Multi-use UAV docking station systems and methods

• US 10,112,712 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gentry, Nicholas Kristofer, Hsieh, Raphael, Nguyen, Luan Khai
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US15/159,859
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/146 the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/32 generated by fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/60 with rolling cages
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 : Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/99 : Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 : with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 : Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 : of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 : specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 : Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 : with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 : located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 : Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 : Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 : Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 : for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 : specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 : for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a series of multiuse UAV docking stations are disclosed. The docking stations can be networked with a central control and a plurality of UAVs. The docking stations can include a number of services to facilitate both UAV guidance and maintenance and community acceptance and benefits. The docking stations can include package handling facilities and can act as a final destination or as a delivery hub. The docking stations can extend the range of UAVs by providing recharging/refueling stations for the UAVs. The docking stations can also include navigational aid to guide the UAVs to the docking stations and to provide routing information from the central control. The docking stations can be incorporated into existing structures such as cell towers, light and power poles, and buildings. The docking stations can also comprise standalone structures to provide additional services to underserved areas.

Claims

1. A method to deliver packages via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

receiving a package at a facility;

mapping, via a central control, a first flight path for a first UAV from the facility to a final destination of the package;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the first flight path;

receiving, at the central control, weather data from one or more weather stations;

determining, by the central control and based on the weather data, that a weather event exists along the first flight path;

receiving, at the central control, a current position of the first UAV;

identifying, with the central control, an intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV;

mapping, via the central control, a second flight path for the first UAV from the current position to the intermediate docking station;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the second flight path to the intermediate docking station in response to determining the weather event exists along the first flight path;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to hold at a landing platform at the intermediate docking station and at least one of;

to receive a first energy source from a charging station at the intermediate docking station, to deposit the package at the intermediate docking station, or to receive a second package at the intermediate docking station;

determining, by the central control, a flight range of the first UAV, the flight range based at least in part on at least one of the first UAV receiving the first energy source, depositing the package, or receiving the second package;

mapping, via the central control and based at least in part on determining the flight range, a third flight path for the first UAV from the intermediate docking station to the final destination of the package; and

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV instructing the first UAV to follow the third flight path.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a current position from a second UAV;

mapping a fourth flight path from the current position of the second UAV to the intermediate docking station; and

sending instructions from the central control to the second UAV to follow the fourth flight path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV further comprises identifying an unoccupied docking station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV further comprises identifying a closest docking station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to receive a first energy source from a charging station at the intermediate docking station includes sending further instructions to the first UAV comprising at least one of:

to receive recharge of a first battery partially or fully, to receive refuel of a fuel container partially or fully, to receive a partially charged or a fully charged second battery, or to receive a partially full or full second fuel container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the central control and based on the weather data, that a weather exists along the first flight path comprises determining that the weather event and the first UAV will interact along the first flight path and that the weather event is associated with a metric that exceeds a predetermined threshold in comparison to a payload capability of the UAV including one or more characteristics of the package, and wherein determining, based on the weather data, that a weather event exceeds a predetermined threshold comprises at least one of determining that a rainfall proximate the first UAV exceeds a predetermined rainfall rate or determining that a wind speed proximate the first UAV exceeds a predetermined wind speed.

7. A method to deliver packages via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

mapping, via a central control, a first flight path for a first UAV from a facility to a final destination of a package;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the first flight path;

receiving, at the central control, weather data from one or more weather stations;

receiving, at the central control, a current position of the first UAV;

determining, by the central control and based on the current position of the first UAV, that the weather event and the first UAV following the first flight path will intersect;

identifying, by the central control, a stationary docking station from the current position of the first UAV;

mapping, via the central control, a second flight path for the first UAV from the current position to the stationary docking station;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the second flight path and hold at the stationary docking station in response to determining the weather event and the first UAV following the first flight path will intersect;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to hold at a landing platform at the intermediate docking station and at least one of;

to receive a first energy source from a charging station at the intermediate docking station, to deposit the package at the intermediate docking station, or to receive a second package at the intermediate docking station;

determining by the central control, a flight range of the first UAV, the flight range based at least in part on at least one of the first UAV receiving the first energy source, depositing the package, or receiving the second package;

mapping, via the central control and based at least in part on determining the flight range, a third flight path for the first UAV from the stationary docking station to the final destination of the package; and

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the third flight path.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving, at the central control, weather data from one or more weather stations comprises receiving weather data from a first weather station of the one or more weather stations;

and

wherein the stationary docking station includes the first weather station.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving, at the central control, weather data from one or more weather stations comprises receiving weather data from a plurality of weather stations;

and

wherein each of the plurality of weather stations is associated with a different stationary docking station.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying, with the central control, the stationary docking station from the current position of the first UAV comprises identifying a streetlight including the stationary docking station.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying, with the central control, the stationary docking station from the current position of the first UAV comprises identifying a cell tower including the stationary docking station.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying, by the central control, the stationary docking station from the current position of the first UAV further comprises identifying at least one of a closest docking station or an unoccupied docking station.

13. A method to deliver packages via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

receiving a package at a facility;

mapping, via a central control, a first flight path for a first UAV from the facility to a final destination of the package;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the first flight path;

receiving, at the central control, weather data from one or more weather stations;

determining, by the central control and based on the weather data, that a weather event exists along the first flight path;

receiving, at the central control, a current position of the first UAV;

identifying, with the central control, an intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV;

mapping, via the central control, a second flight path for the first UAV from the current position to the intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV, the second flight path configured to avoid the weather event;

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV to follow the second flight path and hold at the intermediate docking station and at least one of;

to receive a first energy source from a charging station at the intermediate docking station, to deposit the package at the intermediate docking station, or to receive a second package at the intermediate docking station determining, by the central control, a flight range of the first UAV, the flight ranged based at least in part on at least one of the first UAV receiving the first energy source, depositing the package, or receiving the second package;

mapping, via the central control and based at least in part on determining the flight range, a third flight path for the first UAV from the intermediate docking station to the final destination of the package; and

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV instructing the first UAV to follow the third flight path.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending instructions from the central control to the first UAV comprising to secure to the intermediate docking station.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the central control, an error code from the first UAV; and

wherein identifying, with the central control, an intermediate docking station from the current position of the first UAV is in response to the receiving of the error code.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a current position from a second UAV;

mapping a fourth flight path from the current position of the second UAV to the intermediate docking station; and

sending instructions from the central control to the second UAV to follow the fourth flight path.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining, with the central control, that a carrying capacity for the second UAV is equal to or greater than a weight of the package.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that a third UAV occupies the intermediate stationary station;

mapping a fifth flight path for the third UAV from the intermediate docking station to a secondary docking station; and

sending instructions from the central control to the third UAV to follow the fifth flight path.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an error code from the first UAV comprises receiving an error code associated with a low battery level on the first UAV, the method further comprising:

receiving a first battery from the first UAV at a recharging station of the intermediate docking station; and

providing a second battery to the first UAV from the recharging station.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second battery is at a higher state of charge than the first battery.