Unmanned aerial delivery to secure location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery systems face challenges in efficiently and securely transporting goods to last mile locations, particularly in ensuring accurate and controlled access to delivery boxes by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Innovation Solution
A delivery management system that includes a communication device for verifying the identity of UAVs and generating instructions for opening and closing delivery boxes using geofence technology, robotics, and blockchain authentication to ensure secure and controlled delivery processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If ground vehicles are used for last mile delivery, then delivery capacity is sufficient, but delivery efficiency and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional ground-based mechanical delivery system with an aerial delivery system using unmanned aircraft. This substitution enables three-dimensional flight paths, avoiding ground traffic constraints and significantly improving delivery speed and efficiency for last-mile deliveries.
2Speed
If delivery boxes are made accessible to UAVs, then delivery speed improves, but security and controlled access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of the UAV's identity and authorization before the delivery box is opened. The communication device validates the UAV's credentials in advance, and only after successful verification does the system generate instructions to open the delivery box, ensuring security is maintained while enabling rapid delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes bidirectional communication between the delivery box and UAV, where the delivery box monitors the UAV's approach, validates its identity, and provides feedback by controlling the opening/closing of the box. This feedback mechanism ensures that the box remains secure until proper authentication occurs, then enables rapid access.
3Reliability
If communication verification between UAV and delivery box is implemented, then delivery security improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication device in the delivery box serves multiple functions: it acts as a transceiver for receiving UAV communications, a verification system for validating UAV identity, an instruction generator for controlling box operations, and a security authentication system. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high security standards.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery management system comprises a communication device that receives a notification of a communication established between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload and a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload from the UAV when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box and moving in a direction toward the delivery box, the communication including an identity of the UAV; a verification device that processes the notification and validates the identity of the UAV; and an instruction generator that generates an instruction to the delivery box to open the delivery box in response to the verification device validating the identity of the UAV and a determination by the communication device that the communication is established between the UAV and the delivery box. The communication device includes an autolocker communication device that outputs the instruction to the delivery box.