Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Method Of Targeted Package Delivery
OwnerRobert Irving PRATT, JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) having an envelope and a drone body capable of delivering packages is disclosed. Methods for utilizing UAVs to deliver packages and systems for housing UAVs are also disclosed. In one aspect, a UAV includes a dual cavity envelope having an ellipsoid shape with a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity, the first internal cavity configured to hold a lighter than air gas, the second internal cavity configured to hold a heated gas, and a drone body attached to and located below the dual cavity vertical envelope.
Claims17
1-13. (canceled)
A method of delivery using an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), the method comprising:
- accepting an order for an ordered item from a user in a metropolitan area, the ordered item maintained in an inventory of a mobile fulfillment center;
- heating a gas within an envelope on the UAV to provide lift;
- accepting a command from the mobile fulfillment center to engage with the ordered item;
- placing the ordered item in a storage compartment within the UAV;
- navigating the UAV to a delivery location within the metropolitan area;
- disengaging the ordered item at a delivery site;
- and
- returning the UAV to the mobile fulfillment center.
A method for storing a fleet of two or more unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), each UAV having an envelope configured to contain one or more lift gases and a propeller powered by an electric motor, the method comprising:
- instructing the UAV to enter a housing unit within a fulfillment center;
- instructing the UAV to turn off the one or more electric motors;
- at least partially deflating the UAV envelope;
- and
- retracting the at least partially deflated envelope within the housing unit.
29-34. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.