Drone air traffic control over wireless networks for delayed package delivery
AssigneeMetal Raptor, LLC
InventorLee Priest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Drone systems and methods for delayed package delivery includes, in an air traffic control system configured to manage UAV flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV, in transit, to deliver a package to a delivery location and following a flight plan provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system or a drone operator, to hold a position; and directing the UAV to deliver the package after holding the position.
Claims20
A drone method for delayed package delivery, comprising:
- in an air traffic control system configured to manage UAV flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks;
- directing a UAV, while the UAV is travelling to deliver a package to a delivery location and following a flight path provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system or a drone operator, to hold a position prior to reaching the delivery location;
- and
- directing the UAV to continue travelling to the delivery location and to deliver the package after holding the position.
A drone air traffic control system comprising:
- a processor and a network interface communicatively coupled to one another;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
- direct a UAV, while the UAV is travelling to deliver a package to a delivery location and following a flight path provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system or a drone operator, to hold a position prior to reaching the delivery location;
- and
- directing the UAV to continue travelling to the delivery location and to deliver the package after holding the position.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delayed delivery of a package, the UAV comprising:
- hardware and antennas configured to communicate with one or more wireless networks;
- a processor communicatively coupled to the hardware and antennas;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
- communicate with an air traffic control system via one or more wireless networks;
- obtain and send data to the air traffic control system in association with a flight of the UAV during delivery of the package;
- hold a position upon receiving instructions to hold the position prior to reaching a delivery location, while travelling to deliver a package to the delivery location and following a flight path provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system;
- and
- continue travelling to the delivery location and deliver the package after holding the position based on further instructions from the air traffic control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.