A drone delivery system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a drone delivery system, including: a drone for delivering express; a rooftop smart express cabinet 1 and / or a rooftop smart express cabinet 2 for storing express and located on the rooftop of a residential building; an express transport box for recipients to pick up items, the bottom of the express transport box is provided with a package receiving plate that is retracted by electric propulsion, one side of the top of the express transport box is provided with an infrared detection sensor, and the end of the express transport box facing the rooftop smart express cabinet is also provided with an electric box door; the express transport box is slidably connected to the guide rails on both sides of the elevator corridor window, the upper end of the transport box is connected to an electric hoist installed on the rooftop of the residential building, and the inner surface of the elevator corridor window is also provided with a pickup QR code. This application solves the pain point that drones cannot deliver express items to customers' doorsteps, making drone delivery feasible and safe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of unmanned express delivery, and more specifically, to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of e-commerce, online shopping has become the shopping method of most Chinese people, thus driving the rapid development of the express delivery business. When receiving express deliveries, since most people go out to work, the express deliveries are often sent to the nearby express delivery stations. When receiving the express deliveries, people need to pick them up at the nearby express delivery stations, often having to queue up and, if they go late, the stations may even close. To save express delivery costs, currently UAVs are used to deliver express deliveries. For example, in UAV delivery, an unmanned express delivery cabinet is set up in an open area of a community. Customers need to go downstairs to the UAV delivery cabinet to pick up the express deliveries, which is still very inconvenient for the pick-up people. If UAVs are used to deliver express deliveries to the window of a residential building, it is convenient for the pick-up people to receive the express deliveries quickly. However, the UAVs cannot accurately deliver to the window, and if a large number of UAVs fly to the windows of residential buildings, it will cause potential safety hazards and noise pollution. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above technical problems in the related art, the present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system that can solve the above problems.

[0004] To achieve the above technical objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is realized as follows:

[0005] An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, comprising:

[0006] A UAV for transporting express deliveries;

[0007] A rooftop intelligent express delivery cabinet one and / or a rooftop intelligent express delivery cabinet two for storing express deliveries and located on the rooftop of a residential building;

[0008] Wherein the rooftop intelligent express delivery cabinet one includes a cabinet body one and a controller one provided at the upper end of the cabinet body one for controlling the cabinet body one. A courier module box storage area is provided in the middle of the cabinet body one. On both sides of the courier module box storage area, a lifting module receiver and a courier delivery area are respectively provided. The lifting module receiver includes a lifting mechanism, and a bearing plate is installed at the top end of the lifting mechanism. The courier module box storage area includes courier module box storage spaces and courier package falling spaces that are alternately arranged from top to bottom. On both left and right sides of each courier module box storage space, an electric telescopic rod is provided. An accommodation opening is provided at one end of the courier module box storage space facing the lifting module receiver. A courier package delivery mechanism is provided at the bottom of the courier delivery area. A courier package pushing mechanism is provided on the left side of the courier package falling space. The courier package pushing mechanism includes an electric push rod and a push plate connected to the electric push rod;

[0009] Among them, the second intelligent express cabinet on the rooftop includes a second cabinet body and a second controller disposed at the upper end of the second cabinet body for controlling the second cabinet body. An elliptical up-and-down rolling device is provided inside the second cabinet body. A number of express receiving boxes are installed on the elliptical up-and-down rolling device. A bottom plate controlled to open by an electric switch is provided at the lower end of the express receiving box. A courier package conveying mechanism is provided at the lower end of the elliptical up-and-down rolling device. An electric push plate parallel to the bottom surface of the express receiving box is provided on the left side at the bottom end of the elliptical up-and-down rolling device;

[0010] An express delivery box for the pick-up person to pick up the package. A package receiving plate that is retracted by electric propulsion is provided at the bottom end inside the express delivery box. An infrared detection sensor is provided on one side at the top end inside the express delivery box. An electric box door is further provided at one end of the express delivery box facing the second intelligent express cabinet on the rooftop;

[0011] The express delivery box is slidably connected to the guide rails on both sides of the elevator corridor window. An electric hoist installed on the rooftop of the residential building is connected to the upper end of the delivery box. A pick-up QR code is further provided on the inner surface of the elevator corridor window.

[0012] Further, funnel-shaped express module receiving ports are provided at the top ends of the lifting module receiver and the top of the second cabinet body, and infrared sensing devices are installed on the express module receiving ports.

[0013] Further, the courier package conveying mechanism includes a package conveyor belt and a drive motor for driving the package conveyor belt.

[0014] Further, safety railings are installed inside the elevator corridor window.

[0015] Further, the drone is configured with an express module box for loading express deliveries. The express module box includes a number of grid spaces, and grid compartment doors with electric switches and opening downward are installed at the bottoms of the grid spaces.

[0016] Advantages of the present invention: This application solves the pain point that drones cannot deliver express deliveries to the customer's doorstep, making drone delivery feasible and safe. Moreover, popularizing drone delivery can significantly reduce delivery costs and shorten delivery times. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the following-described drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0018] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of the installation of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet and the express collection mechanism described in the embodiments of the present invention on a residential building Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 is a structural diagram of the grid space described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 is a structural diagram of the first rooftop intelligent express cabinet described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of the first rooftop intelligent express cabinet described in the embodiments of the present invention for transporting express to the express transport box;

[0023] Figure 5 is a structural diagram of the installation of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet and the express collection mechanism described in the embodiments of the present invention on a residential building Figure 2 ;

[0024] Figure 6 is a structural diagram of the inner side of the elevator corridor window described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 is a structural diagram of the express transport box when receiving express described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 8 is a structural diagram of the second rooftop intelligent express cabinet described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 9 is a structural diagram of the express receiving box described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 10 is a communication diagram of a drone delivery system described in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 11 is a function diagram of the pick-up App described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] In the figure:

[0031] 1. Express Modular Box Storage Area; 1-1. Express Modular Box Storage Space; 1-1-1. Electric Telescopic Rod; 1-2. Express Package Falling Space; 1-2-1. Express Package Pushing Mechanism; 1-3. Recycling Bin; 2. Lifting Module Receiver; 2-1. Lifting Mechanism; 2-2. Carrier Plate; 3. Express Conveyor Area; 3-1. Package Conveyor Belt; 3-2. Driving Motor; 4. Express Modular Box; 4-1. Square Space; 5. Elliptical Up-and-Down Rolling Device; 6. Express Receiving Box; 6-1. Bottom Plate; 7. Electric Push Plate; 8. Guide Rail; 9. Express Transportation Box; 9-1. Package Receiving Plate; 9-2. Infrared Detection Sensor; 9-3. Electric Box Door; 10. Electric Hoist; 11-1. Safety Rail; 11-2. Pickup QR Code; 12. Drone. Detailed Implementation Manner

[0032] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] As Figures 1-10 shown, a drone delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a drone 12 for delivering express, a rooftop intelligent express cabinet for storing express and located on the rooftop of a residential building, and an express pickup mechanism for the pickup person to quickly pick up the express.

[0034] Embodiment 1:

[0035] The rooftop intelligent express cabinet in this application has two structures, namely, the rooftop intelligent express cabinet one that is more suitable for express packages and the rooftop intelligent express cabinet two that is more suitable for takeaways (the turnover of takeaway collection is fast).

[0036] Among them, the rooftop intelligent express cabinet one includes an express module box storage area 1, a lifting module receiver 2, and an express conveying area 3. The lifting module receiver 2 is used to receive the express module box 4 transported by the drone 12. After the lifting mechanism 2-1 of the lifting module receiver 2 is controlled by the controller to descend to the corresponding position, the extended electric telescopic rod 1-1-1 is docked with the express module box 4 (for example, a clamping block can be set on the electric telescopic rod 1-1-1, and clamping grooves can be set on both sides of the express module box 4. When the express module box 4 descends, the clamping block and the clamping groove are docked), and the express module box 4 is pulled into the express module box storage space 1-1 by the electric telescopic rod 1-1-1 for temporary storage. The express module box 4 includes a number of grid spaces 4-1, each grid space 4-1 is used to store the corresponding express, and each grid space 4-1 has an identity serial number and is bound to the information of the stored express. When picking up the express, the grid bin door at the bottom of the corresponding grid space 4-1 opens, and the express falls into the express package falling space 1-2. Then the express package pushing mechanism 1-2-1 is activated, and the express is pushed towards the express conveying area 3 through the pushing plate until it falls onto the package conveyor belt 3-1. At the same time, when the pushing plate pushes, the grid bin door is pushed and closed. A recycling box 1-3 is provided at the bottom end of the express module box storage area 1. Expresses that are not collected due to timeout or are temporarily inconvenient for the pick-up person to collect will fall from the grid space 4-1 and be sent into the recycling box 1-3 through the package conveyor belt 3-1 for unified recycling and processing, which also facilitates the rapid turnover and reuse of other express module boxes 4.

[0037] Among them, the rooftop intelligent express cabinet two includes an elliptical up-and-down rolling device 5, and a number of express receiving boxes 6 are installed on the elliptical up-and-down rolling device 5 (this structure can be designed according to the Japanese elliptical up-and-down rolling parking equipment). The drone 12 transports the express and drops it into the corresponding express receiving box 6. Then the express information is bound to the identity serial number of this express receiving box 6. The different express receiving boxes 6 are switched by the up-and-down rolling of the elliptical up-and-down rolling device 5. When an express needs to be received, the corresponding express receiving box 6 is moved to the lowermost end. At this time, the bottom plate 6-1 of the express receiving box 6 opens, and the express falls onto the package conveyor belt 3-1 for transportation. Then this express receiving box 6 is moved to the electric push plate 7, and the bottom plate 6-1 is pushed and closed by the electric push plate 7.

[0038] A controller is provided on the rooftop intelligent express cabinet. All electrical components in the rooftop intelligent express cabinet are electrically connected to the controller and are controlled through the controller. The controller is wirelessly communicatively connected to the central server.

[0039] The upper end of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet is provided with a funnel-shaped receiving port, which is for the convenience of receiving the express module box 4 or express deliveries. An infrared sensing device is installed on its receiving port, which can sense the express module box 4 or express deliveries and send a landing instruction to the drone. The drone 12 can achieve precise positioning based on GPS four-point positioning and camera vision-assisted positioning, enabling the drone to accurately fly to the designated position at the receiving port on the rooftop intelligent express cabinet.

[0040] Embodiment Two:

[0041] Guide rails 8 are installed on both sides of the elevator corridor window. The two sides of the express transportation box 9 are slidably connected to the guide rails 8 through sliders. There are at least two sliders on one side, and several small steel balls are provided inside the sliders to reduce the friction between the sliders and the guide rails. The upper end of the express transportation box 9 is hoisted by an electric hoist 10 to control the up and down sliding of the express transportation box 9. The electric hoist 10 is connected to the upper end of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet through a mounting bracket. The electric hoist 10 is electrically connected to the controller and is controlled through the controller.

[0042] Embodiment Three:

[0043] When picking up a package, the electric hoist 10 hoists the express transportation box 9 to the designated position. At this time, the electric box door 9-3 of the express transportation box 9 is docked with the delivery outlet of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet. The electric box door 9-3 opens, and the package receiving plate 9-1 is driven to extend (the package receiving plate 9-1 can be installed on a single-line rail ball screw sliding table module) until it extends to one end of the package conveyor belt 3-1. The express is transported to the package receiving plate 9-1 through the package conveyor belt 3-1. When the infrared detection sensor 9-2 detects that there is an express on the package receiving plate 9-1, it retracts and closes the electric box door 9-3 (the bottom end of the electric box door 9-3 is hinged to the express transportation box 9, and the two sides of the top end are connected to the motor on the top of the express transportation box 9 through steel wires). A rechargeable battery is provided at the top of the express transportation box 9. When the express transportation box 9 is lifted to the rooftop intelligent express cabinet for picking up goods, it will be charged through the charging device on the rooftop intelligent express cabinet, or a solar panel can also be selected. A wireless transmission module is also provided in the express transportation box 9 and is wirelessly communicatively connected to the controller, so as to control the electrical components in the express transportation box 9 through the controller.

[0044] Embodiment Four:

[0045] On the inner surface of the elevator corridor window, there is also a pick-up QR code 11-2 (the QR code contains the position information of the elevator corridor window). The user scans the QR code 11-2 through the mobile app (the related functions of the app are as Figure 11 shown), thereby activating the pick-up information. Then the express pick-up mechanism picks up the express and finally delivers the express to the corresponding elevator corridor window, and the pick-up person can pick up the express.

[0046] To facilitate the understanding of the above technical solution of the present invention, the above technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below in terms of specific usage modes.

[0047] Taking the rooftop intelligent express cabinet one as an example, the drone delivery of the present application includes the following steps:

[0048] The rooftop intelligent express cabinet receives the express module box transported by the drone:

[0049] 1. When the drone flies above the receiving port of the express cabinet, after the infrared sensing device receives the information, it sends a landing instruction to the drone;

[0050] 2. The drone lands at the lifting module receiver and drops the express module box;

[0051] 3. The electric telescopic rod extends outwards;

[0052] 4. The lifting mechanism of the lifting module receiver descends to the position of the extended electric telescopic rod, and the express module box is stuck on the electric telescopic rod;

[0053] 5. The lifting mechanism of the lifting module receiver continues to descend, and the electric telescopic rod retracts the express module box into the storage space of the express module box;

[0054] 6. The empty express module box inside the rooftop intelligent express cabinet extends outwards, and the lifting mechanism of the lifting module receiver ascends to send the extended empty express module box to the top;

[0055] 7. The drone lands above the express module box and takes away the empty express module box.

[0056] Express transportation inside the rooftop intelligent express cabinet:

[0057] 1. After receiving the pick-up instruction, the corresponding grid compartment door inside the express module box opens downward, and the express drops into the express package falling space;

[0058] 2. The express package pushing mechanism on the left side of the express package falling space pushes the express to the right, causing the express to fall onto the package conveyor belt, and at the same time pushing the dropped grid compartment door up to close;

[0059] 3. The conveyor belt conveys the express to the package receiving board of the express transportation box.

[0060] The express transportation box receives the express:

[0061] 1. The express transportation box is hoisted to the shipping port of the rooftop intelligent express cabinet by an electric hoist and docked with it;

[0062] 2. The electric box door opens, and the package receiving board extends outwards to the package conveyor belt;

[0063] 3. The parcel conveyor belt transports the express delivery to the parcel receiving board;

[0064] 4. When the infrared detection sensor senses the arrival of the express delivery and sends an instruction, the parcel receiving board retracts the express delivery into the box of the express delivery transport box, and the electric box door closes.

[0065] Collection by the recipient:

[0066] 1. The recipient goes to the elevator corridor and scans the QR code on the window, selects to pick up the parcel on the App, and the pick-up information is transmitted to the central server;

[0067] 2. After receiving the pick-up information, the central server sends the pick-up information to the intelligent express delivery cabinet on the rooftop of the building where the recipient is located;

[0068] 3. The intelligent express delivery cabinet on the rooftop opens the grid compartment door of the express delivery module box where the pick-up parcel is located;

[0069] 4. The express delivery transport box delivers the express delivery to the outside of the window on the floor where the recipient is located;

[0070] 5. The recipient opens the window, the electric box door of the express delivery transport box opens and drops above the safety railing, the parcel receiving board extends outwards along the opened and descending electric box door, and the recipient takes away the express delivery;

[0071] 6. After the infrared detection sensor senses that the express delivery has been taken away, it sends an instruction, the parcel receiving board retracts, and the electric box door closes.

[0072] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drone delivery system, characterized in that: include: drones for delivering packages (12); Rooftop Smart Express Cabinet 1 and / or Rooftop Smart Express Cabinet 2, which are used to store express parcels and are located on the rooftops of residential buildings; The rooftop intelligent express cabinet comprises a cabinet body and a controller disposed at the upper end of the cabinet body for controlling the cabinet body; a courier module box storage area (1) is disposed in the middle of the cabinet body; a lifting module receiver (2) and a courier delivery area (3) are disposed on both sides of the courier module box storage area; the lifting module receiver (2) comprises a lifting mechanism (2-1); a bearing plate (2-2) is mounted on the top of the lifting mechanism (2-1); the courier module box storage area (1) comprises courier module box storage spaces (1-1) and courier delivery areas (3) which are alternately disposed from top to bottom. A parcel falling space (1-2), an electric telescopic rod (1-1-1) is provided on both sides of the express module box storage space (1-1), a storage opening is provided at one end of the express module box storage space (1-1) facing the lifting module receiver (2), an express parcel conveying mechanism is provided at the bottom of the express conveying area (3), an express parcel pushing mechanism (1-2-1) is provided on the left side of the express parcel falling space (1-2), and the express parcel pushing mechanism (1-2-1) comprises an electric pushing rod and a pushing plate connected to the electric pushing rod; The second rooftop intelligent express cabinet comprises a second cabinet body and a second controller disposed at the upper end of the second cabinet body for controlling the second cabinet body, the second cabinet body is provided with an elliptical up-and-down rolling device (5), a plurality of express receiving boxes (6) are mounted on the elliptical up-and-down rolling device (5), a bottom plate (6-1) which is opened by an electric switch is disposed at the lower end of the express receiving box (6), an express package conveying mechanism is disposed at the lower end of the elliptical up-and-down rolling device (5), and an electric push plate (7) which is parallel to the bottom surface of the express receiving box (6) is disposed on the left side of the bottom end of the elliptical up-and-down rolling device (5); An express transport box (9) for a recipient to pick up a parcel, wherein the bottom of the express transport box (9) is provided with a parcel receiving plate (9-1) that is retracted by electric propulsion, an infrared detection sensor (9-2) is provided on one side of the top of the express transport box (9), and an electric box door (9-3) is also provided at one end of the express transport box (9) that faces the rooftop intelligent express cabinet; The express transport box (9) is slidably connected to the guide rails (8) on both sides of the elevator corridor window, the upper end of the express transport box (9) is connected to an electric hoist (10) installed on the roof of the residential building, the inner surface of the elevator corridor window is also provided with a pickup QR code (11-2), the top of the lifting module receiver (2) and the top of the cabinet body 2 are both provided with a funnel-shaped express module receiving port, the express module receiving port is installed with an infrared sensing device, and the inner side of the elevator corridor window is installed with a safety railing (11-1).

2. The drone delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The express parcel conveying mechanism comprises a parcel conveyor belt (3-1) and a driving motor (3-2) for driving the parcel conveyor belt (3-1).

3. The drone delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drone (12) is equipped with a courier module box (4) for loading express delivery, the courier module box (4) comprising a plurality of square spaces (4-1), the bottom of the square spaces (4-1) being provided with a square door with an electric switch that opens and closes downwards.

Images