# US 10,501,182 B2 · Portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, and methods of delivering products utilizing aircraft launch systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,182 B2 - Document ID: US10501182B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/192,350 - Filed: 2018-11-15 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-23 - Assignees: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Applicants: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Inventors: Nathan G. Jones; Gregory A. Hicks; Donald R. High - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501182B2 ## CPC - B64C 37/02: Flying units formed by separate aircraft (towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00) - B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters - B64U 20/40: Modular UAVs - B64U 70/92: Portable platforms - B64U 2101/64: for parcel delivery or retrieval - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system, comprising: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a first deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft, wherein the aircraft deck is secured relative to the first deck; and one or more modular coupling structures each fixed with at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck, wherein the one or more modular coupling structures enable temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first portable launch pad system and one or more additional portable launch pad systems at least temporarily cooperating together the first portable launch pad system and the one or more additional portable launch pad systems in a modular fashion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modular coupling structures comprise at least three modular coupling structures coupled with and arranged relative to the at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck enabling temporary coupling and decoupling of the first portable launch pad system with at least three of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises: a recharging system comprising: an electrical connector cooperated with one of the one or more modular coupling structures configured to enable electrical coupling with another of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the first portable launch pad system further comprises: a user interface; a communications transceiver configured to communicate with one or more devices separate from the first portable launch pad system; a control circuit; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: receive, through the user interface, a secure package command; and communicate, in response to receiving the secure package command, an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft deck has a U-shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 5, wherein the U shaped aircraft deck exposes the first deck to an unmanned delivery aircraft when supported by the aircraft deck. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 5, wherein the U shaped aircraft deck comprises an opening defined by two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, wherein the opening provides an opening between the aircraft deck and the first deck and the extension arms are configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 7, wherein the opening is configured to enable the unmanned delivery aircraft to launch from and move away from the aircraft deck in a direction away from the frame pad and along the opening while a package is moved out of a package area defined between the package deck and the aircraft deck. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 1, further comprising a lift system cooperated with the aircraft deck and configured to adjust a distance between the aircraft deck and the first deck. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system of claim 9, wherein the lift system comprises: a control circuit configured to obtain a dimension of a package and activate the lift system to cause a change in distance between the first deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the dimension of the package. ### Claim 11 A method of preparing portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch systems, comprising: positioning a first portable launch pad system relative to one or more additional portable launch pad systems, wherein the first portable launch pad system comprises a first deck, an unmanned delivery aircraft deck configured to support an unmanned delivery aircraft, and one or more modular coupling structures each fixed with at least one of the aircraft deck and the first deck; and cooperating the first portable launch pad system with at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems through at least one of the one or more modular coupling structures to temporarily and rigidly couple the first portable launch pad system with the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, through a user interface of the first portable launch pad system, a secure package command; and communicating an activation signal to an unmanned delivery aircraft resting on the aircraft deck of the first portable launch pad system to cause the unmanned delivery aircraft to secure a package with the unmanned delivery aircraft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein further comprising: obtaining, through a control circuit of the first portable launch pad system, a dimension of a package; and controlling, through the control circuit, a lift system of the first portable launch pad system to cause a change in distance between the first deck and the aircraft deck in accordance with the dimension of the package. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the cooperating the first portable launch pad system with the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems comprises cooperating the first portable launch pad system through the one or more modular coupling structures with each of at least three additional portable launch pad systems. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving electrical power at the first portable launch pad system and transferring the electrical power to the at least one of the one or more additional portable launch pad systems through an electrical connector cooperated with a first modular coupling structure of the one or more modular coupling structures. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: cooperating a package, which is positioned on the first deck, with an unmanned delivery aircraft through an opening of the aircraft deck. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the cooperating the package comprises cooperating the package through the opening in the aircraft deck comprising a U-shape defining the opening along one edge and between two extension arms each extending from a frame pad and separated by a distance along the frame pad, with the unmanned delivery aircraft extending across the opening and being supported by the extension arms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, launching the unmanned delivery aircraft to lift from and move away from the aircraft deck in a direction away from the frame pad and along the opening while the package is moved out of a package area defined between the package deck and the aircraft deck. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: securing the aircraft deck at one of multiple different distances from the first deck through a lift system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving a separation distance command; and activating one or more motors of the lift system to cause a change in distance between the first deck and the aircraft deck.