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US 11,379,784 B1Granted
Drone delivery systems and methods
OwnerJames Lawrence Eastmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drone delivery system for receiving a package on a roof of a structure includes a panel coupled to the roof that selectively provides access to an opening in the roof upon identification and authorization of an incoming package. Once the package is identified and authorized, the panel opens and the package is received from an aerial vehicle on a platform in the opening. The platform is lowered by a drive assembly and the panel is closed over the opening. The drive assembly then lowers the platform and package to an intended destination inside the structure.
Claims10
A system, comprising:
- an access panel coupled to a structural support of a building, the access panel configured to selectively provide access to an opening in the structural support;
- a platform movably positionable within an internal space of the building, the platform including a frame, a package support plate and a rail coupled to the frame and extending around the package support plate, the platform further including an upper portion and a lower portion, the package support plate provided at the upper portion, and the platform further including a cable mounting arrangement at the lower portion;
- a drive assembly coupled to the platform, the drive assembly configured to move the platform within the internal space of the building between a plurality of positions relative to the structural support;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with the access panel and the drive assembly, the controller including a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
- detect an authorized incoming package from a delivery device;
- manipulate the access panel to provide access to the opening and expose the platform to an external environment;
- detect receipt of the package on the platform;
- activate the drive assembly to lower the platform;
- and
- manipulate the access panel to cover the opening, and
- wherein the access panel and the platform are each at least partially formed of a transparent or translucent material to allow natural light from the external environment to enter the internal space of the building.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an access panel coupled to a roof of a building and configured to selectively provide access to a first opening of a shaft in the building, the first opening being in the roof;
- a first drive assembly coupled to the access panel and configured to move the access panel between a first position wherein the access panel restricts access to the first opening and a second position wherein the access panel allows access to the first opening;
- a platform including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, the platform including a package support panel provided at the upper portion of the frame and a cable mounting arrangement provided at the lower portion of the frame;
- a second drive assembly coupled to the platform, the second drive assembly including:
- a drive;
- and a plurality of cables, coupled to the drive and the cable mounting arrangement of the platform;
- the second drive assembly configured to move the platform between a plurality of positions relative to the roof;
- at least one biasing element coupled to the roof and configured to move an authorized incoming package received on the roof toward the first opening;
- the shaft in the building, which extends through at least one wall of the building;
- a door coupled to the at least one wall, the door configured to selectively provide access to a second opening of the shaft, the second opening being in the at least one wall of the building;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with the access panel and the second drive assembly, the controller including a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
- detect the authorized incoming package from a delivery device;
- manipulate the access panel to provide access to the first opening;
- activate the second drive assembly to raise the platform to a first position wherein the platform is positioned in the first opening;
- detect receipt of the authorized incoming package on the package support panel of the platform;
- activate the second drive assembly to lower the platform to a second position;
- manipulate the access panel to cover the first opening;
- activate the second drive assembly to lower the platform to the second opening;
- manipulate the door to provide access to the second opening;
- detect removal of the authorized incoming package from the package support panel of the platform;
- and
- manipulate the door to cover the second opening.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.