Drone Delivery Using External ID Markers for Unit Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles face challenges in delivering packages to dwelling units with similar appearances or without delivery history, making it difficult to identify the correct delivery destination.
Innovation Solution
The unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with a control system that reads identification information indicators, such as two-dimensional codes, to identify and deliver packages to specific dwelling units within a delivery area, using a movement control process to position the package at a receiving area without direct human interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the unmanned aerial vehicle identifies delivery destinations based on appearance, then the delivery process can be automated, but it becomes difficult to identify the correct destination when dwelling units have similar appearances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an identification information indicator (such as a two-dimensional code) as an intermediary element attached to each dwelling unit. This indicator serves as a mediator between the automated aerial vehicle's recognition system and the unique identity of each dwelling unit, enabling precise identification even when appearances are similar. The vehicle's image recognition device reads these indicators to accurately determine delivery destinations.
2Ease of operation
If the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers near the delivery destination to deliver the package, then the package can be delivered without direct human interaction, but it may cause safety concerns and disturbance to residents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the delivery action from close proximity hovering and relocates it to a distance. The aerial vehicle hovers at a predetermined distance from the delivery destination, releases the package, and then moves away. This extraction of the delivery mechanism from close contact eliminates safety concerns and disturbance to residents while maintaining automated contactless delivery.
3Measurement precision
If the unmanned aerial vehicle reads identification information from multiple dwelling units, then the correct delivery destination can be identified, but the time required for identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the aerial vehicle read and store identification information indicators from multiple dwelling units in advance, before reaching the actual delivery destination. This preliminary data collection allows the vehicle to quickly compare stored identification information with the delivery address during the actual delivery process, reducing identification time while maintaining high accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle executes: a movement control process that moves the unmanned aerial vehicle to a delivery area including a delivery address to which a package is to be delivered, the delivery area including delivery destination candidates, and each of the delivery destination candidates including an identification information indicator located at a position where the identification information indicator is readable from outside; an identification information acquiring process that acquires identification information associated with each delivery destination candidate by reading a corresponding identification information indicator; a delivery destination identifying process that identifies, as a delivery destination, a delivery destination candidate in which the acquired identification information matches the delivery address; a position identifying process that identifies a receiving position of the package based on a position of the identified delivery destination; and a placing process that places the package at the identified receiving position.