Drone Dispatch from Mobile Carrier for Delivery Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The commercial use of airborne drones for delivery is hindered by regulatory restrictions, limited flight range due to battery power, and challenges in safely navigating over lengthy distances.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where a terrestrial vehicle carries airborne drones and items to a delivery zone, allowing drones to exit and deliver items without traversing long distances, using a control circuit to manage the process, and platforms to support drones for easy takeoff and landing, conserving power and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If airborne drones are used for delivery, then delivery speed and convenience are improved, but flight range is limited due to battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into two segments: a terrestrial vehicle that covers long distances and an airborne drone that handles local delivery. The terrestrial vehicle transports the drone to a delivery zone, and the drone performs the final delivery, thus combining the advantages of both ground and air transport to overcome battery range limitations while maintaining fast delivery speed.
2Area of stationary object
If airborne drones traverse long distances, then delivery coverage is expanded, but safety and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery journey is segmented into a long-distance ground transport phase handled by the terrestrial vehicle and a short-distance air delivery phase handled by the drone. This segmentation allows the drone to operate only within safe, limited ranges while still achieving broad delivery coverage through the terrestrial vehicle's transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terrestrial vehicle acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the central facility and distant delivery locations. It transports the drone close to the delivery zone, enabling the drone to perform safe, short-range deliveries and thus expanding overall coverage without compromising safety.
3Productivity
If airborne drones carry items over lengthy distances, then delivery capability is enhanced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery task is segmented such that the energy-intensive long-distance transport is performed by the terrestrial vehicle using non-battery power sources, while the battery-powered drone handles only the energy-efficient short-distance final delivery. This segmentation optimizes power consumption by matching each transport mode to its most efficient operational range.
Data Source
AI summary
A control circuit dispatches towards a delivery zone a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer. When the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone, the drone is dispatched to carry the item to the customer. By one approach the drone exits the terrestrial vehicle without bearing the item. The item can be automatically moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a position such that the item is at least partially exposed external to the terrestrial vehicle. The airborne drone, subsequent to exiting the terrestrial vehicle, can engage the item in order to then deliver that item to the customer. By one approach the terrestrial vehicle includes one or more platforms that support one or more airborne drones and that can be moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a deployed position external to the terrestrial vehicle.