Unmanned aerial vehicle for delivering goods using drop zone, operating method thereof and computer readable storage medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a system to deliver goods directly to elevated locations such as rooftops of high-rise buildings using unmanned aerial vehicles while preventing collisions between these vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a drive, carrying part, communication interface, and processors that enable it to enter a standby space, request drop permission, and drop goods into a drop zone with a designated drop space and standby space to prevent collisions, utilizing a spiral guide to reduce speed and buffer spaces to avoid collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple unmanned aerial vehicles deliver goods to elevated locations simultaneously, then delivery efficiency is improved, but collision risk between vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery zone is segmented into multiple distinct spaces: standby space for waiting vehicles and drop space for active delivery. This spatial segmentation allows multiple UAVs to operate simultaneously in different zones without collision, resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and collision risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A control server acts as an intermediary that manages and coordinates multiple UAVs. The control server assigns specific spaces to each UAV, monitors their positions, and prevents collisions by regulating access to the drop zone, thereby enabling efficient simultaneous deliveries while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a drop zone is designed to receive goods from multiple directions, then delivery flexibility is improved, but complexity of collision prevention increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery flexibilityVSAvoidcollision prevention complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a temporal dimension to spatial management by implementing sequential access control. UAVs are assigned specific time windows to enter the drop space, transforming the problem from a purely spatial collision prevention challenge to a spatio-temporal coordination problem, which simplifies the overall system complexity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If UAVs wait in standby space before dropping goods, then collision prevention is improved, but delivery time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision preventionVSAvoiddelivery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

UAVs perform preliminary actions by entering and positioning themselves in the standby space before the actual delivery process begins. This preliminary positioning allows the control server to coordinate multiple UAVs efficiently, reducing overall delivery time while maintaining collision prevention through structured space allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Speed

If drop space is positioned directly above the drop zone, then delivery speed is improved, but collision risk with ascending UAVs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery speedVSAvoidcollision risk with ascending UAVs
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and separates the functions of different spaces: the standby space handles waiting and coordination, while the drop space handles active delivery. By taking out the coordination function from the drop space and placing it in the standby space, the system enables direct positioning over the drop zone for speed while preventing collisions through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The system allows for safe and collision-free delivery of goods to high locations by ensuring proper spacing and sequencing of aerial vehicle operations, enhancing delivery efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

After the goods are dropped to the inclined surface of the drop zone, the goods may be moved to the lower opening by gravity on the inclined surface.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The inclined surface has a spiral guide having a preset height formed thereon to reduce a moving speed of the dropped goods. The spiral guide may have a curved surface in contact with the goods.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4404173B1Unmanned aerial vehicle for delivering goods using drop zone, operating method thereof and computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4404173B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4404173B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4404173B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a drive configured to accelerate the unmanned aerial vehicle; a carrying part configured to carry goods; a communication unit; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to enter a standby space associated with a drop zone, transmit a drop permission request, enter a drop space above the drop zone when drop permission is received, and drop the goods into the drop zone by controlling the carrying part.