Unmanned Delivery Aircraft Hovering Crane System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern retail environments, existing product delivery methods often result in undesirable delays and increased costs due to inefficiencies in reaching customers, which can reduce customer satisfaction and revenue.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an unmanned delivery aircraft system that uses cameras and image processing to identify and confirm the precise location of a package drop point on a vehicle at a drive-through station, allowing the aircraft to autonomously deliver packages via a crane system while hovering above the vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for physical landing and enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional ground-based delivery methods are used, then delivery can be made to customers, but delivery time is increased and costs are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based delivery to aerial delivery using unmanned aircraft. The delivery system operates in three-dimensional space, allowing the aircraft to fly directly to delivery locations and hover above vehicles, eliminating the need for ground transportation and significantly reducing delivery time while improving efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the aircraft lands to deliver packages, then packages can be placed on the ground, but safety is reduced and efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lowering system with a cable or robotic arm as an intermediary mechanism. Instead of landing the aircraft, the system lowers the package from the hovering aircraft to the ground or vehicle through this intermediary, maintaining safety while enabling delivery operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical landing system with a hovering and lowering system. The aircraft uses its propulsion system to maintain hover position and the lowering system to transfer packages, eliminating the need for physical contact between the aircraft and ground, thereby improving safety and efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If cameras and image processing are used to identify package drop points, then delivery precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned aircraft carries its own camera and image processing capabilities, making the system self-sufficient for identifying delivery locations. The aircraft independently captures images, processes them to identify vehicle types and determine optimal drop points, and executes delivery without requiring external assistance, thereby achieving precision while managing complexity through integration.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, provide systems, apparatuses and methods to deliver products using unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, product delivery system is provided, comprising: an unmanned delivery aircraft configured to deliver a package to a package drop point corresponding to a location of a vehicle at a predefined drive-through station, wherein the delivery aircraft comprises: one or more cameras; an image processor configured to process images captured by the one or more cameras and based on the processing of the images confirm a precise location of the package drop point as defined according to a determined current location and an orientation of the vehicle; and a crane system that supports the first package and lowers the first package to the package drop point relative to the current location and orientation of the vehicle while the delivery aircraft hovers above the vehicle by a threshold distance.