# US 10,482,418 B2 · Systems and methods for inspecting a delivery vehicle using a paired inspection drone

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- Number: US 10,482,418 B2
- Document ID: US10482418B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/710,980
- Filed: 2017-09-21
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28
- Assignees: Federal Express Corporation
- Applicants: Federal Express Corporation
- Inventors: Reuben F. Burch, V; David A. Doyle; Brian D. Popp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482418B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/0833: Tracking
- B64F 1/222: for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
- B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports
- B64U 50/19: using electrically powered motors
- B64U 80/82: Airborne vehicles
- G01S 5/0018: {Transmission from mobile station to base station}
- G05D 1/0094: {involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target}
- G05D 1/225: operated by off-board computers
- G05D 1/656: Interaction with payloads or external entities
- G05D 1/689: Pointing payloads towards fixed or moving targets (positioning towed, pushed or suspended implements G05D1/672)
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- G06Q 10/0832: Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication
- B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
- B64U 10/60: Tethered aircraft
- B64U 50/37: Charging when not in flight
- B64U 2101/17: for detecting, disrupting or countering communications
- B64U 2101/26: for manufacturing, inspections or repairs
- B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography
- B64U 2201/00: UAVs characterised by their flight controls
- B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
- G05D 2105/89: {for inspecting structures, e.g. wind mills, bridges, buildings or vehicles}
- G05D 2107/95: {Interior or surroundings of another vehicle}
- G05D 2109/254: {Flying platforms, e.g. multicopters}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Paired drone-based systems and methods are described that inspect a delivery vehicle. For example, a system may include a docking station within the vehicle and a sensor-enabled inspection drone paired to the vehicle and that aerially inspects targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle. In response to an activation command, the inspection drone transitions to an active power state, uncouples from the docking station, identifies the targeted inspection points as corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle, moves to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points, automatically identifies an out of range inspection condition about a targeted inspection point based upon sensor-based inspection information detected from at least one of the aerials positions, and responsively transmits an inspection notification message to a vehicle receiver on the vehicle to indicate the targeted inspection point is outside an acceptable range for operation of the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drone-based system for inspecting a delivery vehicle, comprising:
an internal docking station fixed within a drone storage area within the delivery vehicle, the internal docking station further comprising
a physical docking interface,
an electronic charging connection interface, and
an electronic data connection interface; and
an inspection drone paired to the delivery vehicle and operative to aerially inspect a plurality of targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle, the paired inspection drone further comprising:
a main housing,
an onboard controller disposed within the main housing,
a memory storage coupled to the onboard controller and maintaining an inspection profile record corresponding to the delivery vehicle,
a plurality of lifting engines coupled with respective lifting rotors, each of the lifting engines being fixed to a different portion of the main housing and responsive to flight control input generated by the onboard controller as part of maintaining a desired flight profile,
a drone capture interface responsive to the onboard controller and disposed on the main housing, the drone capture interface being operative to selectively mate to the physical docking interface of the internal docking station in response to a docking command from the onboard controller, wherein the drone capture interface holds the paired inspection drone in a secure position when selectively mated to the physical docking interface of the internal docking station,
at least one sensor coupled to the onboard controller, the sensor being operative to (a) detect sensor-based inspection information while the paired inspection drone is airborne and has aerially moved from the secured position on the internal docking station to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points and (b) provide the detected sensor-based inspection information to the onboard controller,
a communication interface coupled to the onboard controller, the communication interface being operative to transmit an inspection notification message in response to a transmission command from the onboard controller, and
an onboard battery providing electrical power to each of the onboard controller, the lifting engines, the drone capture interface, the at least one sensor, and the communication interface, wherein the onboard battery connecting to the electronic charging connection interface when the paired inspection drone is in the secure position on the internal docking station; and
wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is operative, in response to receiving an activation command over the communication interface, to
transition from at least a low power state to an active power state as part of a targeted inspection operation of the delivery vehicle, the paired inspection drone being exclusively assigned to the delivery vehicle;
cause the drone capture interface to automatically uncouple the paired inspection drone from the physical docking interface of internal docking station once the internal monitor drone transitions to the active monitoring state;
access the memory storage to identify the targeted inspection points from the inspection profile record stored in the memory storage, the targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle;
change the desired flight profile to first cause the lifting engines to move the paired inspection drone from the secured position on the internal docking station to an initial airborne position within the drone storage area of the delivery vehicle and then move the paired inspection drone from the initial airborne position to the respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points;
automatically identify an inspection condition about at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information detected from at least one of the aerials positions, the inspection condition being outside an acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle; and
cause the communication interface to responsively transmit an inspection notification message to a delivery vehicle receiver disposed on the delivery vehicle upon identifying the inspection condition for the at least one targeted inspection point is outside the acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a base controller fixed to the delivery vehicle and operative to provide a flight command to the onboard controller on the paired inspection drone; and
a tether linking the base controller and the paired inspection drone, the tether providing an electronic conduit for at least one of data and power related to the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the tether provides the flight command from the base controller to the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the tether further providing a fiber optic conduit for movement of at least an image type of sensor-based inspection information from the paired inspection drone to the base controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to generate landing control input for the lifting engines if the tether breaks, the landing control input facilitating a return of the paired inspection drone to the internal docking station and securing of the drone capture interface to the physical docking interface of the internal docking station.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the paired inspection drone further comprises a control receiver coupled to the onboard controller, the control receiver having an input connected to the tether, the control receiver being operative to receive the flight command from the base controller on the input and pass the received flight command to the onboard controller; and wherein the onboard controller is further operative to generate the flight control input for the lifting engines based upon the received flight command.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the paired inspection drone further comprises a restrictive tether connected to the paired inspection drone and to the delivery vehicle, the restrictive tether limiting movement of the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller is further operative to generate the flight control input autonomously to enable the paired inspection drone to self-control aerial movements of the paired inspection drone from the secured position on the internal docking station to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the paired inspection drone comprises a linked part of the delivery vehicle that travels with the delivery vehicle during a delivery vehicle based shipment operation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the delivery vehicle based shipment operation comprises an operation to ship one or more items from a first location to a second location while the one or more items are maintained within a cargo storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises an aircraft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the drone storage area comprises an accessible storage compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller is further operative to download the inspection profile record into the memory storage through the electronic data connection interface of the internal docking station.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to inside of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises an aircraft; and wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises a cargo attachment point located within an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises a cargo handling point located within an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft, wherein the cargo handling point facilitating movement of a cargo shipment within the accessible cargo storage area.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the cargo handling point comprises at least one from a group consisting of a roller, a caster, a portion of a roller deck, a roller ball mat, a castor mat, a turntable, and a conveyor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the paired inspection drone is further operative to automatically identify the inspection condition by performing an enhanced level inspection related to a designated area of the delivery vehicle using the at least one sensor on the paired inspection drone to detect the sensor-based inspection information when the paired inspection drone is proximate one of the targeted inspection points in the designated area.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises an area of the delivery vehicle having an onboard safety system for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire extinguishing equipment.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire suppressant equipment.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises a hazardous material storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises a fire suppressant storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas externally exposed on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of designated inspection areas comprises a first designated inspection area aerially accessible from above the delivery vehicle but that is not visible from a ground level perspective relative to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the designated inspection areas comprise a plurality of aircraft components of an aircraft representing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of aircraft components comprises at least two from the group consisting of a panel, a rivet, a seam, an engine, a flight control surface, a window seal, a closable entry to within the aircraft, aircraft lighting, an antenna, landing gear, and tires.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the targeted inspection points identified from the inspection profile record further comprise a prioritized subset of the targeted inspection points designated for an enhanced level of sensor-based inspection when the sensor detects the sensor-based inspection information for the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, wherein the prioritized subset of the targeted inspection points comprises parts of the delivery vehicle not serviced within a threshold period of time as designated in the inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle that is accessible by the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, wherein the prioritized subset of the targeted inspection points comprises parts of the delivery vehicle exceeding an age threshold as designated in the inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, wherein the enhanced level of sensor-based inspection comprises detecting, by a plurality of sensors on the paired inspection drone, the sensor-based inspection information for the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, wherein the enhanced level of sensor-based inspection comprises detecting, by the sensor on the paired inspection drone, the sensor-based inspection information for each of the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points over an enhanced inspection period of time compared to the time taken by the paired inspection drone to detect the sensor-based inspection information for those not in the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 34 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor on the paired inspection drone comprises an image sensor that captures one or more images relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the detected sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34, wherein the image sensor comprises at least one of a visual imaging sensor, an infrared (IR) imaging sensor, and a thermal imaging sensor.

### Claim 36 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor on the paired inspection drone comprises a temperature sensor that measures a temperature relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the detected sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 37 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor on the paired inspection drone comprises a depth sensor that conducts surface mapping measurements relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the detected sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37, wherein the depth sensor comprises at least one of a LIDAR sensor and an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 39 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone is further operative to update the inspection profile record maintained in the memory storage based upon the sensor-based inspection information provided by the sensor to the onboard processor, the updated inspection profile record reflecting an electronic catalog of aerial inspections relative to each of the targeted inspection points on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The system of claim 39 further comprising a maintenance receiver separate from the delivery vehicle for maintaining maintenance-related information about the delivery vehicle gathered with the paired inspection drone; and wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to transmit the updated inspection profile record to the maintenance receiver.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The system of claim 39, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to transmit the updated inspection profile record to the delivery vehicle receiver.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

The system of claim 39 further comprising
a mobile interactive transceiver operated by vehicle crew personnel for the delivery vehicle; and
wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to transmit the updated inspection profile record to the mobile interactive transceiver.

### Claim 43 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is operative to automatically identify the inspection condition by being further operative to identify the inspection condition by comparing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to prior sensor-based inspection information detected for the one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 44 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is operative to automatically identify the inspection condition by being further operative to process the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to determine that the one of the targeted inspection points is currently in an unacceptable condition as the inspection condition.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The system of claim 44, wherein the unacceptable condition related to the one of the targeted inspection points comprises at least one of a missing condition, a loose condition, a damaged condition, a cracked condition, a worn condition, a leaking condition, and a thermal related condition.

### Claim 46 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to cause the communication interface to responsively transmit the inspection notification message by being further operative to cause the communication interface to transmit the inspection notification message to a mobile interactive transceiver operated by vehicle crew personnel for the delivery vehicle to notify the vehicle crew personnel that operate the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 47 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to cause the communication interface to responsively transmit the inspection notification message to a maintenance receiver to notify maintenance personnel that service the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 48 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to receive a flight command to redirect aerial movement of the paired inspection drone in response to transmitting the inspection notification message.

### Claim 49 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone is further operative to
receive a flight command to redirect aerial movement of the paired inspection drone; and
cause the paired inspection drone to re-inspect the at least one of the targeted inspection points related to the inspection notification message.

### Claim 50 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard controller of the paired inspection drone comprises:
a flight controller operative responsible for generating the flight control input to at least change the desired flight profile; and
an onboard inspection processor responsible for at least receiving the sensor-based information from the at least one sensor, and automatically identifying the inspection condition about the at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information detected from the at least one of the aerials positions.

### Claim 51

A drone-based system for inspecting a delivery vehicle, comprising:
an aerial inspection drone paired to the delivery vehicle as an exclusively assigned sensor-based monitor that travels with the delivery vehicle during a delivery vehicle based shipment operation, the paired aerial inspection drone comprising at least a plurality of sensors to detect sensor-based inspection information about a plurality of targeted inspection points on the delivery vehicle, the paired aerial inspection drone being operative to fly proximate each of the targeted inspection points as part of a targeted inspection flight and gather the sensor-based inspection information using one or more of the sensors at each of the targeted inspection points;
an internal docking station fixed within a drone storage area of the delivery vehicle, the internal docking station providing a secure storage for the paired aerial inspection drone when the paired aerial inspection drone is not flying;
a delivery vehicle transceiver fixed within an operating compartment of the delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle transceiver comprising a display, a control input interface, and a radio, the delivery vehicle transceiver being operative to communicate with the paired aerial inspection drone over the radio, receive user input via the control input interface, and generate vehicle related information for presenting on the display; and
a first mobile interactive transceiver in communication with at least the delivery vehicle transceiver and being operated by delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle;
wherein the paired aerial inspection drone is further operative to
automatically uncouple from the internal docking station at the beginning of the targeted inspection flight to inspect the targeted inspection points of the delivery vehicle;
automatically identify an inspection condition about at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information gathered related to the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the inspection condition being outside an acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle, and
transmit an inspection notification message to the delivery vehicle transceiver upon identifying the inspection condition;
wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is operative to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver; and
wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is operative to receive the information related to the inspection notification message from the delivery vehicle transceiver, and display at least a portion of the forwarded information related to the inspection notification message to the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle comprise a mechanic that provides maintenance service related to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 53 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle comprise a vehicle operator responsible for controlling the delivery vehicle during the delivery vehicle based shipment operation.

### Claim 54 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is further operative to generate inspection notification information as the vehicle related information for presenting on the display of the delivery vehicle transceiver, the inspection notification information being related to the inspection condition of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The system of claim 54, wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is further operative to
receive inspection condition feedback input as the user input received via the control input interface of the delivery vehicle transceiver, the inspection condition feedback indicating an instruction to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver, and
selectively transmit the information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver based upon the instruction in the inspection condition feedback input.

### Claim 56 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is operative to
display at least the portion of the forwarded information related to the inspection notification message as a prompt for an enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points; and
wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is further operative to
receive input from the delivery vehicle personnel in response to the displayed prompt, and
transmit a confirmation message to the delivery vehicle transceiver, the confirmation message indicating the result of the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 57 (depends on 56)

The system of claim 56, wherein the input received by the first mobile interactive transceiver comprises a verified result indication related to the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 58 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51 further comprising
a maintenance transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle and the delivery vehicle transceiver, the maintenance transceiver being operated by maintenance personnel associated with servicing the delivery vehicle; and
wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is operative to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the maintenance transceiver.

### Claim 59 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51 further comprising
a maintenance transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle and the delivery vehicle transceiver, the maintenance transceiver being operated by maintenance personnel associated with servicing the delivery vehicle; and
wherein the paired aerial inspection drone is further operative to directly transmit the inspection notification message to the maintenance transceiver.

### Claim 60 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the delivery vehicle based shipment operation comprises an operation to ship one or more items from a first location to a second location while the one or more items are maintained within a cargo storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 61 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to inside of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points is located in an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 63 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a cargo attachment point located within an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 64 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a cargo handling point located within an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle, the cargo handling point facilitating movement of a cargo shipment within the accessible cargo storage area.

### Claim 65 (depends on 64)

The system of claim 64, wherein the cargo handling point comprises at least one from a group consisting of a roller, a caster, a portion of a roller deck, a roller ball mat, a castor mat, a turntable, and a conveyor.

### Claim 66 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises an area of the delivery vehicle having an onboard safety system for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 67 (depends on 66)

The system of claim 66, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire extinguishing equipment.

### Claim 68 (depends on 66)

The system of claim 66, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire suppressant equipment.

### Claim 69 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a hazardous material storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 70 (depends on 61)

The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a fire suppressant storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 71 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas externally exposed on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 72 (depends on 71)

The system of claim 71, wherein at least one of the plurality of designated inspection areas comprises a first designated inspection area aerially accessible from above the delivery vehicle but that is not visible from a ground level perspective relative to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 73 (depends on 71)

The system of claim 71, wherein the designated inspection areas comprise a plurality of aircraft components of an aircraft representing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 74 (depends on 73)

The system of claim 73, wherein the plurality of aircraft components comprises at least two from the group consisting of a panel, a rivet, a seam, an engine, a flight control surface, a window seal, a closable entry to within the aircraft, aircraft lighting, an antenna, landing gear, and tires.

### Claim 75 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises an image sensor that captures one or more images relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 76 (depends on 75)

The system of claim 75, wherein the image sensor comprises at least one of a visual imaging sensor, an infrared (IR) imaging sensor, and a thermal imaging sensor.

### Claim 77 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a temperature sensor that measures a temperature relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 78 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a depth sensor that conducts surface mapping measurements relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 79 (depends on 78)

The system of claim 78, wherein the depth sensor comprises at least one of a LIDAR sensor and an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 80 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by comparing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to prior sensor-based inspection information detected for the one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 81 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by being further operative to assess the sensor-based inspection information for the at least one of the targeted inspection points to identify that the at least one of the targeted inspection points is currently in an unacceptable operational condition for the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the identified unacceptable operational condition being the identified inspection condition.

### Claim 82 (depends on 81)

The system of claim 81, wherein the unacceptable operational condition comprises at least one of a missing condition, a loose condition, a damaged condition, a cracked condition, a worn condition, a leaking condition, and a thermal related condition.

### Claim 83

A drone-based system for inspecting a delivery vehicle, comprising:
an aerial inspection drone paired to the delivery vehicle as an exclusively assigned sensor-based monitor that travels with the delivery vehicle during a delivery vehicle based shipment operation, the paired aerial inspection drone comprising at least a plurality of sensors to detect sensor-based inspection information about a plurality of targeted inspection points on the delivery vehicle;
wherein the paired aerial inspection drone being operative to
fly proximate each of the targeted inspection points as part of a targeted inspection flight,
gather the sensor-based inspection information from the one or more of the sensors relative to each of the targeted inspection points,
automatically identify an inspection condition about at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information gathered related to the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the inspection condition being outside an acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle, and
broadcast an inspection notification message over a wireless communication channel upon identifying the inspection condition; and
a first mobile interactive transceiver in communication with the paired aerial inspection drone and being operated by delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle, the first mobile interactive transceiver comprising
a graphical display that presents visual information to the delivery vehicle personnel,
a control input receiver that receives user input from the delivery vehicle personnel, and
a wireless radio operative to communicate with the paired aerial inspection drone over the wireless communication channel;
wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is further operative to
receive the inspection notification message directly from the paired aerial inspection drone through the wireless radio, and
generate a prompt message as the graphical display on the interactive display interface, the prompt message providing information related to the inspection notification message and the identified inspection condition related to the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 84 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle comprise a mechanic that provides maintenance service related to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 85 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle comprise a vehicle operator responsible for controlling the delivery vehicle during the delivery vehicle based shipment operation.

### Claim 86 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the graphical display and control input receiver of the first mobile interactive transceiver collectively comprise a touchscreen that graphically presents the visual information and receives the user input.

### Claim 87 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is operate to generate the prompt message related to an enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 88 (depends on 87)

The system of claim 87, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is further operative to
receive input on the control input receiver from the delivery vehicle personnel in response to the generated prompt message; and
transmit a confirmation message to the paired aerial inspection drone, the confirmation message indicating the result of the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 89 (depends on 87)

The system of claim 87, wherein the input received on the control input receiver of the first mobile interactive transceiver comprises a verified result indication related to the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 90 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver comprises a maintenance transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle, the maintenance transceiver being operated by maintenance personnel associated with servicing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 91 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver comprises a logistics transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle, the logistics transceiver being operated by logistics personnel associated with loading or unloading the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 92 (depends on 90)

The system of claim 90 further comprising a second mobile interactive transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle and being operated by logistics personnel associated with loading or unloading the delivery vehicle, wherein the second mobile interactive transceiver being operative to receive the inspection notification message directly from the paired aerial inspection drone through the wireless radio.

### Claim 93 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the delivery vehicle based shipment operation comprises an operation to ship one or more items from a first location to a second location while the one or more items are maintained within a cargo storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 94 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to inside of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 95 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points is located in an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 96 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a cargo attachment point located within an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 97 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a cargo handling point located within an accessible cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle, the cargo handling point facilitating movement of a cargo shipment within the accessible cargo storage area.

### Claim 98 (depends on 97)

The system of claim 97, wherein the cargo handling point comprises at least one from a group consisting of a roller, a caster, a portion of a roller deck, a roller ball mat, a castor mat, a turntable, and a conveyor.

### Claim 99 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises an area of the delivery vehicle having an onboard safety system for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 100 (depends on 99)

The system of claim 99, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire extinguishing equipment.

### Claim 101 (depends on 99)

The system of claim 99, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire suppressant equipment.

### Claim 102 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a hazardous material storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 103 (depends on 94)

The system of claim 94, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises a fire suppressant storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 104 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas externally exposed on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 105 (depends on 104)

The system of claim 104, wherein at least one of the plurality of designated inspection areas comprises a first designated inspection area aerially accessible from above the delivery vehicle but that is not visible from a ground level perspective relative to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 106 (depends on 104)

The system of claim 104, wherein the designated inspection areas comprise a plurality of aircraft components of an aircraft representing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 107 (depends on 106)

The system of claim 106, wherein the plurality of aircraft components comprises at least two from the group consisting of a panel, a rivet, a seam, an engine, a flight control surface, a window seal, a closable entry to within the aircraft, aircraft lighting, an antenna, landing gear, and tires.

### Claim 108 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises an image sensor that captures one or more images relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 109 (depends on 108)

The system of claim 108, wherein the image sensor comprises at least one of a visual imaging sensor, an infrared (IR) imaging sensor, and a thermal imaging sensor.

### Claim 110 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a temperature sensor that measures a temperature relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 111 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a depth sensor that conducts surface mapping measurements relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 112 (depends on 111)

The system of claim 111, wherein the depth sensor comprises at least one of a LIDAR sensor and an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 113 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by comparing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to prior sensor-based inspection information detected for the one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 114 (depends on 83)

The system of claim 83, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by being further operative to assess the sensor-based inspection information for the at least one of the targeted inspection points to identify that the at least one of the targeted inspection points is currently in an unacceptable operational condition for the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the identified unacceptable operational condition being the identified inspection condition.

### Claim 115 (depends on 114)

The system of claim 114, wherein the unacceptable operational condition comprises at least one of a missing condition, a loose condition, a damaged condition, a cracked condition, a worn condition, a leaking condition, and a thermal related condition.

### Claim 116

An enhanced delivery vehicle that uses a drone-based self-inspection system, comprising:
a delivery vehicle for transporting at least one or more items as part of a shipment operation, the delivery vehicle comprising at least
an operating compartment that contains a control for operating the delivery vehicle,
a cargo storage area that maintains the one or more items, and
a drone storage area;
an aerial inspection drone paired to the delivery vehicle as an exclusively assigned sensor-based monitor that travels with the delivery vehicle during the shipment operation, the paired aerial inspection drone comprising at least a plurality of sensors to detect sensor-based inspection information about a plurality of targeted inspection points on the delivery vehicle, the paired aerial inspection drone being operative to fly proximate each of the targeted inspection points as part of a targeted inspection flight and gather the sensor-based inspection information using one or more of the sensors at each of the targeted inspection points;
an internal docking station fixed within the drone storage area of the delivery vehicle, the internal docking station providing a secure storage for the paired aerial inspection drone when the paired aerial inspection drone is not flying;
a delivery vehicle transceiver fixed within the operating compartment of the delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle transceiver comprising a display, a control input interface, and a radio, the delivery vehicle transceiver being operative to communicate with the paired aerial inspection drone over the radio, receive user input via the control input interface, and generate vehicle related information for presenting on the display; and
a first mobile interactive transceiver in communication with at least the delivery vehicle transceiver and being operated by delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle;
wherein the paired aerial inspection drone is further operative to
automatically uncouple from the internal docking station at the beginning of the targeted inspection flight to inspect the targeted inspection points of the delivery vehicle,
automatically identify an inspection condition about at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information gathered related to the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the inspection condition being outside an acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle, and
transmit an inspection notification message to the delivery vehicle transceiver upon identifying the inspection condition;
wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is operative to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver; and
wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is operative to
receive the information related to the inspection notification message from the delivery vehicle transceiver, and
display at least a portion of the forwarded information related to the inspection notification message to the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 117 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the delivery vehicle personnel associated with the delivery vehicle comprises at least one of a mechanic that provides maintenance service related to the delivery vehicle, a vehicle operator responsible for controlling the delivery vehicle during the delivery vehicle based shipment operation, and logistics personnel responsible for loading or unloading the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 118 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is further operative to generate inspection notification information as the vehicle related information for presenting on the display of the delivery vehicle transceiver, the inspection notification information being related to the inspection condition of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 119 (depends on 118)

The system of claim 118, wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is further operative to
receive inspection condition feedback input as the user input received via the control input interface of the delivery vehicle transceiver, the inspection condition feedback indicating an instruction to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver; and
selectively transmit the information related to the inspection notification message to the first mobile interactive transceiver based upon the instruction in the inspection condition feedback input.

### Claim 120 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is operative to display at least the portion of the forwarded information related to the inspection notification message as a prompt for an enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points; and
wherein the first mobile interactive transceiver is further operative to receive input from the delivery vehicle personnel in response to the displayed prompt, and transmit a confirmation message to the delivery vehicle transceiver, the confirmation message indicating the result of the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 121 (depends on 120)

The system of claim 120, wherein the input received by the first mobile interactive transceiver comprises a verified result indication related to the enhanced inspection of the at least one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 122 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116 further comprising a maintenance transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle and the delivery vehicle transceiver, the maintenance transceiver being operated by maintenance personnel associated with servicing the delivery vehicle; and wherein the delivery vehicle transceiver is operative to forward information related to the inspection notification message to the maintenance transceiver.

### Claim 123 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116 further comprising a maintenance transceiver separate from the delivery vehicle and the delivery vehicle transceiver, the maintenance transceiver being operated by maintenance personnel associated with servicing the delivery vehicle; and
wherein the paired aerial inspection drone is further operative to directly transmit the inspection notification message to the maintenance transceiver.

### Claim 124 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the shipment operation comprises an operation to relocate the one or more items from a first location to a second location while the one or more items are maintained within the cargo storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 125 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to inside of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 126 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points is located in the cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 127 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises a cargo attachment point located within the cargo storage area within the delivery vehicle; and
wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises the cargo attachment point.

### Claim 128 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises a cargo handling point that facilitates movement of at least one of the items being transported within the delivery vehicle; and
wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises the cargo handling point.

### Claim 129 (depends on 128)

The system of claim 128, wherein the cargo handling point comprises at least one from a group consisting of a roller, a caster, a portion of a roller deck, a roller ball mat, a castor mat, a turntable, and a conveyor.

### Claim 130 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises an onboard safety system, and wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises the onboard safety system.

### Claim 131 (depends on 130)

The system of claim 130, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire extinguishing equipment.

### Claim 132 (depends on 130)

The system of claim 130, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire suppressant equipment.

### Claim 133 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises a hazardous material storage area; and wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises the hazardous material storage area.

### Claim 134 (depends on 125)

The system of claim 125, wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises a fire suppressant storage area; and
wherein at least one of the targeted inspection points comprises the fire suppressant storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 135 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas externally exposed on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 136 (depends on 135)

The system of claim 135, wherein at least one of the plurality of designated inspection areas comprises a first designated inspection area aerially accessible from above the delivery vehicle but that is not visible from a ground level perspective relative to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 137 (depends on 135)

The system of claim 135, wherein the designated inspection areas comprise a plurality of aircraft components of an aircraft representing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 138 (depends on 137)

The system of claim 137, wherein the plurality of aircraft components comprises at least two from the group consisting of a panel, a rivet, a seam, an engine, a flight control surface, a window seal, a closable entry to within the aircraft, aircraft lighting, an antenna, landing gear, and tires.

### Claim 139 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises an image sensor that captures one or more images relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 140 (depends on 139)

The system of claim 139, wherein the image sensor comprises at least one of a visual imaging sensor, an infrared (IR) imaging sensor, and a thermal imaging sensor.

### Claim 141 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a temperature sensor that measures a temperature relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 142 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein at least one of the sensors on the paired aerial inspection drone comprises a depth sensor that conducts surface mapping measurements relative to each of the targeted inspection points as the gathered sensor-based inspection information.

### Claim 143 (depends on 142)

The system of claim 142, wherein the depth sensor comprises at least one of a LIDAR sensor and an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 144 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by comparing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to prior sensor-based inspection information detected for the one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 145 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the paired inspection drone automatically identifies the inspection condition by being further operative to assess the sensor-based inspection information for the at least one of the targeted inspection points to identify that the at least one of the targeted inspection points is currently in an unacceptable operational condition for the at least one of the targeted inspection points, the identified unacceptable operational condition being the identified inspection condition.

### Claim 146 (depends on 145)

The system of claim 145, wherein the unacceptable operational condition comprises at least one of a missing condition, a loose condition, a damaged condition, a cracked condition, a worn condition, a leaking condition, and a thermal related condition.

### Claim 147 (depends on 116)

The system of claim 116, wherein the delivery vehicle consists of one from a group comprised of a delivery van, a truck coupled with a cargo hauling trailer, an aircraft, and a marine vessel.

### Claim 148

A drone-based method for inspecting a delivery vehicle using an inspection drone that is exclusively assigned and paired to the delivery vehicle and travels with the delivery vehicle during a delivery vehicle based shipment operation, the method comprising the steps of:
transitioning, by the paired inspection drone, from at least a low power state to an active power state as part of a targeted inspection operation of the delivery vehicle;
automatically uncoupling the paired inspection drone from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle once the paired inspection drone transitions to the active power state;
identifying, by the paired inspection drone, a plurality of targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle;
detecting, by the paired inspection drone, sensor-based inspection information once the paired inspection drone has aerially moved from the secured position on the internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points;
providing the sensor-based inspection information to an onboard processor on the paired inspection drone;
automatically identifying, using the onboard processor on the paired inspection drone, an inspection condition about at least one of the targeted inspection points based upon the sensor-based inspection information gathered from at least one of the aerials positions, the inspection condition being outside an acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle; and
responsively transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, an inspection notification message to a delivery vehicle receiver disposed on the delivery vehicle upon identifying the inspection condition for the at least one targeted inspection point is outside the acceptable range for operation of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 149 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the delivery vehicle based shipment operation comprises an operation to ship one or more items from a first location to a second location while the one or more items are maintained within a cargo storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 150 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the internal docking station is fixed within an accessible storage compartment of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 151 (depends on 150)

The method of claim 150, wherein the accessible storage compartment of the delivery vehicle comprises an accessible cargo storage compartment of an aircraft.

### Claim 152 (depends on 150)

The method of claim 150, wherein the automatically uncoupling step further comprises the steps of:
opening at least one access door to the accessible storage compartment; and
automatically uncoupling the paired inspection drone from the secured position on the internal docking station within the accessible storage compartment of the aircraft once the paired inspection drone transitions to the active power state.

### Claim 153 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of identifying the plurality of targeted inspection points comprises downloading, by an onboard processor of the paired inspection drone, an inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle into a memory of the paired inspection drone, the inspection profile record identifying a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to the delivery vehicle as the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 154 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of identifying the plurality of targeted inspection points comprises accessing, by an onboard processor of the paired inspection drone, an inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle existing in a memory of the paired inspection drone, the inspection profile record identifying a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to the delivery vehicle as the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 155 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas specific to inside of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 156 (depends on 155)

The method of claim 155, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises an aircraft; and wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft.

### Claim 157 (depends on 155)

The method of claim 155, wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises a cargo attachment point located within an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft.

### Claim 158 (depends on 155)

The method of claim 155, wherein at least one of the designated inspection areas comprises a cargo handling point located within an accessible cargo storage area within an aircraft, wherein the cargo handling point facilitating movement of a cargo shipment within the accessible cargo storage area.

### Claim 159 (depends on 158)

The method of claim 158, wherein the cargo handling point comprises at least one from a group consisting of a roller, a caster, a portion of a roller deck, a roller ball mat, a castor mat, a turntable, and a conveyor.

### Claim 160 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of detecting further comprises performing an enhanced level inspection using the at least one sensor on the paired inspection drone to detect the sensor-based inspection information when the paired inspection drone is proximate at least one of the targeted inspection points related to a designated area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 161 (depends on 160)

The method of claim 160, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises an area of the delivery vehicle having an onboard safety system for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 162 (depends on 161)

The method of claim 161, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire extinguishing equipment.

### Claim 163 (depends on 161)

The method of claim 161, wherein the onboard safety system comprises fire suppressant equipment.

### Claim 164 (depends on 160)

The method of claim 160, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises a hazardous material storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 165 (depends on 160)

The method of claim 160, wherein the designated area of the delivery vehicle comprises a fire suppressant storage area of the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 166 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the targeted inspection points comprise a plurality of designated inspection areas externally exposed on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 167 (depends on 166)

The method of claim 166, wherein at least one of the plurality of designated inspection areas comprises a first designated inspection area aerially accessible from above the delivery vehicle but that is not visible from a ground level perspective relative to the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 168 (depends on 166)

The method of claim 166, wherein the designated inspection areas comprise a plurality of aircraft components of an aircraft representing the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 169 (depends on 168)

The method of claim 168, wherein the plurality of aircraft components comprises at least two from the group consisting of a panel, a rivet, a seam, an engine, a flight control surface, a window seal, a closable entry to within the aircraft, aircraft lighting, an antenna, landing gear, and tires.

### Claim 170 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of identifying the targeted inspection points further comprises
identifying, by the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone, a prioritized subset of the targeted inspection points; and
wherein the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points is automatically designated for an enhanced level of sensor-based inspection as part of detecting the sensor-based inspection information for the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 171 (depends on 170)

The method of claim 170, wherein the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points comprises parts of the delivery vehicle not serviced within a threshold period of time as designated in an electronic inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle that is accessible by the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 172 (depends on 170)

The method of claim 170, wherein the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points comprises parts of the delivery vehicle exceeding an age threshold as designated in an electronic inspection profile record for the delivery vehicle that is accessible by the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 173 (depends on 170)

The method of claim 170, wherein the enhanced level of sensor-based inspection comprises detecting, by a plurality of sensors on the paired inspection drone, the sensor-based inspection information for the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 174 (depends on 170)

The method of claim 170, wherein the enhanced level of sensor-based inspection comprises detecting, by the paired inspection drone, the sensor-based inspection information for each of the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points over an enhanced inspection period of time compared to the time taken by the paired inspection drone to detect the sensor-based inspection information for those not in the prioritized group of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 175 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of detecting the sensor-based inspection information further comprises capturing one or more images relative to each of the targeted inspection points using an image sensor as the sensor on the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 176 (depends on 175)

The method of claim 175, wherein the image sensor comprises at least one of a visual imaging sensor, an infrared (IR) imaging sensor, and a thermal imaging sensor.

### Claim 177 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of detecting the sensor-based inspection information further comprises measuring a temperature relative to each of the targeted inspection points using a temperature sensor on the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 178 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of conducting the modified inspection of the delivery vehicle with the sensor-based inspection information further comprises surface mapping relative to at least one of the targeted inspection points using a depth sensor on the paired inspection drone.

### Claim 179 (depends on 178)

The method of claim 178, wherein the depth sensor comprises at least one of a LIDAR sensor and an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 180 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148 further comprising updating, by the onboard processor of the paired inspection drone, an inspection profile record stored in a memory of the paired inspection drone based upon the sensor-based inspection information provided by the sensor to the onboard processor, the updated inspection profile record reflecting an electronic catalog of aerial inspections relative to each of the targeted inspection points on the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 181 (depends on 180)

The method of claim 180 further comprising transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, the updated inspection profile record to a maintenance receiver separate from the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 182 (depends on 180)

The method of claim 180 further comprising transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, the updated inspection profile record to the delivery vehicle receiver.

### Claim 183 (depends on 180)

The method of claim 180 further comprising transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, the updated inspection profile record to a mobile interactive transceiver operated by vehicle crew personnel for the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 184 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of automatically identifying the inspection condition comprises identifying the inspection condition by comparing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to prior sensor-based inspection information detected for the one of the targeted inspection points.

### Claim 185 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the step of automatically identifying the inspection condition comprises identifying the inspection condition by processing the sensor-based inspection information for one of the targeted inspection points to determine that the one of the targeted inspection points is currently in an unacceptable condition as the inspection condition.

### Claim 186 (depends on 185)

The method of claim 185, wherein the unacceptable condition related to the one of the targeted inspection points comprises at least one of a missing condition, a loose condition, a damaged condition, a cracked condition, a worn condition, a leaking condition, and a thermal related condition.

### Claim 187 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148, wherein the responsively transmitting step further comprises responsively transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, the inspection notification message to a mobile interactive transceiver operated by vehicle crew personnel for the delivery vehicle to notify the vehicle crew personnel that operate the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 188 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148 further comprising responsively transmitting, by the paired inspection drone, the inspection notification message to a maintenance receiver to notify maintenance personnel that service the delivery vehicle.

### Claim 189 (depends on 148)

The method of claim 148 further comprising the step of receiving, by the paired inspection drone, a flight command to redirect aerial movement of the paired inspection drone in response to transmitting the inspection notification message.

### Claim 190 (depends on 189)

The method of claim 189, wherein receiving the flight command causes the paired inspection drone to re-inspect the at least one of the targeted inspection points related to the inspection notification message.