Multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery

• US 10,377,507 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantium Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantium Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Tremblay, Simon, Bharucha, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US15/179,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20170073085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,158 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 : Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• 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

Abstract

The invention consists of an actuated box and navigation aid for automatic delivery by unmanned vehicles (UAV) or drones. It also incorporates delivery information via the web linking orders, enclosure status, package specific drone homing signals, delivery confirmations and more.

This system incorporates a novel and effective means for providing a standardized and predicable area for safe landing during delivery by functionalized drones. It also secures the package from theft, vandalism, animals and the weather and provides features necessary for air-traffic management.

Claims

1. A multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery using an unmanned aircraft vehicle, the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad comprising:

a box housing having a top edge and defining a sealable package receiving enclosure having a closed bottom chamber including a base and at least one side wall projecting upwardly therefrom and an open top defining a package inlet;

retractable flaps each having a landing pad surface and including an inner flap section and an outer flap section, the retractable flaps being connected to the box housing at the top edge thereof and being configurable between a closed configuration wherein the outer flap sections of the retractable flaps define a protective cover covering the package inlet and sealing the package receiving enclosure and the inner flap sections of the retractable flaps extend inside the package receiving enclosure, with the landing pad surface of each one of the retractable flaps facing inwardly towards the package receiving enclosure, and an open configuration wherein the inner flap sections and the outer flap sections of the retractable flaps together define a landing pad for the unmanned aircraft vehicle, with the inner flap sections covering the package inlet and closing the package receiving enclosure of the box housing, and the landing pad surface of each one of the retractable flaps facing outwardly for receiving the unmanned aircraft vehicle thereon; and

a motorized mechanism configured to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

2. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, wherein the inner flap section of the retractable flaps covers the package inlet of the package receiving enclosure at the top edge of the box housing, when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration, the inner flap section of the retractable flaps extending substantially along a common plan with the outer flap section of the retractable flaps.

3. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, wherein the retractable flaps are pivotally connected to the box housing along a single pivot point, the retractable flaps being pivotable about the single pivot point between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

4. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, wherein the retractable flaps each include a non-corrosive electrode on the landing pad surface thereof, the non-corrosive electrode being connectable to a battery charger of the unmanned aircraft vehicle, when the unmanned aircraft vehicle is supported on the landing pad defined by the retractable flaps configured in the open configuration to charge a battery of the unmanned aircraft vehicle.

5. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, further comprising an anchoring system allowing anchoring of the unmanned vehicle supported on the landing pad, when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration, the anchoring system being one of a mechanical anchoring system and a magnetic anchoring system.

6. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a heating or a cooling element operative to regulate a temperature inside the enclosure of the box housing.

7. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, further comprising a defrost mechanism including at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, the defrost mechanism performing a defrost cycle of at least a section of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad upon detection of frost conditions by the at least one of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.

8. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, further comprising:

a RF spectrum analyzer scanning a surrounding of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad to monitor a corresponding airspace, the RF spectrum analyzer identifying RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and defining a RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace, the RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and the RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace defining RF spectrum data that can be used to identify unauthorized unmanned aircraft vehicles; and

a data communication system at least periodically transmitting the RF spectrum data to a remote processing unit over a network.

9. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 1, wherein the motorized mechanism is sized and positioned to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration without substantially impacting on a clearance of the package inlet.

10. A multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery using an unmanned aircraft vehicle, the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad comprising:

a box housing having a top edge and defining a sealable package receiving enclosure having a closed bottom chamber including a base and at least one side wall projecting upwardly therefrom and an open top defining a package inlet;

retractable flaps each including an inner flap section and an outer flap section and connected to the box housing at the top edge thereof, the retractable flaps being configurable between a closed configuration wherein the outer flap sections of the retractable flaps define a protective cover covering the package inlet and sealing the package receiving enclosure of the box housing and the inner flap sections of the retractable flaps extend inside the package receiving enclosure, and an open configuration wherein the inner flap sections and the outer flap sections of the retractable flaps extend substantially along a common plane to define a landing pad for the unmanned aircraft vehicle, with the inner flap sections covering the package inlet and closing the package receiving enclosure of the box housing;

a motorized mechanism configured to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration; and

a final destination honing system in communication with the unmanned aircraft vehicle, the final destination honing system being configured to assist in the landing and approach of the unmanned aircraft vehicle towards the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad and comprising luminous indicators providing optical guides for the unmanned aircraft vehicle, the luminous indicators producing pulsed light representative of a binary signal.

11. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, wherein the motorized mechanism is sized and positioned to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration without substantially impacting on a clearance of the package inlet.

12. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, wherein the luminous indicators are positioned on the landing pad defined by the retractable flaps configured in the open configuration.

13. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, wherein the inner flap section of the retractable flaps covers the enclosure at the top edge of the box housing, when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration, the retractable flaps being pivotable along a single pivot point, between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

14. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, further comprising at least one of a heating or a cooling element operative to regulate a temperature inside the enclosure of the box housing.

15. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, further comprising a defrost mechanism including at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, the defrost mechanism performing a defrost cycle of at least a section of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad upon detection of frost conditions by the at least one of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.

16. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, further comprising an anchoring system allowing anchoring of the unmanned vehicle supported on the landing pad, when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration, the anchoring system being one of a mechanical anchoring system and a magnetic anchoring system.

17. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 10, further comprising:

a RF spectrum analyzer scanning a surrounding of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad to monitor a corresponding airspace, the RF spectrum analyzer identifying RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and defining a RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace, the RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and the RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace defining RF spectrum data that can be used to identify unauthorized unmanned aircraft vehicles; and

a data communication system at least periodically transmitting the RF spectrum data to a remote processing unit over a network.

18. A multifunctional motorized box and landing pad for automatic drone package delivery using an unmanned aircraft vehicle, the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad comprising:

a box housing having a top edge and defining a sealable package receiving enclosure having a closed bottom chamber including a base and at least one side wall projecting upwardly therefrom and an open top defining a package inlet;

retractable flaps connected to the box housing at the top edge thereof, the retractable flaps being configurable between a closed configuration wherein the retractable flaps define a protective cover covering the package inlet and sealing the package receiving enclosure of the box housing, and an open configuration wherein the retractable flaps define a landing pad for the unmanned aircraft vehicle while covering the package inlet and closing the package receiving enclosure of the box housing;

a motorized mechanism configured to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration; and

a mechanism operative to remove at least one of snow and dust from a surface of the retractable flaps.

19. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, wherein the motorized mechanism is sized and positioned to move the retractable flaps between the closed configuration and the open configuration without substantially impacting on a clearance of the package inlet.

20. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, wherein the mechanism operative to remove at least one of snow and dust is operative to remove at least one of snow and dust from the landing pad when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration.

21. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, wherein the mechanism operative to remove at least one of snow and dust includes heating elements mounted to the retractable flaps.

22. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, wherein the mechanism operative to remove at least one of snow and dust includes nozzles projecting an air jet to clean the surface of the retractable flaps.

23. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, further comprising a defrost mechanism including at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, the defrost mechanism performing a defrost cycle of at least a section of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad upon detection of frost conditions by the at least one of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.

24. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, further comprising an anchoring system allowing anchoring of the unmanned vehicle supported on the landing pad, when the retractable flaps are configured in the open configuration, the anchoring system being one of a mechanical anchoring system and a magnetic anchoring system.

25. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, further comprising at least one of a heating or a cooling element operative to regulate a temperature inside the enclosure of the box housing.

26. The multifunctional motorized box and landing pad of claim 18, further comprising:

a RF spectrum analyzer scanning a surrounding of the multifunctional motorized box and landing pad to monitor a corresponding airspace, the RF spectrum analyzer identifying RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and defining a RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace, the RF identifiers of identified unmanned aircraft vehicle and the RF power spectrum of the corresponding airspace defining RF spectrum data that can be used to identify unauthorized unmanned aircraft vehicles; and

a data communication system at least periodically transmitting the RF spectrum data to a remote processing unit over a network.