Package transport container and transport operations for an unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 10,071,803 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hoareau, Guillaume, Liebenberg, Johannes J., Musial, John G., Whitman, Todd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US14/598,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20160207627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• 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 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• 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 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

According to an aspect, a package transport container for a UAV includes a manifest device having a computer processor, a receptacle including a base that secures contents of the receptacle, a locking mechanism that couples the manifest device to the receptacle during transport, and a connector coupling the manifest device to the UAV. The processor transmits material properties of the contents of the receptacle to the UAV, receives routing information for a package to be transported, monitors coordinates of the package transport container during transport, and upon determining the coordinates match coordinates of a delivery location specified in the routing information: sends a release request signal to the UAV to release the receptacle; receives a release command from the UAV; and disengages the locking mechanism to release the manifest device from the base. The routing information is determined at least in part based on the material properties of the contents.

Claims

1. A package transport container for a UAV, comprising:

a manifest device including a computer processor, the manifest device wirelessly coupled to the UAV;

a package receptacle including an attachment base that is configured to secure contents of the package receptacle;

a configurable locking mechanism that physically couples the manifest device to the package receptacle during a package transport operation and releases the package receptacle and the attachment base at a delivery location;

a connector that physically couples the manifest device to the UAV;

wherein the computer processor is configured to;

transmit material properties of the contents of the package receptacle to the UAV;

receive routing information for a package to be transported, the routing information determined at least in part based on the material properties of the contents;

monitor and transmit active coordinates of the package transport container during a transport operation;

upon determining the coordinates match coordinates of the delivery location specified in the routing information;

sending a release request signal to the UAV to release the package receptacle;

receiving a release command from the UAV; and

disengaging the locking mechanism to release the manifest device from the attachment base.

2. The package transport container of claim 1, wherein the manifest device further includes a communication interface and a memory storing a network address of the package transport container, the computer processor configured to:

determine an occurrence of a delivery failure event;

transmit the network address, current coordinates, and a recovery operation request, via the communication interface, to a network entity, the package transport container trackable via the network address and current coordinates.

3. The package transport container of claim 2, wherein the computer processor is configured to, upon the occurrence of the delivery failure event, activate a recovery device on the package transport container, the recovery device comprising at least one of a parachute, airbag, and floatation device.

4. The package transport container of claim 1, wherein the manifest device further comprises:

a memory; and

a scanner configured to scan package information from the package at packing loading time, the package information stored in the memory.

5. The package transport container of claim 4, wherein the manifest device further comprises a display panel on an upper surface of the manifest device;

wherein the package information includes package handling information based on package materials from which the package is made, and the computer processor is configured to;

display on the display panel at least one of the package handling information and the package materials.

6. The package transport container of claim 1, wherein the package receptacle is formed of a flexible mesh material configured to accommodate varying shapes and sizes of packages.

7. The package transport container of claim 1, wherein the package receptacle is configured to have fixed dimensions.

8. A method for implementing a package transport container operation for a UAV, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a computer processor of a manifest device, material properties of contents of a package receptacle to the UAV;

receiving, at the computer processor of the manifest device, routing information for a package to be transported, the routing information determined at least in part based on the material properties of the contents, the manifest device physically coupled to the package receptacle via a configurable locking mechanism, the package receptacle including an attachment base that is configured to secure the contents of the package receptacle, wherein the manifest device is physically coupled to the UAV;

monitoring and transmitting, by the computer processor, active coordinates of the package transport container during a transport operation;

upon determining the coordinates match coordinates of a delivery location specified in the routing information;

sending a release request signal to the UAV to release the package receptacle;

receiving a release command from the UAV; and

disengaging the locking mechanism to release the manifest device from the attachment base.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the manifest device further includes a communication interface and a memory storing a network address of the package transport container, the method further comprising:

determining, by the computer processor, an occurrence of a delivery failure event;

transmitting the network address, current coordinates, and a recovery operation request, via the communication interface, to a network entity, the package transport container trackable via the network address and current coordinates.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, upon the occurrence of the delivery failure event, activating a recovery device on the package transport container, the recovery device comprising at least one of a parachute, airbag, and flotation device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the manifest device further comprises:

a memory; and

a scanner configured to scan package information from the package at packing loading time, the package information stored in the memory.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the manifest device further comprises a display panel on an upper surface of the manifest device;

wherein the package information includes package handling information based on package materials from which the package is made, and method further comprises;

displaying on the display panel at least one of the package handling information and the package materials.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the package receptacle is formed of a flexible mesh material configured to accommodate varying shapes and sizes of packages.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the package receptacle is configured to have fixed dimensions.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a tangible storage medium readable by processing circuits of a package transport container for a UAV and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuits to perform a method, comprising;

transmitting, by a manifest device, material properties of contents of a package receptacle to the UAV;

receiving, at the manifest device, routing information for a package to be transported, the routing information determined at least in part based on the material properties of the contents, the manifest device physically coupled to a package receptacle via a configurable locking mechanism, the package receptacle including an attachment base that is configured to secure contents of the package receptacle, wherein the manifest device is physically coupled to the UAV;

monitoring and transmitting active coordinates of the package transport container during a transport operation;

upon determining the coordinates match coordinates of a delivery location specified in the routing information;

sending a release request signal to the UAV to release the package receptacle;

receiving a release command from the UAV; and

disengaging the locking mechanism to release the manifest device from the attachment base.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the manifest device further includes a communication interface and a memory storing a network address of the package transport container, the processing circuits further configured to perform:

determining an occurrence of a delivery failure event;

transmitting the network address, current coordinates, and a recovery operation request, via the communication interface, to a network entity, the package transport container trackable via the network address and current coordinates.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the processing circuits are further configured to perform:

upon the occurrence of the delivery failure event, activating a recovery device on the package transport container, the recovery device comprising at least one of a parachute, airbag, and flotation device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the manifest device further comprises a memory and a scanner, the scanner configured to scan package information from the package at packing loading time, the package information stored in the memory.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the manifest device further comprises a display panel on an upper surface of the manifest device;

wherein the package information includes package handling information based on package materials from which the package is made, and processing circuits are further configured to perform;

displaying on the display panel at least one of the package handling information and the package materials.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the package receptacle is formed of a flexible mesh material configured to accommodate varying shapes and sizes of packages.