Unmanned aircraft systems with a customer interface system and methods of delivery utilizing unmanned aircraft systems

• US 10,293,938 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, John P., High, Donald R., Jones, Nathan G., Winkle, David C., McHale, Brian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/447,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20170253335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/66 for retrieving parcels
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/67 the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to enable package delivery and interaction with customers. Some embodiments comprise unmanned aircraft system (UAS), comprising: a crane system comprising a first spool system and a crane motor, the first spool system comprises a first cord that is extended and retracted; a retractable interface system cooperated with the first cord; a package holder configured to hold a first package to be delivered by the UAS at a delivery location; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor to control the crane motor, and to activate the crane motor to extend the first cord and lower the retractable interface system while the UAS is maintained in flight at least at a threshold height; wherein the retractable interface system comprises an input interface to receive input from a customer at the delivery location.

Claims

1. An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), comprising:

a crane system comprising a first spool system and a crane motor cooperated with the first spool system, wherein the first spool system comprises a first cord that is extended and retracted in response to the crane motor driving the first spool;

a physical retractable interface system secured with and cooperated with the first cord;

a package holder configured to hold a first package to be delivered by the UAS at a delivery location;

a control circuit coupled with the crane motor to control the crane motor; 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;

activate the crane motor to extend the first cord and lower the retractable interface system while the UAS is maintained in flight at least at a threshold height;

wherein the retractable interface system comprises an input interface comprising a payment method system, a physical display and user selectable options configured to receive physical input from a customer at the delivery location when the retractable interface system is lowered and accessible to the customer while the UAS is maintained in flight, and wherein the retractable interface system further comprises a wireless communication interface and an interface system control circuit configured to control the payment method system to obtain payment information and cause the acquired payment information to be wirelessly communicated via the wireless communication interface to a remote payment system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a transceiver such that the retractable interface system is communicatively coupled with the UAS, wherein a first input received through the retractable interface system is communicated to the control circuit and the control circuit is configured to cause the UAS to implement an action in response to the first input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the input interface is configured to allow a customer to enter a delivery authentication specific to an ordered product being delivered;

and

wherein the transceiver communicates the delivery authentication to the control circuit to be used in authorizing the delivery of the first package.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly receive an authentication communication from a user interface unit associated with the customer;

wherein the control circuit is configured to confirm an authorization to deliver the first package based on the authentication communication and initiate the delivery of the first package.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first input comprises a return request to return a second package, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the crane system in response to the return request and hoist the second package from the delivery location and cause the UAS to carry the second package away from the delivery location.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the retractable interface system comprises:

an audio system coupled with the transceiver, wherein the audio system is configured to enable at least audio communication between the customer and a remote delivery service managing the delivery of the first package.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera;

wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the camera during delivery of the first package to capture video of the delivery of the first package at the delivery location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the input interface comprises a signature capturing system configured to capture a signature from the customer as part of a delivery process in delivering the first package.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment method system comprises a credit card swipe system configured to obtain the payment information from the credit card being swiped through the credit card swipe system.

9. A method of delivering a package with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), comprising:

activating a crane motor of a crane system coupled with a first spool system to drive the first spool system, extending a first cord cooperated with the first spool and lowering a retractable interface system while the UAS is maintained in flight at least at a threshold height relative to a delivery location where a first package carried by the UAS is to be delivered;

activating the retractable interface system;

receiving a first input from a customer at the delivery location through at least one input interface of the retractable interface system while the UAS is maintained in flight, wherein the input interface comprises a payment method system to receive payment from the customer, a physical display and user selectable options configured to receive physical input from customer while the retractable interface system in lowered;

obtaining, from the customer and through the payment method system while the UAS is at the delivery location, payment information;

causing the acquired payment information to be wirelessly communicated via a wireless communication interface of the retractable interface system to a remote payment system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating, through a transceiver of the wireless communication interface, the first input received through the retractable interface system to a control circuit of the UAS; and

causing the UAS to implement an action in response to the first input.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, through the input interface, a delivery authentication entered by the customer that is specific to an ordered product being delivered, and

communicating the delivery authentication to the control circuit to be used in authorizing the delivery of the first package.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving, through a wireless transceiver of the UAS, an authentication communication from a user interface unit associated with the customer;

confirming an authorization to deliver the first package based on the authentication communication; and

initiating the delivery of the first package.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving first input comprises:

receiving a return request to return a second package;

activating the crane system in response to the return request and hoisting the second package from the delivery location; and

causing the UAS to carry the second package away from the delivery location.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling, through an audio system and the transceiver of the retractable interface system, at least audio communication between the customer and a remote delivery service managing the delivery of the first package.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

activating a camera during delivery of the first package and capturing video of the delivery of the first package at the delivery location.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the first input comprises capturing a signature from the customer, through a signature capturing system of the retractable interface system, as part of a delivery process in delivering the first package.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the obtaining the payment information comprises detecting a credit card swiped through a credit card swipe system of the payment method system;

and

obtaining the payment information from the credit card.