US 9,302,770 B2Granted

Payload-release device and operation thereof

AssigneeGoogle Inc.

InventorsJames Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The delivery device can include a channel in which a payload mount attachment for a payload can be inserted. The payload mount attachment can include an aperture for receiving a retaining rod to secure the attachment, and thus the payload, to the delivery device. The retaining rod can assume either an engaged position, in which a portion of the retaining rod engages the payload mount attachment while the payload mount attachment is inserted in the channel, or a disengaged position, in which the retaining rod does not engage the payload mount attachment.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A delivery device comprising:

a housing including:
(i) a channel arranged to receive a payload, and (ii) a tether attachment feature configured to couple the housing to a tether;
a retaining rod coupled to the housing, wherein the retaining rod is configured to be positioned in:
(i) a first position in which a portion of the retaining rod engages the payload when the payload is inserted in the channel, and (ii) a second position in which the retaining rod does not engage the payload;
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon;
and
a processor operable to the-execute the program instructions to:
(i) during a delivery operation in which the delivery device is lowered to a ground via the tether, position the retaining rod in the first position to secure the payload to the delivery device;
(ii) determine that the delivery device is at or near the ground;
and
(iii) in response to determining that the delivery device is at or near the ground, move the retaining rod from the first position to the second position such that the payload is released from the delivery device.

8 more elements

A method comprising:

while a delivery device is being lowered from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a tether coupled to the delivery device and the UAV, receiving sensor data that is generated by one or more sensors arranged on or within the delivery device, wherein the sensor data is indicative of a location of the delivery device;
determining, by a processor, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the delivery device is within a threshold distance of a ground;
in response to determining that the delivery device is within the threshold distance of the ground, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that an instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds a first threshold;
and
subsequent to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds the first threshold, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is less than the first threshold;
and
in response to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than the second threshold, releasing a payload from the delivery device.

4 more elements

A system comprising:

a retractable delivery system comprising:
(i) a delivery device releasably coupled to a payload;
(ii) one or more sensors arranged on or within the delivery device, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to generate sensor data indicative of a location of the delivery device;
(iii) a tether coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the delivery device;
and
(iv) a retraction system coupled to the tether and operable to lower the delivery device from the UAV;
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon;
and
a processor operable to the execute the program instructions to:
(i) while the UAV hovers over a delivery location, use the retractable delivery system to initiate delivery, wherein initiating delivery comprises, while the delivery device is secured to the payload, lowering the delivery device from the UAV such that the payload descends from the UAV;
(ii) receive sensor data from the one or more sensors;
(iii) determine, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the delivery device is within a threshold distance of a ground;
(iv) in response to determining that the delivery device is within the threshold distance of the ground, determine, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that an instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds a first threshold;
and
(v) subsequent to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device exceeds the first threshold, determining, based at least in part on the received sensor data, that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is less than the first threshold;
and
(iv) in response to determining that the instantaneous acceleration of the delivery device is less than a second threshold, cause the retractable delivery system to release the payload from the delivery device.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/875,362Filed 5 Oct 2015 · continuation
Priority: 28 Aug 2014
Published: US 2016/0059963 A13 Mar 2016
Granted: 5 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B64D 1/12
The articles being load-carrying devices: releasing
B64D 9/00
Equipment for handling freight
B64U 10/13
Rotorcrafts: flying platforms
B64U 2101/67
For transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons: the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods

Family

Application62/043,396Us provisional application · filed 28 Aug 2014
Application14/584,181Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Dec 2014
US 2016/0059963 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Mar 2016
US 9,174,733 B1Parent of this continuation
US 9,302,770 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.