Drone Delivery Hub Managing UAV Traffic and Battery Swaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional loading docks in fulfillment centers and warehouses are not equipped to handle the technical and logistical demands of take-off and landing of numerous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and require valuable space for battery changes and drone diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A drone delivery system hub with a center shaft and structural arms that supports a parcel-conveying system and drone-conveying systems, allowing UAVs to land, take off, perform battery swaps, and undergo diagnostics without occupying valuable floor space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional loading docks are used for UAV take-off and landing, then delivery operations can be performed, but valuable floor space is consumed and the system lacks the technical capability to handle battery changes and diagnostics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the delivery system from ground-based loading docks to an aerial hub structure. The hub extends upward from the roof, utilizing vertical space rather than horizontal floor space. This dimensional change allows the system to accommodate UAV take-off, landing, battery changes, and diagnostics without consuming valuable indoor floor space, while maintaining full technical capability for these operations.
2Productivity
If numerous UAVs are accommodated for delivery operations, then delivery efficiency increases, but the complexity of managing take-off, landing, battery swaps, and diagnostics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub structure integrates multiple functions into a single unified system. It provides take-off and landing platforms, battery change stations, diagnostic centers, and parcel transfer mechanisms all within one structure. This multi-functionality allows numerous UAVs to be managed efficiently without proportionally increasing system complexity, as all operations are coordinated through a centralized hub design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub acts as an intermediary between the delivery company's parcel network and the UAVs. It provides a standardized interface for UAV operations, including automated battery exchange mechanisms and diagnostic connections. This intermediary role simplifies the management of numerous UAVs by mediating all interactions through a single controlled point, reducing overall system complexity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If battery changes are performed at traditional facilities, then UAVs can be recharged, but valuable floor space is occupied and operational time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hub positions battery change stations at the top level, ready in advance for arriving UAVs. Batteries can be pre-charged and staged before UAVs return, allowing for rapid exchange. This preliminary preparation reduces operational time for battery changes while the rooftop location ensures no additional floor space is consumed.
4Reliability
If diagnostic facilities are provided for UAVs, then reliability of delivery operations improves, but floor space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines diagnostic facilities with the battery change stations and take-off/landing areas in an integrated hub structure. Diagnostic equipment is positioned to serve multiple functions simultaneously - checking UAVs before take-off, after landing, and during battery exchanges. This merging of functions improves delivery reliability through comprehensive diagnostics while minimizing space requirements by eliminating separate diagnostic areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A drone delivery system hub and method for sending for take-off and receiving for landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The drone delivery system hub includes a center shaft frame, a parcel-conveying system supported by the center shaft frame, structural arms coupled to and extending outward from the center shaft frame in a spoke-like configuration, drone-conveying systems each supported by one of the structural arms, and a linking conveyor span. The drone-conveying system conveys the UAVs along a length of a correspond one of the structural arms toward and away from the center shaft frame. The linking conveyor span selectably rotates to different orientations between different pairs of the structural arms, selectively conveying a UAV thereon between any two of the structural arms. The linking conveyor span is located above the parcel-conveying system such for the UAV thereon to deposit and retrieve parcels from the parcel-conveying system.