# US 11,121,857 B2 · Systems, devices, and methods for in-field authenticating of autonomous robots > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,857 B2 - Document ID: US11121857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/877,514 - Filed: 2018-01-23 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Applicants: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Inventors: John Jeremiah O'Brien - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121857B2 ## CPC - H04L 9/0637: {Modes of operation, e.g. cipher block chaining [CBC], electronic codebook [ECB] or Galois/counter mode [GCM]} - H04L 9/3236: {using cryptographic hash functions} - H04L 9/3297: {involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps} - H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)} - H04L 63/0876: {based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint} - H04W 4/46: for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V] - H04W 12/06: Authentication - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] - H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for in-field authentication of autonomous electronic devices. A first mobile autonomous electronic device wirelessly communicates with a second mobile autonomous electronic device and receives a set of identification information associated with the second mobile autonomous electronic device. The first electronic device autonomously travels to a specified location and transmits a first authentication signal to the second electronic device upon arrival at the specified location. The second electronic device confirms the identity of the first electronic device based on the first authentication signal and transmits a second authentication signal to the first electronic device. Once the first electronic device has confirmed that the identity of the second electronic device corresponds to an expected identity, the first electronic device transfers the object to the second electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for in-field authentication of autonomous delivery drones, the system comprising: a first mobile autonomous delivery drone configured to deliver an object to a specified location, the first mobile autonomous delivery drone being configured to wirelessly communicate with a second mobile autonomous delivery drone responsible for receiving the object at the specified location, wherein the first mobile autonomous delivery drone is configured to: receive a set of identification information associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone; autonomously travel to the specified location; dynamically select at least two different types of identification information from the set of identification information while the first mobile autonomous delivery drone is in transit; transmit a first authentication signal to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone upon arrival at the specified location, wherein the second mobile autonomous delivery drone is configured to confirm an identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the first authentication signal; receive the at least two different types of identification information from the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to transmission of the first authentication signal; confirm an identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the at least two different types of identification information; and transfer the object to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to confirming that the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone corresponds to an expected identity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the set of identification information includes a unique audio signal, an RFID code, an ultra-wideband signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a license number associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone, a barcode, a QR code, or visual characteristics of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sender associated with the first mobile autonomous delivery drone and a recipient associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone can monitor a status of the delivery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first authentication signal transmitted by the first mobile autonomous delivery drone to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone includes a first blockchain key and the at least two different types of identification received by the first mobile autonomous delivery drone from the second mobile autonomous delivery drone includes a second blockchain key, the first and second blockchain keys used to confirm the identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone and the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the first mobile autonomous delivery drone is configured to access delivery information from a distributed blockchain database in response to confirming the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 6 A method for in-field authentication of mobile autonomous delivery drones comprising: receiving, at a first mobile autonomous delivery drone configured to deliver an object, a set of identification information associated with a second mobile autonomous delivery drone; autonomously relocating the first mobile autonomous delivery drone to a specified location associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone; dynamically selecting, at the first mobile autonomous delivery drone, at least two different types of identification information from the set of identification information while the first mobile autonomous delivery drone is in transit; transmitting a first authentication signal to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone upon arrival at the specified location, wherein the second mobile autonomous delivery drone is configured to confirm an identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the first authentication signal; receiving the at least two different types of identification information at the first mobile autonomous delivery drone from the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to transmission of the first authentication signal; confirming an identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the at least two different types of identification information selected from the set of identification information; and transferring the object from the first mobile autonomous delivery drone to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to confirming that the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone corresponds to an expected identity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the set of identification information includes a unique audio signal, an RFID code, an ultra-wideband signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a license number associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone, a barcode, a QR code, or visual characteristics of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a sender associated with the first mobile autonomous delivery drone and a recipient associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone can monitor a status of the delivery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first authentication signal includes a first blockchain key and the at least two different types of identification includes a second blockchain key, the first and second blockchain keys configured to facilitate confirming the identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone and the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: accessing, using the first mobile autonomous delivery drone, delivery information from a distributed blockchain database in response to confirming the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions for in-field authentication of mobile autonomous delivery drones executable by a processing device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processing device to: receiving, at a first mobile autonomous delivery drone configured to deliver an object, a set of identification information associated with a second mobile autonomous delivery drone; autonomously relocating the first mobile autonomous delivery drone to a specified location associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone; dynamically selecting at least two different types of identification information from the set of identification information while the first mobile autonomous delivery drone is in transit; transmitting a first authentication signal to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone upon arrival at the specified location, wherein the second mobile autonomous delivery drone is configured to confirm an identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the first authentication signal; receiving the at least two different types of identification information at the first mobile autonomous delivery drone from the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to transmission of the first authentication signal; confirming an identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone based on the at least two different types of identification information selected from the set of identification information; and transferring the object from the first mobile autonomous delivery drone to the second mobile autonomous delivery drone in response to confirming that the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone corresponds to an expected identity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the set of identification information includes a unique audio signal, an RFID code, an ultra-wideband signal, a Wi-Fi signal, a license number associated with the second mobile autonomous delivery drone, a barcode, a QR code, or visual characteristics of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first authentication signal includes a first blockchain key and the at least two different types of identification includes a second blockchain key, the first and second blockchain keys configured to facilitate confirming the identity of the first mobile autonomous delivery drone and the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to access delivery information from a distributed blockchain database in response to confirming the identity of the second mobile autonomous delivery drone.