Steerable Dependent UAV Release for Precise Urban Delivery

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in delivering payloads to precise locations without landing, particularly in urban settings, which limits their adoption and can pose hazards due to their landing requirements and reduced delivery radius.

Innovation Solution

A steerable dependent vehicle system for UAVs, where a primary UAV releases a secondary UAV at a threshold distance from the delivery location, allowing the secondary UAV to actively steer and navigate to the target using thrusters and tether mechanisms, enabling precise delivery even in obstacle-rich environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional UAV lands to deliver a payload, then the delivery can be completed at the target location, but the delivery time increases and hazards to persons and property occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery completionVSAvoiddelivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the delivery task into two independent vehicles: a primary UAV that transports the dependent UAV to near the delivery location, and a dependent UAV that completes the final delivery. This segmentation allows the primary UAV to maintain distance from the delivery site, avoiding landing hazards while the dependent UAV handles the precise delivery operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dependent UAV acts as an intermediary between the primary UAV and the delivery location. It is released from the primary UAV at a threshold distance and autonomously navigates to the precise delivery target, enabling accurate delivery without requiring the primary UAV to land or enter hazardous urban environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a conventional UAV lands to deliver a payload, then the delivery can be completed at the target location, but hazards to persons and property are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery completionVSAvoidhazards to persons and property

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the delivery task into two independent vehicles: a primary UAV that transports the dependent UAV to near the delivery location, and a dependent UAV that completes the final delivery. This segmentation allows the primary UAV to maintain distance from the delivery site, avoiding landing hazards while the dependent UAV handles the precise delivery operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dependent UAV acts as an intermediary between the primary UAV and the delivery location. It is released from the primary UAV at a threshold distance and autonomously navigates to the precise delivery target, enabling accurate delivery without requiring the primary UAV to land or enter hazardous urban environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a smaller conventional UAV is used to land, then landing is possible, but the delivery radius is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanding capabilityVSAvoiddelivery radius

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the delivery task into two independent vehicles: a primary UAV that transports the dependent UAV to near the delivery location, and a dependent UAV that completes the final delivery. This segmentation allows the primary UAV to maintain distance from the delivery site, avoiding landing hazards while the dependent UAV handles the precise delivery operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dependent UAV is carried within or attached to the primary UAV during transport. This nesting arrangement allows the system to combine the long-range capability of the larger primary UAV with the precise maneuvering capability of the smaller dependent UAV, effectively extending the delivery radius while maintaining landing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system enhances delivery precision and range by allowing the secondary UAV to bypass obstacles, reducing the need for the primary UAV to land, thus increasing delivery capabilities and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The steering mechanism may include at least one thruster coupled to the second unmanned vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust: Jet

Data Source

PatentUS12589898B2Steerable dependent vehicle for unmanned aerial vehicles

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A delivery device to deliver a product from an aerial location includes a body defining a payload holding region. The delivery device may further include a coupling mechanism configured to couple the body to a primary vehicle. The delivery device may further include a control feature configured to change a flight characteristic of the body. A method for delivering a product may include positioning a first unmanned aerial vehicle within a threshold distance of a delivery location. The method may further include releasing a second unmanned vehicle from the first unmanned aerial vehicle once the first unmanned aerial vehicle is within the threshold distance. The method may further include causing the second unmanned vehicle to reach the delivery location. The method may further include activating a delivery mechanism to release the product from the second unmanned vehicle to deliver the product to the delivery location.