# US 2019/0168963 A1 · Drone based methods and systems for transfer of data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168963 A1 - Document ID: US20190168963A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/828,788 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Brian G. Goodman; Tom Haberman; Michael P. McIntosh; Shawn M. Nave; Kenny Nian Gan Qiu; George G. Zamora - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168963A1 ## CPC - B65G 1/0464: {with access from above} - G11B 15/68: Automatic cassette changing arrangements; {automatic tape changing arrangements} - G11B 17/22: from random access magazine of disc records - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drone systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of data storage libraries comprising a first data storage library for the storage, reading, and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges and a second data storage library for the storage of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, and at least one drone vehicle. The system also includes a processing device and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to transfer the data storage component to the destination location, and transfer the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A data storage system, the system comprising: a plurality of data storage libraries comprising a first data storage library for the storage, reading, and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges and a second data storage library for the storage of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges; at least one drone vehicle; a processing device; and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to transfer the data storage component to the destination location, and by the drone vehicle, transfer the data storage component to the destination location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of data storage libraries comprises: a data storage drive; a plurality of data storage slots; a library controller; at least one of the group consisting of an import/export (I/O) station, a pass-through portal, a magazine slot and combinations thereof; one or more frames; and a docking station configured to associate with a drone vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the docking station comprises: a docking structure; and a power source configured to supply power to a drone vehicle associated with the docking station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the docking station further comprises a coupling interface configured to operably couple the docking station to the data storage library. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The data storage system of claim 3, wherein the docking structure comprises one or more docking aids configured to engage one or more landing structures of a drone and form a stable attachment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The data storage system of claim 5, wherein the one or more docking aids are selected from at least one of the group consisting of: slots, brackets, wedges, channels, tethers, grooves, recesses, latches, hooks, pins, and magnetic docking aids configured to exert an electromagnetic field, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the at least one drone vehicle comprises: a flight assembly; a frame; one or more landing structures; a power source; a package holding and securing assembly; and a control unit comprising a processing device and a memory. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The data storage system of claim 7, wherein the package holding and securing assembly comprises a gripper assembly configured to perform at least one of the group consisting of: retrieving, releasing, and holding a data storage component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The data storage system of claim 7, wherein the package holding and securing assembly further comprises at least one of the group consisting of a storage slot, a magazine slot, and a holding structure for holding a data storage component during transfer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The data storage system of claim 7, wherein the at least one drone vehicle further comprises a scanner module configured to read information from a data storage component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the destination location comprises at least one of the group consisting of an I/O station of a data storage library, an accessor of a data storage library, and a pass-through portal of a data storage library. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the data storage system further comprises a vault storage configured for long-term storage of a plurality of data storage cartridges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The data storage system of claim 12, wherein the destination location comprises at least one of the group consisting of a vault storage cell, a vault magazine slot, and a vault I/O station. ### Claim 14 A drone vehicle for transferring data storage components in a data storage system, the drone vehicle comprising: a flight assembly; a frame; at least one landing structure; a package holding and securing assembly configured to hold and release a data storage component; a power source; a processing device; and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a command for transferring a data storage component from a source location to a destination location, by the package securing system, cause the drone vehicle to hold the data storage component, and by the flight assembly, cause the drone vehicle to move to the destination location, wherein the drone vehicle is configured to move and transfer data storage components to and from a data storage library in a data storage system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drone vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one landing structure comprises one or more landing sensors, wherein the landing sensor consists of at least one of the group of the following: an optical sensor; a radio sensor; a contact sensor; a proximity sensor; an acceleration sensor; a pressure sensor; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The drone vehicle of claim 14, wherein the package holding and securing assembly comprises a gripper assembly configured to perform at least one of the group consisting of: retrieving, releasing, and holding a data storage component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The drone vehicle of claim 14, wherein the package holding and securing assembly further comprises a holding structure for holding a data storage component during transfer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The drone vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drone vehicle further comprises a scanner module configured to retrieve information from a data storage cartridge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The drone vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drone vehicle is further configured to move and transfer data storage components to and from a vault storage in the data storage system. ### Claim 20 A method for transferring data storage components within a data storage system, the method comprising: instructing a drone vehicle, by a processing device, to transfer a data storage component to a destination location; and by the drone vehicle, transferring the data storage component to the destination location, wherein the destination location comprises at least one of the group consisting of a data storage library and a vault storage.