Secure Drone Delivery Box with Rotating Conveyor for Article Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drone delivery systems face challenges in providing designated areas for take-off, landing, and secure delivery of articles, letters, packages, goods, freight, and the like.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising a secure box with a planar top wall and a cylindrical sidewall, featuring reclosable openings for secure receipt and retrieval of articles, along with a round conveyor for holding and rotating articles to facilitate easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure box with reclosable openings is used for drone delivery, then security and controlled access are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secure box is divided into multiple functional components: a main body with reclosable openings, a separate conveyor mechanism, and distinct locking systems. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving security while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The secure box is designed with multi-functionality to serve as both a secure storage container and an automated delivery interface. The reclosable openings serve dual purposes: securing articles during storage and enabling automated drone access, thereby improving security without requiring separate dedicated systems
2Ease of operation
If a round conveyor with partitions is added to hold and rotate articles, then ease of article retrieval is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is designed as a dynamic rotating mechanism with partitions that can move articles to different positions. This dynamic capability allows articles to be automatically positioned for easy retrieval through the sidewall opening, improving ease of operation while the modular partition design keeps complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor acts as an intermediary mechanism between the secure storage area and the retrieval opening. It mediates the transfer of articles from the main compartment to the access point, improving retrieval ease while isolating the complexity of the rotation mechanism from both the storage and retrieval operations
3Reliability
If designated areas for take-off and landing are provided, then delivery reliability is improved, but loss of time for setup and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secure box is pre-configured with designated take-off and landing areas, along with all necessary security mechanisms and conveyor systems, before the delivery process begins. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable drone operations without requiring time-consuming setup or configuration during actual deliveries
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system and a method of delivering articles are provided. The system has a secure box having a planar top wall and a cylindrical sidewall, and a reclosable opening in the top wall, at least one reclosable opening in the sidewall. The system is configured to open the top wall opening for receiving an article into the secure box and for closing and locking the top wall opening, upon the article being received in the secure box. A round conveyor having at least two partitions and is configured and disposed to hold the article and to rotate and dispose the article proximate the sidewall opening for a recipient of the article.