US 9,567,081 B1Granted

Maneuvering a package following in-flight release from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsBrian C. Beckman, Menashe Haskin, Michael Rolnik, Yan Vule

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Abstract

A package delivery system can be implemented to forcefully propel a package from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), while the UAV is in motion. The UAV can apply a force onto the package that alters its descent trajectory from a parabolic path to a vertical descent path. The package delivery system can apply the force onto the package in a number of different ways. For example, pneumatic actuators, electromagnets, spring coils, and parachutes can generate the force that establishes the vertical descent path of the package. Further, the package delivery system can also monitor the package during its vertical descent. The package can be equipped with one or more control surfaces. Instructions can be transmitted from the UAV via an RF module that cause the one or more controls surfaces to alter the vertical descent path of the package to avoid obstructions or to regain a stable orientation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to launch a package during flight, the UAV comprising:

a launch mechanism coupled to the UAV, the launch mechanism configured to apply a predetermined force to a package, the predetermined force to cause the package to be released from the UAV in a second direction that is opposite a first direction of travel of the UAV and commence a vertical descent path to a delivery destination;
a coupling structure that is coupled to the launch mechanism, the coupling structure configured to selectively couple the package to the launch mechanism during transport from ground level to a launch altitude and a launch geo-location, and to selectively uncouple from the launch mechanism when the UAV reaches the launch altitude and at the launch geo-location;
and
a package launch and control system communicatively coupled to at least the launch mechanism of the UAV, the package launch and control system further comprising:
one or more processors;
memory to store instructions executable by the one or more processors;
one or more sensors to determine flight data and geo-location data of the UAV and the package, wherein the flight data and location data of the package is determined at a time after the package is released from the UAV;
a radio frequency (RF) module configured to transmit data to the package;
a package launch module stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, the package launch module configured to determine the predetermined force that causes the package to follow the vertical descent path to the delivery destination based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors;
and
a package control surface module stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, the package control surface module configured to:
determine a control to deploy one or more control surfaces on the package that alter the vertical descent path of the package after the package is released from the UAV, wherein the one or more control surfaces are independently deployable;
and
transmit, via the RF module to the package, a signal indicating the control to deploy the one or more control surfaces on the package.

11 more elements

A package launch assist apparatus comprising:

a launch mechanism coupled to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the launch mechanism configured to apply a predetermined force to a package while the UAV is in-flight, the predetermined force to cause the package to be released from the UAV and commence a substantially vertical descent to a delivery destination;
a package launch controller coupled to the UAV, the package launch controller comprising:
one or more processors;
memory to store instructions executable by the one or more processors;
one or more sensors to determine flight data and location data of the UAV and the package;
a radio frequency (RF) module configured to transmit data to the package;
a package control surface module stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, the package control surface module configured to:
determine a control for deploying one or more control surfaces on the package that alter a vertical descent path of the package, wherein the one or more control surfaces are independently deployable;
and
transmit, via the RF module to the package, a signal indicating the control for deploying the one or more control surfaces on the package.

7 more elements

A package comprising:

a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of sidewalls that span between the top side and the bottom side to create a cavity;
a mounting mechanism configured to selectively couple the top side to a coupling structure of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the mounting mechanism to couple to the coupling structure of the UAV during transport to a launch altitude and a geo-location and to selectively uncouple from the coupling structure of the UAV when the UAV reaches the launch altitude and the geo-location;
a radio frequency (RF) receiver located inside of the package, the RF receiver configured to receive data from an UAV;
and
one or more control surfaces that are coupled to an exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of sidewalls of the package, the one or more control surfaces configured to deploy to cause a change in trajectory of the package at a point in time after the package is released from the UAV, wherein the one or more control surfaces are independently deployable.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.