Aerial Delivery Apparatus and Method of Constructing and Utilizing Same

A method of delivering an item, comprising:

• providing an aerial delivery apparatus containing an item to be delivered, the aerial delivery apparatus including a main body, a control unit disposed within the main body, one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit, and at least one controllable component mounted along an exterior surface of the main body;
• receiving and storing a planned delivery location in memory of the control unit;
• detecting, by at least one of the control unit and the one or more sensors, the aerial delivery apparatus descending from an elevated position;
• determining, by the control unit, a location of the aerial delivery apparatus and a location of the planned delivery location;
• sensing, by the one or more sensors, one or more characteristics corresponding to the descent of the aerial delivery apparatus;
• at least one of deploying or controlling, by the control unit, the at least one controllable component based upon at least one of the location of the aerial delivery apparatus, the location of the planned delivery location, or the one or more characteristics corresponding to the descent of the aerial delivery apparatus, the least one controllable component changing the descent of the aerial delivery apparatus,
• wherein the at least one controllable component is manually detachable from the main body by a recipient of the item, the main body is sized and dimensioned for receiving the at least one controllable component when detached from the main body, and the main body serves as a mail return shipping container for reuse in subsequent deliveries.