Unmanned Delivery Aircraft Crane System for Package Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing product delivery methods often result in undesirable delays and increased costs due to the challenges of safely and efficiently delivering packages to customers in a modern retail environment.

Innovation Solution

The use of unmanned delivery aircraft equipped with a crane system and control circuitry that allows for stable hovering above a delivery location, enabling package delivery without landing, using a crane motor, rotational drive shaft, and stop switches to control the package release and retrieval process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional delivery methods are used to deliver products to customers, then delivery can be completed, but delivery delays and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery speedVSAvoiddelivery delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional ground-based mechanical delivery systems with an aerial drone delivery system. The drone uses rotary wings to hover and position itself above the delivery location, then employs a cable-driven package release mechanism to deliver the package without landing, substituting the conventional ground vehicle delivery process with an aerial robotic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element between the hovering drone and the package. The cable allows the drone to lower and release the package precisely at the delivery location while maintaining aerial position, serving as a mediator that enables contactless package transfer from the airborne vehicle to the ground without requiring the drone to land.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional delivery methods are used, then delivery can be completed, but delivery costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoiddelivery cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional ground-based mechanical delivery systems with an aerial drone delivery system. The drone uses rotary wings to hover and position itself above the delivery location, then employs a cable-driven package release mechanism to deliver the package without landing, substituting the conventional ground vehicle delivery process with an aerial robotic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If packages are delivered by landing vehicles, then delivery can be completed, but package damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery completionVSAvoidpackage damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element between the hovering drone and the package. The cable allows the drone to lower and release the package precisely at the delivery location while maintaining aerial position, serving as a mediator that enables contactless package transfer from the airborne vehicle to the ground without requiring the drone to land.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the package delivery function from the drone's body by using a detachable cable system. The package is released through the cable mechanism while the drone remains hovering, separating the package transfer operation from the drone's physical contact with the ground, thereby reducing damage risk from landing impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If drone hovers at high altitude, then delivery safety improves, but delivery precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery safetyVSAvoiddelivery precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic altitude adjustment where the drone hovers at a safe elevated position for most of the delivery process, then dynamically lowers itself closer to the delivery location only when needed for precise package release. The cable system allows the drone to maintain a safe distance while still achieving precise delivery by controlling the cable length and package release timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11053006B2Systems and methods of delivering products with unmanned delivery aircrafts
Publication Date: 2021.07.06 WALMART APOLLO LLC
  • US11053006B2 patent drawing
  • US11053006B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.