# US 12,118,842 B2 · Secure delivery via unmanned vehicles

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- Number: US 12,118,842 B2
- Document ID: US12118842B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/592,653
- Filed: 2022-02-04
- Published: 2022-07-21
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-30
- Assignees: Capital One Services, LLC
- Applicants: Capital One Services, LLC
- Inventors: Jeremy Rephlo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118842B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/257: {electronically (G07C9/26 takes precedence)}
- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- G06Q 10/0841: {Compliance with shipping requirements}
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for on-demand delivery of a payload by an unmanned vehicle. An unmanned vehicle may comprise a chamber configured to house a payload and adjust a payload state. The payload state may be adjusted based on detection of a tampering event. An unmanned vehicle may also comprise an authentication system configured to allow access to the payload.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An unmanned vehicle for on-demand delivery configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload to a delivery location, the request for on-demand delivery specifying a payload type of the payload;
loading the payload into a chamber of the unmanned vehicle;
traveling from a departure location to the delivery location with the payload;
in response to detecting at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle, performing, without destroying the payload, a physical marking of the payload or electromagnetic deactivation of the payload, wherein performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload comprises:
determining whether the payload type is a first payload type over a second payload type different from the first payload type; and
performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload in response to (i) a determination that the payload type is the first payload type in lieu of the second payload type and (ii) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle; and
in response to (i) the unmanned vehicle arriving at the delivery location and (ii) a successful authentication event, granting access to the payload at the delivery location.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle comprises detecting at least one of:
an altitude measurement departing from an expected altitude by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a movement measurement departing from an expected measurement by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a number of failed authentication events that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold,
an attempt to pry open the chamber of the unmanned vehicle,
a loss of communication between the unmanned vehicle and a control center,
a power loss of the unmanned vehicle,
a part failure of the unmanned vehicle, or
damage to the unmanned vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload comprises performing demagnetization of the payload without destroying the payload.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, wherein performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload comprises performing the physical marking of the payload without destroying the payload.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload comprises performing the physical marking of the payload in response to (i) the determination that the payload type is the first payload type and (ii) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein performing the physical marking of the payload or the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload comprises performing the electromagnetic deactivation of the payload in response to (i) the determination that the payload type is the first payload type and (ii) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle.

### Claim 7

A system for secure delivery via an unmanned vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more non-transitory media storing instructions; and
one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload to a delivery location; causing the unmanned vehicle to travel from a departure location to the delivery location with the payload;
in response to (i) detecting at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) determining that a payload type of the payload is a first payload type over a second payload type different from the first payload type, performing a first reactive measure configured to physically alter the payload in lieu of a second reactive measure configured to physically alter the payload that does not involve destroying the payload, the second reactive measure being of a different reactive measure type from the first reactive measure;
in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) determining that the payload type of the payload is the second payload type over the first payload type, performing the second reactive measure in lieu of the first reactive measure; and
in response to (i) the unmanned vehicle arriving at the delivery location and (ii) a successful authentication event, granting access to the payload at the delivery location.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein detecting the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle comprises detecting at least one of:
an altitude measurement departing from an expected altitude by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a movement measurement departing from an expected measurement by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a number of failed authentication events that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold,
an attempt to pry open a chamber of the unmanned vehicle,
a loss of communication between the unmanned vehicle and a control center,
a power loss of the unmanned vehicle,
a part failure of the unmanned vehicle, or
damage to the unmanned vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises initiating destruction of the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type, and wherein performing the second reactive measure comprises transmitting an alert to a local authority in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the second payload type.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises performing marking the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises performing electromagnetic deactivation of the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein performing the second reactive measure comprises generating an alarm in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the second payload type.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises performing the first reactive measure configured to physically alter the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is a unique type, and wherein performing the second reactive measure comprises performing the second reactive measure, that does not involve destroying the payload, in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is a non-unique type.

### Claim 14

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause operations comprising:
receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload to a delivery location; causing an unmanned vehicle to travel from a departure location to the delivery location with the payload;
in response to (i) detecting at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) determining that a payload type of the payload is a first payload type, performing a first reactive measure configured to physically alter the payload;
in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) determining that the payload type of the payload is a second payload type different from the first payload type, performing a second reactive measure configured to physical alter the payload that does not involve destroying the payload, the second reactive measure being of a different payload type from the first reactive measure; and
in response to (i) the unmanned vehicle arriving at the delivery location and (ii) a successful authentication event, granting access to the payload at the delivery location.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein detecting the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle comprises detecting at least one of:
an altitude measurement departing from an expected altitude by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a movement measurement departing from an expected measurement by a predetermined amount associated with a travel route,
a number of failed authentication events that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold,
an attempt to pry open a chamber of the unmanned vehicle,
a loss of communication between the unmanned vehicle and a control center,
a power loss of the unmanned vehicle,
a part failure of the unmanned vehicle, or
damage to the unmanned vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises initiating destruction of the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type, and wherein performing the second reactive measure comprises transmitting an alert to a local authority in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the second payload type.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises performing marking the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein performing the first reactive measure comprises performing electromagnetic deactivation of the payload in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the first payload type.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein performing the second reactive measure comprises generating an alarm in response to (i) the detection of the at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle and (ii) the determination that the payload type of the payload is the second payload type.

### Claim 20

An unmanned vehicle configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request for on-demand delivery of a payload to a delivery location;
loading the payload into a chamber of the unmanned vehicle;
traveling from a departure location to the delivery location with the payload;
in response to detecting at least one tampering or malfunction event associated with the unmanned vehicle, performing demagnetization of the payload without destroying the payload; and
in response to (i) the unmanned vehicle arriving at the delivery location and (ii) a successful authentication event, granting access to the payload at the delivery location.