SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DRONE DELIVERY OR PICK UP DURING A DELIVERY OR PICK UP PHASE OF DRONE OPERATION

• US 20160033966A1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emmett Farris, William F. Mcgee II
• Original Assignee: William F. Mcgee II
• Inventors: Farris, Emmett, McGee, William F. II
• Granted Patent: US 10,163,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/146 the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/122 Parts, details, or accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, devices for leaving messages A47G29/1201 - A47G29/1218 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/30 Accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, means for leaving messages
• 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 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system including a landing location where a drone at least one of delivers and acquires a parcel, and a homing device to interact with the drone to guide the drone to the landing location independent of interaction from another source. The homing device guides the drone during the landing phase of a flight plan. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a landing location where a drone at least one of delivers and acquires a parcel; and

a homing device to interact with the drone to guide the drone to the landing location independent of interaction from another source;

wherein the homing device guides the drone during the landing phase of a flight plan.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the homing device is a part of the landing location.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the landing location comprises a container into which a parcel is at least one of removed from within or upon and placed within or upon by the drone.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the container comprises a transportation subsystem to move the container to a location for the drone to at least one of deliver and acquire the parcel.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first path the drone will take to reach the landing location and commands the container to move from a current position to another position to create a second path for the drone to reach the landing location when the first path is not suitable for the drone to take.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the landing location comprises a landing pad onto which a parcel is at least placed upon or removed from by the drone.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the landing pad comprises a transportation subsystem to move the landing pad for the drone to at least one of deliver and acquire the parcel.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the homing device further comprises a navigator that comprises at least one navigation subsystem to direct the drone at least one of to and from the landing location.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the homing device further comprises a communicator to communicate with at least the drone to determine whether a parcel to be delivered is to be delivered at the landing location.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the communicator further communicates with a communication device of at least one of a recipient of the parcel and a sender of the parcel to at least one of notify when delivery occurs and confirm that delivery is intended at the landing location.

11. The system according to claim 3, wherein the container comprises a locking mechanism to allow access into the container by at least one of a drone authenticated to at least one of deliver and retrieve a parcel from the container and a user of the container.

12. A system comprising a homing device to interact with a delivery beacon to guide the delivery beacon to a location to at least one of deliver and pick up a parcel, through interaction between the delivery beacon and the homing device and independent of interaction with another source.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a landing location where the parcel is delivered or retrieved from.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the landing location comprises a container into which a parcel is at least one of removed from within or upon and placed within or upon.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the secure parcel box comprises a transportation subsystem to move the container to a location for the drone to at least one of deliver and acquire the parcel.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein when the delivery beacon is on a drone, the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first path the drone will take to reach the landing location and commands the container to move from a current position to another position to create a second path for the drone to reach the landing location when the first path is not suitable for the drone to take.

17. A method comprising:

detecting a drone when the drone is within a distance of a landing location with a homing device when the drone is about to transition to a landing phase of its flight plan;

determining whether the drone is authorized to land at the landing location with the homing device;

if the drone is authorized to land at the landing location, guiding the drone to the landing location with the homing device independent of interaction with another source.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining whether a designated path to be taken by the drone to land at the landing location is acceptable for the drone to land with the homing device.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising locating an auxiliary landing location and directing the drone to the auxiliary landing location when the designated path is determined to be unacceptable with the homing device.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising commanding the landing location to move to an auxiliary location and to direct the drone to the auxiliary location when the designated path is determined to be unacceptable with the homing device.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising communicating with of at least one of a recipient of the parcel and a sender of the parcel to at least one of notify when delivery occurs and confirm that delivery is intended at the landing location with the homing device.

22. A system comprising a homing device to interact with a drone to guide the drone to a landing location through interaction between the drone and the homing device that is independent of interaction with another source.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a landing location where the drone lands and takes off.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the landing location comprises a container into which a parcel is at least one of removed from within or upon and placed within or upon by the drone.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the secure parcel box comprises a transportation subsystem to move the container to a location for the drone to at least one of deliver and acquire the parcel.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the homing device assesses at least one environmental condition along a first path the drone will take to reach the landing location and commands the container to move from a current position to another position to create a second path for the drone to reach the landing location when the first path is not suitable for the drone to take.