Infrared Beacon Delivery Receptacle for Accurate Drone Drop-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerial delivery methods are unsafe and unreliable due to the inability to accurately navigate and deliver packages to specific locations, often resulting in packages being stolen or misplaced, and require human intervention for proof of delivery.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using an unmanned aerial delivery device that navigates to a mobile delivery receptacle equipped with infrared beacons, allowing the receptacle to adjust its direction to guide the drone for secure package delivery and subsequent transport to a secure location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an aerial delivery device is used for automated package delivery, then productivity and reduction of human intervention are improved, but reliability and safety deteriorate due to inability to accurately navigate and deliver packages to specific locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices that are placed at delivery locations to serve as communication mediators between the aerial delivery device and the destination. These beacons emit signals that enable the drone to accurately locate and navigate to the precise delivery point, resolving the navigation accuracy problem while maintaining automated delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical navigation systems with optical/electromagnetic signal-based navigation using beacons. Instead of relying on mechanical guidance or human operators, the system uses light-based or electromagnetic signals from beacons to guide the aerial device, enabling more precise and reliable automated navigation to delivery locations
2Ease of operation
If packages are delivered to accessible locations like front porches, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to theft and misplacement risks
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon acts as an intermediary that enables the delivery device to reach the precise delivery location without requiring the package to be left in insecure areas. The signal-based navigation allows the drone to deliver packages to exact coordinates or specific receptacles, reducing the need to place packages in vulnerable locations like front porches where theft is common
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service delivery where the automated device can independently navigate to and deliver packages at the precise location using beacon guidance, eliminating the need for human intervention while maintaining security through accurate positioning rather than relying on secure but inaccessible locations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables accurate, reliable, and secure automated package delivery, reducing the need for human intervention and minimizing the risk of packages being stolen or misplaced.
Implementation Method 1
locates one or more first beacons being transmitted by a delivery receptacle
Implementation Method 2
The delivery device navigates to the delivery receptacle based on the triangulated position
Data Source
AI summary
Improving automated package delivery to mobile delivery receptacles to allow accurate and reliable package deliveries comprises a delivery receptacle for an automated package delivery via an unmanned aerial delivery device. The delivery receptacle is notified of a pending delivery and travels to a receiving location. The delivery receptacle emits infrared (“IR”) beacons from one or more IR beacon transmitters. An aerial delivery device detects the IR beacon and uses the beacons to navigate to the delivery receptacle. The delivery receptacle receives IR beacon responses from the aerial delivery device and continually or periodically directs the IR beacons in the direction of the aerial delivery device. The aerial delivery device deposits the package in the delivery receptacle. After receiving the package, the delivery receptacle transports the package to a secure location, such as into a garage.