US 9,321,531 B1Granted

Bystander interaction during delivery from aerial vehicle

AssigneeGoogle Inc.

InventorsLeila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon

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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 an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a retractable delivery system comprising:
(i) a tether coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an assembly, and (ii) a retraction system coupled to the tether and operable to lower, from the UAV, the assembly and a payload secured by the assembly, wherein the assembly comprises one or more electromechanical components configured to selectively secure the payload and release the payload;
a bystander communication module situated on the assembly, wherein the bystander communication module is configured to generate an avoidance cue for bystander perception;
and
a control system configured to:
while the UAV hovers over a delivery location, use the retractable delivery system to initiate delivery, wherein initiating delivery comprises lowering the assembly and the payload secured thereby toward the ground such that the payload descends from the UAV;
while the payload is descending from the UAV, cause the bystander communication module to generate the avoidance cue;
determine that the payload is at or near the ground;
and
in response to determining that the payload is at or near the ground, cause the assembly to release the payload.

7 more elements

A method comprising:

while an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hovers over a delivery location, initiating delivery using a retractable delivery system, wherein the retractable delivery system comprises:
(i) a tether coupled to the UAV and an assembly, and (ii) a retraction system coupled to the tether and operable to lower, from the UAV, the assembly and a payload secured by the assembly, wherein the assembly comprises one or more electromechanical components configured to selectively secure the payload and release the payload, and wherein initiating delivery comprises lowering the assembly toward the ground such that the payload descends from the UAV;
while the payload is descending from the UAV, causing a bystander communication module to generate an avoidance cue for bystander perception, wherein the bystander communication module is situated on the assembly;
determining that the payload is at or near the ground;
and
in response to determining that the payload is at or near the ground, causing the assembly to release the payload.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.