Portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, and methods of delivering products utilizing aircraft launch systems

• US 10,173,774 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Nathan G., Hicks, Gregory A., High, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US15/271,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20170081043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/02 Flying units formed by separate aircraft towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• 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 70/92 Portable platforms

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.

Claims

1. A portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system, comprising:

a first portable launch pad system comprising;

a package deck;

an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and

multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.

2. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the multiple modular coupling structures comprise at least three modular coupling structures coupled with and arranged relative to the frame enabling temporary coupling and decoupling of the first launch pad system with at least three additional portable launch pad systems.

3. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises:

a recharging system comprising;

an electrical connector cooperated with one of the multiple modular coupling structures configured to enable electrical coupling with another of the multiple additional portable launch pad systems; and

a recharging pad incorporated into the aircraft deck and electrically coupled with the electrical connector to receive electrical power from the electrical connector, wherein the recharging pad is configured to provide electrical power to an unmanned delivery aircraft temporarily resting on the aircraft deck.

4. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft deck has a U-shape having an opening along one edge defined by two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, wherein the opening provides an opening between the aircraft deck and the package deck and the extension arms are configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening.

5. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises:

a user interface;

a communications transceiver configured to communicate with one or more devices separate from the first portable launch pad system;

a control circuit; and

a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of;

receive, through the user interface, a secure package command; and

communicate, in response to receiving the secure package command, an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft.

6. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, further comprising a lift system cooperated with the aircraft deck and configured to enable a selection of the distance between the aircraft deck and the package deck.

7. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises:

one or more motors cooperated with the frame; and

a control circuit coupled with the one or more motors and configured to;

receive a separation distance command; and

automatically activate the one or more motors to cause a change in distance between the package deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the separation distance command.

8. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises a scale system cooperated with at least the aircraft deck and configured to detect a weight of a package and an unmanned delivery aircraft positioned on the unmanned delivery aircraft deck of the first portable launch pad system.

9. The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises an aircraft latching system cooperated with the aircraft deck and configured to temporarily secure an unmanned delivery aircraft with the aircraft deck while the aircraft is not active and the first portable launch pad system is configured to be moved.

10. A method of preparing portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, comprising:

positioning a first portable launch pad system relative to one or more additional portable launch pad systems, wherein each of the first portable launch pad system and the one or more additional portable launch pad systems comprises a package deck, an unmanned deliver aircraft deck separated by a distance from the package deck, and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame; and

cooperating the first portable launch pad system with each of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems through the multiple modular coupling structures to temporarily and rigidly couple the first launch pad system with the one or more additional portable launch pad systems.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cooperating the first portable launch pad system with each of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems comprises cooperating the first portable launch pad system through the multiple modular coupling structures with each of at least three additional portable launch pad systems.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving electrical power at the first portable launch pad system through an electrical connector cooperated with one of the multiple modular coupling structures configured to enable electrical coupling with another of the multiple additional portable launch pad systems; and

provide electrical power to an unmanned delivery aircraft through a recharging pad incorporated into the aircraft deck and electrically coupled with the electrical connector while the unmanned delivery aircraft temporarily is resting on the aircraft deck.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

cooperating a package, which is positioned on the package deck, with an unmanned delivery aircraft through an opening of the aircraft deck with the aircraft deck having a U-shape defining the opening along one edge and between two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, with the unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening and being supported by the extension arms.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, through the user interface on the first portable launch pad system, a secure package command; and

communicating, through a transceiver of the first portable launch pad system and in response to receiving the secure package command, an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

securing the aircraft deck at one of multiple different distances from the package deck through a lift system enabling a selection of the distance between the aircraft deck and the package deck.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a separation distance command; and

automatically activating one or more motors to cause a change in distance between the package deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the separation distance command.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a weight, through a scale system of the first portable launch pad system, of a package and an unmanned delivery aircraft positioned on the first portable launch pad system.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

temporarily latching an unmanned delivery aircraft with the aircraft deck while the aircraft is not active and the first portable launch pad system is configured to be moved.