Drone Delivery Receptacle With Auto-Opening Secure Gates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery systems fail to provide a secure and protected location for packages delivered by drones, leaving them vulnerable to theft and damage from the elements.
Innovation Solution
A drone-operated delivery receptacle with a housing and movable gates that automatically open to receive packages, equipped with a control unit for communication with drones and a secure access system to ensure safe storage until retrieval by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a drone drops off a package in a specific location, then the delivery can be completed without human interaction, but the package is left unattended and vulnerable to theft and weather damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a delivery receptacle as an intermediary structure between the drone and the final destination. The receptacle includes a secure storage compartment with controlled access, allowing the drone to deposit the package automatically while the package remains protected until authorized retrieval. This mediator structure resolves the contradiction by enabling automated delivery while maintaining package security through its enclosed design and access control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a delivery receptacle with secure storage is provided, then package security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery receptacle is divided into distinct functional segments: an open receiving area for drone access, a secure storage compartment for package protection, and a controlled access mechanism for authorized retrieval. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure manageable. The modular design reduces complexity by breaking down the secure storage function into discrete, independently manageable components.
3Ease of operation
If gates are made movable to allow drone access, then ease of operation is improved, but the security of the package is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gates are designed as movable rather than fixed structures, allowing them to dynamically transition between open and closed states based on operational requirements. The gates can open to facilitate drone access during delivery and close to secure the package afterward. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of operation for drones and security for packages through the same adaptable structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A drone operated delivery receptacle for receiving packages. The delivery receptacle includes a housing having a base, sidewalls, and an open upper end, defining an interior volume. The open upper end includes one or more gates that are movable between an open and closed configuration, and are configured to open when a delivery drone is detected by a control unit of the delivery receptacle. Preferably, the one or more gates are configured to automatically open when a drone is detected so as to allow the drone to deposit the package therein. A front wall of the housing comprises one or more doors thereon that allow the user to access the interior volume of the housing to retrieve the package therein.