Temperature-controlled payload container
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorNicholas Kristofer Gentry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature-controlled payload container that may be used by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to transport perishable items and/or items desired to be at or near a specific temperature upon arrival at a destination. The temperature-controlled payload container may be used to maintain or adjust a temperature of a delivery item, such as a food item. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled payload container may be capable of heating items in a first portion of the container and cooling items in a second portion of the container. For example, the container may be divided by a Peltier junction, which is an electrified junction of two different conductors. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled payload container may receive heat generated from operation of the UAV.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to transport an item to a destination;
- and
- a temperature-controlled payload container to contain the item during the transport, the temperature-controlled payload container comprising:
- a power source;
- a heating element to increase a temperature of the item in the temperature-controlled payload container, the heating element comprising a fluid that circulates through a duct to transfer heat from components of the UAV and that deposits the heat in a compartment that contains the item, wherein the components comprise at least one of a controller or a battery;
- and
- a cooling element to decrease the temperature of the item in the temperature-controlled payload container, the cooling element comprising at least one of a Peltier junction, a heat exchanger, or a refrigeration cycle compressor powered by the power source.
A system comprising:
- an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to transport an item to a destination;
- and
- a temperature-controlled payload container to contain the item during the transport, the temperature-controlled payload container including a heating element configured to circulate fluid through a duct to transfer heat from at least one of a controller or a power source of the UAV to the temperature-controlled payload container, a cooling element, and a temperature controller configured to receive temperatures from a temperature sensor and control power supplied to the heating element and the cooling element based at least in part on the temperatures received.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a controller configured to control the motor;
- a battery;
- and
- a payload container to contain an item during transport of the item, the payload container comprising:
- a heating element configured to increase a temperature of the item in the payload container, the heating element comprising a fluid that circulates through a duct to transfer heat from at least one of the electric motor, the controller, or the battery, and deposit the heat in a compartment that contains the item;
- and
- a cooling element configured to decrease the temperature of the item in the payload container, the cooling element comprising at least one of a Peltier junction, a heat exchanger, or a refrigeration cycle compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.