Unmanned flight system for autonomous delivery and collection of products

Abstract

The invention relates to an unmanned flight system for autonomous distribution and collection of products, characterized in that the system consists of at least three devices: a reusable container unit (UDER), a supply device referred to as (KAS), and a landing device referred to as (KAT) for receiving products and recovering empty containers, in which a full load (UDER) is transported within the (KAS) to the (KAT), the user unloads the cargo and returns the used UDER.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The purpose of this invention

[0002] The invention described in this specification relates to a drone system for autonomous delivery and collection of products, wherein the system does not require operator or user intervention to perform its functions.

[0003] The system mainly consists of reusable container units (UDER), transport units (KAS), and landing devices (KAT) for receiving products and recovering empty containers.

[0004] The system is primarily designed to optimize capillary delivery of products and goods to end recipients.

[0005] The main advantages of this invention can be summarized as follows:

[0006] - High-speed delivery.

[0007] - A fully automated process between logistics companies and customers.

[0008] - A comprehensive reduction in single-use packaging.

[0009] - The recipient can receive the product without having to be at home.

[0010] - Logistics costs have been significantly reduced.

[0011] - Compared to the capillary distribution system of existing internal combustion engines, the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere is reduced by up to 50%.

[0012] - A single drone flight can complete multiple deliveries to different recipients.

[0013] Field of the Invention

[0014] This invention relates to the logistics industry, particularly to so-called last-mile air logistics. Background Technology

[0015] There are several isolated and independent precedents for systems that satisfy some of the parameters of our proposed invention.

[0016] Among them, we found document KR10-2022-0095435 published by the Institute of Industrial Technology at Korea Maritime University on July 7, 2022, as the closest precedent.

[0017] This document discloses a system and method for receiving items delivered by drones. The equipment for receiving items delivered by drones includes: a receiving module for receiving transmission information of the items transmitted by the drone or electronic equipment, a drone detection device, and a retractable receiving module located at a predetermined position to receive the items based on the detected location.

[0018] The document does not disclose devices for delivering items using pallets within a conveyor, nor devices for recycling returned items.

[0019] The document also does not provide a rotating cylindrical column with automatic height adjustment and telescoping capabilities. For the reasons stated above, we believe this document does not constitute a particularly relevant precedent.

[0020] In addition, we retrieved an invention from SkyLife Corporation (USA) as a precedent, which generally includes: an aerial distribution system for deploying items, comprising a bulk transport container containing a plurality of deployment boxes (4000, 4100), each deployment box containing at least one item, characterized in that the aerial distribution system also includes a plurality of ropes (4020), each rope connected to one deployment box in the bulk transport container, and a free fall delay device connected to the bulk transport container, wherein, during the delayed free fall, each of the plurality of deployment boxes is deployed from the bulk transport container and deploys at least one item contained in the deployment box.

[0021] We believe this case is a distant precedent, and its improvements are not worth noting.

[0022] Chinese patent application P is CN201711255909.

[0023] Application Date: December 3, 2017

[0024] The application submitted by the China Helicopter Design Institute is titled "A Cargo Delivery System and Method Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)".

[0025] Abstract: This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, and particularly to a UAV-based cargo delivery system and method. The delivery system includes: an order generation module for generating orders based on user order requirements, the orders including at least product information and user address information; a cargo receiving station configured to receive the cargo to be delivered carried by the UAV and the UAV itself; a route configuration module for selecting the address of the cargo receiving station closest to the user's address based on the order information, and then generating delivery route information for the UAV; a UAV for carrying the cargo to be delivered and flying according to control commands; and a UAV flight control module for issuing control commands to control the UAV's flight based on the delivery route information. The UAV-based cargo delivery system and method can improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of cargo delivery, and also ensure timely delivery.

[0026] This document relates to a general distribution system, but does not provide any direct elements of the logistics advocated by this invention at any stage.

[0027] The inventors have not found any prior art that incorporates the structure of the present invention, or the advantages that such structures bring. Summary of the Invention

[0028] The system to be protected is primarily designed to optimize capillary delivery of products and goods to end recipients, while significantly reducing single-use packaging waste (cardboard boxes and cartons, shrink film, wrapping paper, etc.) in existing processes.

[0029] The main objectives and advantages are as follows:

[0030] -High-speed delivery

[0031] - End-to-end automation between logistics companies and customers

[0032] - A comprehensive reduction in single-use packaging

[0033] - The recipient can receive the product without having to be at home.

[0034] - Logistics costs have been significantly reduced.

[0035] Composition: The system mainly consists of a reusable container unit (UDER), an air supply unit (KAS), and a landing unit (KAT) for receiving products and recovering empty containers.

[0036] Applicability: This system is suitable for all types of products, some of which involve:

[0037] E-commerce shopping,

[0038] Purchase various foods (à la carte menu, pizza, hamburgers, etc.).

[0039] Purchase medicines, regular medicines, herbs, etc.

[0040] Distribution of heavy industrial components between enterprises.

[0041] Operation: The system is designed to provide the simplest possible operation for all participants in the process.

[0042] For purchases with smaller unit volume and weight, a reusable container unit (KAS) was designed, allowing multiple products to be delivered (and empty UDER containers to be recycled) to different destinations without having to return the air equipment to the base for loading each time. This greatly reduces the time from order placement to delivery to each destination. Attached Figure Description

[0043] To better understand the present invention, the accompanying drawings include the following figures:

[0044] Figure 1 - Perspective view of a reusable container unit (UDER).

[0045] Figure 2 - Central cross-sectional view of a reusable container unit (UDER).

[0046] Figure 3 - Front sectional view of the supply unit (KAS).

[0047] Figure 4 - Perspective view of the landing device (KAT) used to receive products and recycle empty containers.

[0048] Figure 5 - A cross-sectional view of the horizontal arm product collection basket.

[0049] In the above diagram, the same number indicates the same component, and the distinctions are as follows:

[0050] (10) - (UDER) Plastic body,

[0051] (11) - (UDER) Top cover,

[0052] (12) - (UDER) Elastic fabric,

[0053] (13) - (UDER) The metal part at the bottom,

[0054] (14) - (UDER) The central hole,

[0055] (20) - The elliptical body of the air supply unit (KAS),

[0056] (21) - Fill the hole and close the door.

[0057] (22)-UDER filling the voids,

[0058] (23) - Horizontal arm entrance closing door

[0059] (24) - Horizontal arm inlet hole,

[0060] (25) - A fixed basket for receiving empty UDERs.

[0061] (26) - Fixed (KAS) wall,

[0062] (27) - Air transport support,

[0063] (28) - Support tray for reusable container units (UDERs),

[0064] (29) - A holder for storing the UDER.

[0065] (30) - Horizontal arm door,

[0066] (31) - Receiving hole for an empty, reusable container.

[0067] (32) - Encoded signal transmitter,

[0068] (40) - Mounting bracket for the landing gear (KAT),

[0069] (41) - Mechanism support,

[0070] (42) - Rotation axis,

[0071] (43) - Linear actuator bracket

[0072] (44) - Linear actuator,

[0073] (45) - Horizontal arm,

[0074] (46) - The entrance door for the mobile basket,

[0075] (47) - Empty UDER compartment,

[0076] (48) - Goods receiving basket slide rail,

[0077] (49) - Electric actuator stored in an empty UDER.

[0078] (50) - Sliding arm rotary electric actuator.

[0079] (51) - Vertical slide rail of sliding arm,

[0080] (52) - The telescopic rod of the linear actuator,

[0081] (53) - A motor used for sliding of linear actuators,

[0082] (54) - Geographic location sensor,

[0083] (55) - Photovoltaic panels,

[0084] (56) - Control and communication CPU with device control touch screen,

[0085] (57) - Sliding arm support,

[0086] (58) - Horizontal arm fixed tie rod

[0087] (59) - Goods receiving hole,

[0088] (60) - Lower loading door of empty UDER,

[0089] (61) - A mobile container for receiving and delivering goods.

[0090] (62) - Detachable metal parts of the cargo receiving basket

[0091] (63) - Elastic fabric for cargo receiving baskets

[0092] (64) - Slide rail for receiving basket. Detailed Implementation

[0093] The invention described in this specification relates to a system for cargo delivery via drones, for autonomous delivery and collection of products, i.e., the system does not require operator or user intervention to perform its functions.

[0094] The system is primarily designed to optimize capillary delivery of products and goods to end recipients.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises at least three devices:

[0096] - Reusable Container Unit (UDER)

[0097] - Supply device (called KAS), and

[0098] - Landing device (KAT) for receiving products and recovering empty containers.

[0099] - The reusable container unit (UDER) consists of the following components:

[0100] The plastic body (10), which serves as the container base for transporting products, is rectangular cuboid in shape with a rectangular hole (14) in the center. The central hole is covered with an elastic fabric (12), and metal parts (13) are installed on its bottom and outside. It is also equipped with a top cover (11) for closure.

[0101] - The supply device (KAS), consisting of an elliptical prism (20), includes the following components:

[0102] There are at least three holes inside: a filling hole (22), a horizontal arm (45) inlet hole, and a receiving hole (31) for an empty reusable container unit.

[0103] The first two openings are closed by two automatic doors, namely the filling opening closing door (21) and the horizontal arm entrance door (23), and the third opening is closed to the outside.

[0104] Inside, there is a horizontal tray (28) for support (UDER), with a retainer (29) at each end for fixing / releasing (UDER), and a fixed basket (25) at the bottom for receiving empty (UDER), which will be positioned by an electromagnet (62) and a metal piece (13) at the bottom of (UDER).

[0105] The unit is also equipped with an coded signal transmitter (32).

[0106] - The landing device (KAT) for receiving products and recycling empty containers consists of two parts: a fixed part fixed to the wall (26) and a movable part connected to the fixed part.

[0107] The fixed part includes a fixed bracket (40) formed of a rigid rectangular plate attached to the exterior wall (26) on one side of the window, but slightly higher, with two lugs (40') (40") perpendicular to the wall at both ends; a cylindrical mechanism bracket (41) between the two lugs is fixed to the two lugs by a rotating shaft (42); a vertical bracket (57) is provided at the top of the mechanism bracket (41), which is connected to the horizontal arm (45) by a fixed tie rod (58); an electric actuator (50) is installed at the bottom to drive the horizontal arm (45) to rotate; a motor (53) is installed on the bracket (43) for vertical movement on a slide rail (51) arranged along the bracket (41); a linear actuator bracket (43) is fixed at the lower part of the mechanism bracket (41), which supports the linear actuator (44) and its telescopic rod (52), as well as the tie rod (58); and a rotary motor of the linear actuator (44) is installed at the upper part.

[0108] Linear actuators (44) and pull rods (58) support and maintain the verticality of the horizontal arm (45), which is composed of an elliptical cylinder with a photovoltaic panel (55) on top for powering the motion motor when the normal power supply is interrupted. It is also equipped with a flip-up door (46) that covers the entrance of the cargo receiving hole (47), which contains a cargo receiving basket (61) and an empty UDER collection device consisting of an empty UDER compartment (47). The empty UDER compartment contains an empty UDER fixing arm, a cargo receiving basket slide rail (48), and a lower door (60) for positioning the empty UDER.

[0109] The cargo receiving basket (61) is a prismatic container with slide rails (64) on the top of its opposite side walls, and the top is covered with an elastic fabric (63) for storing cargo, as well as a magnetic metal plate (62) covering the bottom of the outer side of the basket.

[0110] To enable automatic control of all operations, the system is equipped with a geolocation sensor (54) and a control and communication CPU (56) with a touch screen.

[0111] The system operation can be summarized in the following steps:

[0112] First, the landing device (KAT) for receiving products and recovering empty containers must be positioned at its working location, attached to the exterior wall (26), next to the window but slightly higher, to ensure user safety during operation. Then, the electronic system is configured for remote communication with the aircraft and the recipient. For this purpose, a mounting plate (40) must be secured.

[0113] b- Once (KAT) is in place, the products to be delivered can be loaded into (UDER).

[0114] The fully loaded (UDER) will be placed on the support tray (28) of (KAS) and secured by the fastener (29).

[0115] d- When (KAS) approaches (KAT), the coded signal transmitter (32) of (KAS) will send a signal to (KAT) to extend its horizontal arm (45).

[0116] With the assistance of the geolocation sensor (54), e-(KAS) will be positioned at zero speed in front of (KAT) and locked at a preset distance.

[0117] f- At this position, the door (23) of (KAS) will open to allow the horizontal arm (45) of (KAT) to enter.

[0118] At this position, the upper door (46) and the front door (30) of (KAT) will be opened.

[0119] h- At this time, the cargo receiving basket (61) will slide along the slide rail (64) to the preset position.

[0120] i- By opening the retainer (29), the fully loaded (UDER) is unloaded into the cargo receiving basket (61) under gravity.

[0121] The j-empty (UDER) will be unloaded from the horizontal arm (45) by gravity, and fall into the receiving hole (31) of (KAS) by the action of cutting the magnetic plate (62). Then the moving basket is retrieved and loaded into the horizontal arm (45) of (KAT), the outer door (46) is closed and the lock on (KAS) on (KAT) is released.

[0122] After the product is unloaded and the empty (UDER) is loaded, (KAS) will automatically move horizontally to the zero position according to the preset program, where a new (KAS) operation will begin.

[0123] After l-(KAS) is withdrawn, the horizontal arm (45) folds down 90° to the initial position.

[0124] At this point, the control and communication CPU system (56) will notify the recipient that the goods have been delivered.

[0125] When the recipient arrives at the (KAT) location, he will activate the horizontal arm (45) to extend and lower along the track (51), open the arm door (46), remove the full load (UDER), empty and close it.

[0126] o- The next step is to place the empty (UDER), which is done by opening the lower door (60) of the horizontal arm (45) and flipping the (UDER) to place it on the magnetic plate (62) of the basket (61).

[0127] Having fully described the nature and embodiments of the invention, it should be noted that the foregoing description and the contents shown in the drawings can be modified as long as they do not change the basic principles established in the foregoing paragraphs and summarized in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle system for autonomous product delivery and collection, characterized in that, The system consists of at least three devices: a reusable container unit (UDER), a supply device called (KAS), and a landing device called (KAT) for receiving products and recycling empty containers. The reusable container unit (UDER) is a rectangular cuboid plastic body (10) with a rectangular hole (14) in the center, covered with an elastic fabric (12), and has metal parts (13) installed on the bottom and outside, and equipped with a top cover (11) for closure. The supply device (KAS) is an elliptical prism (20) with three holes inside: a filling hole (22), a horizontal arm inlet hole (24), and a receiving hole (31) for empty reusable container units. The unit is closed by two automatic doors: a filling hole closing door (21) and a horizontal arm entrance door (23). The third hole is closed to the outside. Inside, there is a horizontal tray (28) for supporting (UDER), with a retainer (29) at each end of the tray. The bottom is equipped with a fixed basket (25) for receiving empty (UDER). The unit is also equipped with an coded signal transmitter (32). The landing device (KAT) for receiving products and recycling empty containers consists of two parts: a fixed part fixed to the wall (26) and a movable part connected to the fixed part. The fixed part consists of a fixed bracket (40) formed by a rigid rectangular plate (41) and attached to the outer wall (26). It has two lugs (40') (40") perpendicular to the wall at both ends. A cylindrical mechanism bracket (41) is provided between the two lugs, and is fixed to the two lugs by a rotating shaft (42). A vertical bracket (57) is provided at the top of the mechanism bracket (41) to support a fixed pull rod (58) fixed on the horizontal arm (45). An electric actuator (50) is installed at the bottom to drive the horizontal arm (45) to rotate. The vertical movement of the horizontal arm is achieved by a motor (53) along the vertical guide rail (51) on the bracket (41). A linear actuator bracket (43) is fixed at the lower part of the mechanism bracket (41), which supports a linear actuator (44) with a telescopic rod (52). A rotary motor of the linear actuator (44) is installed at the upper part, which together with the telescopic rod (52) of the sliding arm supports and maintains the vertical movement of the horizontal arm (45). Straightness; the horizontal arm is composed of an elliptical cylinder with a photovoltaic panel (55) on top. A flip-up door (46) covers the entrance of a cargo receiving hole (59), which contains a cargo receiving basket (61) and an empty UDER collection device consisting of an empty UDER compartment (47), in which a fixture (29) for the empty UDER compartment (47) and a lower part (60) for positioning the empty UDER are placed. The cargo receiving basket (61) is composed of a prismatic container with an open top and slide rails (64) on the top of each opposite side wall. The top is covered with an elastic fabric (63), and the bottom is covered with a magnetic metal plate (62) located outside the basket. The system is equipped with a geolocation sensor (54) and a control and communication CPU (56) with a touch screen.

2. An unmanned aerial vehicle system for autonomous product delivery and collection, characterized in that, The system's operating procedures are as follows: - First, the landing device (KAT) for receiving products and recycling empty containers is attached to a working position on the exterior wall (26), which is next to the window but slightly higher to ensure user safety during operation, and the electronic system is configured to communicate remotely with the aircraft and the recipient. For this purpose, the plate (40) for fixing (KAT) is fixed in place, and then the product to be delivered is loaded into (UDER). Once full, it is placed on the support tray (28) of (KAS) and secured by the fastener (29). When (KAS) approaches (KAT), the coded signal transmitter (32) of (KAS) sends a signal to (KAT) to extend its horizontal arm (45). At the same time, (KAS) is positioned in front of (KAT) at zero speed with the assistance of the geolocation sensor (54) and locked at a preset distance. At this position, the door (23) of (KAS) opens. Open to allow the horizontal arm (45) of (KAT) to enter. From this position, open the upper door (46) and front door (30) of (KAT). At this time, the cargo receiving basket (61) slides along the slide rail (64) to the preset position. By opening the retainer (29), (UDER) is unloaded into the cargo receiving basket (61) under the action of gravity. After unloading, in order to put it into the empty receiving hole (31) of (KAS), the lower door (60) must be opened first and the action of the magnetic plate (62) must be cut off so that it falls into the receiving hole (31) of (KAS). After the product unloading and empty (UDER) loading are completed, the moving basket (61) is retrieved and put into the horizontal arm (45). The outer door (46) of the horizontal arm (45) is closed. Then (KAS) will automatically move horizontally to the zero position according to the preset program, where a new (KAS) operation set according to the program will begin.

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