Mobile base utilizing automated aerial vehicles with navigation systems for delivering items

• US 10,453,021 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, Ethan Zane, Kalyan, Atishkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/904,234
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A mobile base is provided that travels through delivery areas and utilizes associated transportation units (e.g., automated aerial vehicles) for delivering items from the mobile base to user specified delivery locations. The transportation units may be carried on the mobile base and may utilize navigation systems (e.g., utilizing GPS) to travel back and forth to the mobile base when making deliveries. The mobile base may have multiple stopping points and may continue to move along a route through a geographic area while the transportation units depart from and return to the mobile base at different locations.

Claims

1. A system to deliver items from a materials handling facility, the system comprising:

a mobile base configured to transport items from a materials handling facility to a delivery area, the delivery area comprising delivery locations;

an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) carried by the mobile base and configured to deliver an item from the mobile base to a delivery location in the delivery area, the AAV comprising;

a control system, comprising;

an item engagement mechanism controller;

a navigation system utilizing a global positioning system (GPS) to navigate the AAV to and from locations;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

utilize the GPS of the navigation system to navigate the AAV with an item from the mobile base, wherein the AAV departs from the mobile base and travels to a delivery location that is specified in a user order for the item;

utilize the item engagement mechanism controller to release the ordered item at the specified delivery location; and

utilize the GPS of the navigation system to navigate the AAV from the specified delivery location back to the mobile base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base, the mobile base is moved to a different location, and the GPS of the navigation system is utilized to navigate the AAV to the different location of the mobile base.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the AAV further comprises an infrared sensor that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV on the mobile base after the AAV returns to the mobile base.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the AAV further comprises an imaging device that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV on the mobile base after the AAV returns to the mobile base.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile base comprises a roof with an opening in the roof of the mobile base that serves as an extraction point from which the AAV departs for transporting the ordered item to the delivery location.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the AAV further comprises an item engagement mechanism that operates as a container for containing the ordered item, and the ordered item is carried in the item engagement mechanism through the opening in the roof of the mobile base that serves as the extraction point from which the AAV departs for transporting the ordered item to the delivery location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery area further comprises a second delivery location that the mobile base transports a second ordered item to.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system of the AAV further comprises a network interface that supports wireless communication.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication is provided via a cellular communications network.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the network interface of the AAV receives an instruction for delivering the ordered item from a remote computing resource via the wireless communication, in response to which the GPS of the navigation system is utilized to navigate the AAV from the mobile base.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the AAV further comprises a frame and a plurality of propeller motors that are spaced about the frame to fly to the AAV to transport the ordered item.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of propeller motors comprises at least eight propeller motors.

13. A computer implemented method for controlling an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) to transport an item from a mobile base for a delivery, the computer implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving an instruction to deliver an ordered item from the mobile base;

controlling the AAV to depart from the mobile base with the ordered item, wherein the AAV transports the ordered item from the mobile base to a delivery location that is specified in a user order for the item;

controlling an item engagement mechanism of the AAV to release the ordered item at the delivery location; and

controlling the AAV to navigate back to the mobile base.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base with the ordered item, the mobile base is moved to a different location, and the AAV is controlled to navigate back to the mobile base at the different location of the mobile base.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein a navigation system of the AAV is utilized for the controlling of the AAV to navigate back to the mobile base.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the navigation system utilizes a global positioning system (GPS) for the navigation.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the AAV to land on the mobile base when the AAV returns from the delivery location and utilizing an infrared sensor to assist with the landing.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the AAV to land on the mobile base when the AAV returns from the delivery location and utilizing an imaging device to assist with the landing.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the instruction to deliver the ordered item is received via wireless communication.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19, wherein the wireless communication is provided through a cellular communications network.

21. An automated aerial vehicle (AAV) carried by a mobile base and configured to deliver an item from the mobile base to a delivery location, the AAV comprising:

an item engagement mechanism;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

navigate the AAV with an ordered item from the mobile base, wherein the AAV departs from the mobile base and transports the ordered item to a delivery location that is specified in a user order for the item;

control the item engagement mechanism to release the ordered item at the delivery location; and

navigate the AAV back to the mobile base.

22. The AAV of claim 21, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base with the ordered item, the mobile base is moved to a different location, and the AAV is navigated to the different location of the mobile base.

23. The AAV of claim 21, further comprising a navigation system, wherein the navigation system is utilized for the navigation of the AAV from and to the mobile base.

24. The AAV of claim 23, wherein the navigation system utilizes a global positioning system (GPS) for the navigation.

25. The AAV of claim 21, further comprising an infrared sensor that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV on the mobile base after the AAV returns to the mobile base.

26. The AAV of claim 21, further comprising an imaging device that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV on the mobile base after the AAV returns to the mobile base.

27. The AAV of claim 21, further comprising a network interface that supports wireless communication.

28. The AAV of claim 27, wherein the wireless communication is via a cellular communications network.

29. The AAV of claim 28, wherein the network interface receives an instruction from a remote computing resource via the cellular communications network for delivering the ordered item, in response to which the AAV is navigated from the mobile base to transport the ordered item to the delivery location.

30. A system to deliver items, comprising:

an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) configured to deliver an item from a mobile base to a delivery location, the AAV comprising;

a control system, comprising;

a navigation system to navigate the AAV;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

receive an instruction for delivering an item from the mobile base, wherein the item is to be delivered from the mobile base to a delivery location that is specified in a user order for the item;

utilize the navigation system to navigate the AAV with the ordered item from the mobile base, wherein the AAV departs from the mobile base and travels to the delivery location to deliver the ordered item; and

utilize the navigation system to navigate the AAV from the delivery location back to the mobile base, wherein after the AAV departs from the mobile base, the mobile base is moved to a different location, and the navigation system is utilized to navigate the AAV to the different location of the mobile base.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the AAV further comprises an item engagement mechanism that is utilized to engage the ordered item at the mobile base.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the AAV further comprises an infrared sensor that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV on the mobile base.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the AAV further comprises an imaging device that is utilized to assist with a landing of the AAV.