Retractable table tower for UAV package delivery
AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC
InventorsDonald R. High, Robert Cantrell, Brian McHale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery tower for receiving a package from an aerial vehicle. The delivery tower has a table top coupled to a base. The base includes telescoping members. The delivery tower has a controller and communications module operably coupled to the base. The table top moves between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position with extension of the telescoping members. In the first, retracted position the delivery tower is configured to operate as an outdoor table. In the second, extended position, the delivery tower is configured to receive a package from the aerial vehicle.
Claims15
A delivery tower for receiving a package from an aerial vehicle, the delivery tower comprising:
- a table top externally coupled to a base including telescoping members, the table top externally coupled to the base via the telescoping members;
- wheels and a drive motor for moving the delivery tower from a first location to a second location, the second location including an open space;
- and
- a controller and communications module operably coupled to the base;
- wherein the table top is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position with extension of the telescoping members,
- wherein:
- in the retracted position, the table top of the delivery tower is at a first height and configured to operate as an outdoor table, and
- in the extended position, the table top of the delivery tower is at a second height, greater than the first height, and configured to receive a package from an aerial vehicle, wherein the second height is a variable height based on a signal provided by the aerial vehicle or a consumer that includes one or more parameters including a size and a weight of the package, and
- wherein the delivery tower is configured to communicate with the aerial vehicle or the consumer and is further configured to:
- after receipt of a signal from the aerial vehicle or the consumer, (i) drive into the second location and (ii) automatically move between the retracted position and the extended position, and
- provide another signal to the aerial vehicle indicating that the delivery tower is in the second extended position for delivery of the package.
A method for aerial delivery of a package to a delivery location, the method comprising:
- providing a delivery tower on a consumer's property;
- moving the delivery tower from a first location to a second location, the second location including an open space, based on a first signal communicated from an aerial vehicle to the delivery tower when the aerial vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the delivery tower;
- extending a table top from a retracted position to an extended position based on a second signal communicated from the aerial vehicle to the delivery tower, wherein:
- the table top is externally coupled to the delivery tower via telescoping members,
- the retracted position is at a first height and configured to operate as an outdoor table, and
- the extended position is at a second height, greater than the first height, and configured to receive a package from an aerial vehicle, the second height being a variable height based on the second signal communicated from the aerial vehicle to the delivery tower that includes one or more parameters including a size and a weight of the package;
- providing a third signal from the delivery tower to the aerial vehicle indicating that the delivery tower is in the extended position for delivery of the package;
- depositing the package from the aerial vehicle onto the table top of the delivery tower;
- retracting the table top from the extended position based on a fourth signal communicated from the aerial vehicle to the delivery tower;
- and
- retrieving the package from the table top.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.