coupled to and extends downward from one of the parcel carrying rails; and a power source electrically coupled to the carrier electrical interface and configured for powering the plurality of propulsion members when the parcel carrier is coupled to the UAV chassis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An enhanced parcel delivery system comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising; a UAV chassis comprising; an upper portion; a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis; a lower portion positioned below the upper portion in a vertical direction, the lower portion defining an internal cavity; a first parcel carrier selectively coupled to and removable from the UAV chassis, the first parcel carrier comprising; a first engagement housing configured to be at least partially inserted within the internal cavity of the lower portion of the UAV chassis; a first power source positioned within the first engagement housing and configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of propulsion members; and a first parcel carrying mechanism coupled to and positioned below the first engagement housing, wherein the first parcel carrying mechanism is configured to engage a first parcel and the first parcel carrier comprises a pair of parcel carrying arms, each comprising; an upper portion extending outward from the first engagement housing; a lower portion extending downward from the upper portion; and a parcel carrying rail positioned on the bottom of the lower portion and extending in a direction that is transverse to the lower portion; a ground probe that is coupled to and extends downward from one of the parcel carrying rails; and a second parcel carrier selectively coupled to and removable from the UAV chassis, the second parcel carrier comprising; a second engagement housing configured to be at least partially inserted within the internal cavity of the lower portion of the UAV chassis; a second power source positioned within the second engagement housing and configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of propulsion members; and a second parcel carrying mechanism coupled to and positioned below the second engagement housing, wherein the second parcel carrying mechanism is configured to engage a second parcel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Specification