System for rental dispensing of UAVs

• US 10,614,515 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2019
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelle Boisvert, Stuart Brisson
• Original Assignee: Michelle Boisvert, Stuart Brisson
• Inventors: Brisson, Stuart, Boisvert, Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US16/547,725
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A UAV rental dispensing system employs a vending device that a consumer can rent a UAV from for a variety purposes requiring a video function thereon. The vending device may have multiple drones/UAVs enclosed therein, and be placed in predetermined locations. The vending device would provide launch and recovery, storage, power, charging, diagnostics and data transfer. Although the vending device will include an interface screen for accessing information, transactions may occur over the Internet or phone/data lines via a smart phone app or the like. The device will have a hinge or sliding door thereon with a landing pad/docket inside for charging of the batteries. After charging, the drone will be moved to a storage section automatically. When the drone is to be used, the reverse will occur. The level of charge will be checked before exiting the vending machine with necessary flight information uploaded by data lines or wirelessly.

Claims

1. A rental system for UAVs, said rental system comprising:

one or more online system devices for said rental system for UAVs;

one or more online payment devices for managing the rental of UAVs;

one or more online customer/user devices for communicating information regarding the rental of said UAVs;

communicating devices for the Internet between said online system devices, said customer/user online devices, and said online payment devices;

one or more rental dispensing devices, said rental dispensing devices communicating by a computer/processor with said online system devices and said customer/user online devices for controlling and managing said rental system for UAVs, such controlling including flight path information, status information of the UAVs, user information, and user payment information,

said rental dispensing device for renting and dispensing further comprising;

a housing, said housing being stand-alone;

one or more portals for UAVs to enter and exit said housing, each portal having a portal door;

one or more landing pads for the UAVs, said one or more landing pads being in close proximity to said one or more portal doors;

a door for accessing an interior of said housing;

a source of electricity for providing power to said rental dispensing device;

a storage area for storing one or more UAVs therein;

a charging surface for providing power to one or more UAVs for charging;

a computer in said housing for operating programs for said rental dispensing device;

an internet interface for providing access to and from said rental dispensing device, including communications for providing data transfer from said one or more UAVs and an external location through said computer; and

said computer further including an interface screen and a card reading device enabling users to rent and dispense said one or more UAVs having video from the rental dispensing device.

2. The rental system for UAVs as defined in claim 1, further including said rental system being used as a selfie station to take pictures or videos of the customer/user during activities.

3. The rental system for UAVs as defined in claim 1, wherein said customer/user online devices are smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers any other device providing communication upon the Internet.

4. The rental system as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface screen is driven by a computer in said housing that contains an operating program to allow a user to enter pertinent information in the rental of said UAV.

5. The rental system as defined in claim 1, wherein said rental dispensing device operates a program that communicates to a rental system for obtaining information regarding flights, payments, and status of the UAVs.

6. The rental system as defined in claim 1, wherein said UAVs operate either autonomously or semi-autonomously.

7. The rental system as defined in claim 1, wherein said owner/agent is able to oversee the operation of the UAVs to insure legal and safe activities thereof and may override any operation thereof.

8. The rental system as defined in claim 1, further including said online payment devices for the rental of the UAVs including money transfer devices such as credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay, PayPal.