US 2025/0370461 A1 · PACKAGE DELIVERY BY MEANS OF AN AUTOMATED MULTI-COPTER UAS/UAV DISPATCHED FROM A CONVENTIONAL DELIVERY VEHICLE

Abstract

Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system to automatically manage an operation of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as the UAS/UAV operates in tandem with a vehicle, comprising:

an UAS/UAV control system configured to:
guide the UAS/UAV from a first location of a vehicle that the UAS/UAV is positioned to a second location that the UAS/UAV travels to observe, wherein the first location of the vehicle differs from the second location that the UAS/UAV is instructed to travel,
return the UAS/UAV to a third location that the vehicle is positioned based on the third location of the vehicle and the location data of the second location that the UAS/UAV is instructed to travel to observe, wherein the first location of the vehicle that the UAS/UAV initially launched from the vehicle differs from the second location that the UAS/UAV travels to observe and differs from the third location of the vehicle that the UAS/UAV returns to the vehicle, and
dock the UAS/UAV with the vehicle at the third location of the vehicle.

1 more element

A method to automatically manage an operation of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as the UAS/UAV operates in tandem with a vehicle, comprising:

guiding, by a UAS/UAV control system, the UAS/UAV from a first location of a vehicle that the UAS/UAV is positioned to a second location that the UAS/UAV travels to observe, wherein the first location of the vehicle differs from the second location that the UAS/UAV is instructed to travel;
returning the UAS/UAV to a third location that the vehicle is positioned based on the third location of the vehicle and the location data of the second location that the UAS/UAV is instructed to travel to observe, wherein the first location of the vehicle that the UAS/UAV initially launched from the vehicle differs from the second location that the UAS/UAV travels to observe and differs from the third location of the vehicle that the UAS/UAV returns to the vehicle;
and
docking the UAS/UAV with the vehicle at the third location of the vehicle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

19/248,147Filed 24 Jun 2025

Priority

9 Jan 2015

Published

4 Dec 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification36 codes

G05D 1/102
Specially adapted for aircraft: specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
B60L 53/53
Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means: batteries
B64C 39/024
Characterised by special use: of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
B64F 1/362
Other airport installations: installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft

Family

Application62/101,542Us provisional application · filed 9 Jan 2015

Application14/989,870Continuation · filed 7 Jan 2016

Application15/915,144Continuation · filed 8 Mar 2018

Application17/398,139Continuation · filed 10 Aug 2021

Application17/887,721Continuation · filed 15 Aug 2022

Application18/378,330Continuation · filed 10 Oct 2023

Application19/248,147Continuation

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