Systems, methods, and devices for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 11,008,101 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Issued: 05/18/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth, Leone, Thomas, Dudar, Aed
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abell, Tye William
• Application Number:
  US16/172,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/66 Mooring attachments
• 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 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 3/00 Ground installations specially adapted for captive aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/67 the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/54 Safety gear
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/60 adapted for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 19/00 Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles. Example methods may include positioning a first component at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the first component to a winch; positioning a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of a lifting component to: operatively connect to the first component and the second component, connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first component at a first elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected to a winch;

a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and

a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable;

spanning between and operatively connected to the first component and the second component,

configured to operatively connect to and operatively disconnect from a vehicle,

a first portion of the cable configured to move in a first direction between the first component and the second component based on operation of the winch, and

a second portion of the cable configured to move, based on the operation of the winch and concurrent with the first portion moving in the first direction, in a second direction between the first component and the second component, and

configured to lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component in the first direction based on the operation of the winch.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the cable is a a lowering component configured to lower the vehicle toward the first elevation based on the operation of the winch.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting component includes a motor associated with controlling the operation of the winch, the motor including at least one of an electric motor, a hydraulic, a pneumatic motor, or an internal combustion motor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a balloon, a blimp, or a thermal airship.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second component is passive against air currents or actively resists air currents.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component includes a charging unit for charging the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component includes a stationary component or a mobile component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the stationary component includes a distribution center and the mobile component includes a second vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable configured to lift the vehicle between the first component and the second component using the winch further comprises the cable configured to lift the vehicle to a third elevation that is lower than the second elevation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the third elevation is based on a travel distance for transporting a payload associated with the vehicle.

12. A system, comprising:

a first component at a first elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected to a winch;

a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation;

a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable;

spanning between and operatively connected to the first component and the second component,

configured to operatively connect to and operatively disconnect from a vehicle,

a first portion of the cable configured to move in a first direction between the first component and the second component based on operation of the winch, and

a second portion of the cable configured to move, based on the operation of the winch and concurrent with the first portion moving in the first direction, in a second direction between the first component and the second component, and

configured to lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component in the first direction based on the operation of the winch; and

a third component at a third elevation, the third component configured to receive the vehicle from the second component and transport the vehicle to a fourth component.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the cable is a lowering component configured to vertically lower the vehicle to the first elevation based on the operation of the winch.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the second component is passive against air currents or actively resists air currents.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first component includes a stationary component or a mobile component.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first component includes one of a stationary component that includes a distribution center or a mobile component that includes a second vehicle.

18. A method, comprising:

positioning a first component at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the first component to a winch;

positioning a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and

configuring a cable of a lifting component to;

span between and operatively connect to the first component and the second component,

operatively connect to and operatively disconnect from a vehicle,

a first portion of the cable configured to move in a first direction between the first component and the second component based on operation of the winch,

and a second portion of the cable configured to move, based on the operation of the winch and concurrent with the first portion moving in the first direction, in a second direction between the first component and the second component, and

lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component in the first direction based on the operation of the winch.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising lowering the vehicle toward the first component in the second direction based on the operation of the winch.