WO2019102361A1

WO2019102361A1 - Package delivery and collection system and method using drones

Info

Publication number: WO2019102361A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/059156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grant Robert James WALKER
Original assignee: Walker Grant Robert James
Priority date: 2017-11-21
Filing date: 2018-11-21
Publication date: 2019-05-31
Also published as: ZA202003726B

Abstract

A package delivery and collection system using drones is provided, each drone having a unique identifier. The system comprises a detector to detect the arrival of a drone at a drop off zone, the detector being arranged to determine the unique identifier of the drone to ensure that the correct drone has arrived, by comparing the drone's identifier with an expected drone identifier; and a controller that is arranged, if there is a match in the identifiers, to allow the drone to access the drop off zone. In an embodiment, the controller is in active communication with the drone, and can take over control of the drone to ensure that the drone arrives at and/or departs from the drop off zone safely and correctly.

Description

PACKAGE DELIVERY AND COLLECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

USING DRONES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a package delivery and collection system and method using drones, and in particular to a method of and a system for managing the arrival of a drone at a drop off zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At a high level, the delivery of packages by drones is not new. However, the arrival of the delivery drone with a package typically requires the customer to be present to physically collect the package. This has severe practical limitations, which the present invention aims to address.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a package delivery and collection system using drones, each drone having a unique identifier, the system comprising: a detector to detect the arrival of a drone at a drop off zone, the detector being arranged to determine the unique identifier of the drone to ensure that the correct drone has arrived, by comparing the drone’s identifier with an expected drone identifier; and a controller that is arranged, if there is a match in the identifiers, to allow the drone to access the drop off zone.

In an embodiment, the controller is in active communication with the drone, and can take over control of the drone to ensure that the drone arrives at and/or departs from the drop off zone safely and correctly.

In an embodiment, the controller is arranged to control the speed and placement of the drone within the drop off zone, and once safely landed the controller is arranged to instruct the drone to either release the package at the drop off zone, in the case of a delivery, or pick up a package, in the case of a collection.

In one version, the controller is arranged to open a gate into a box or container, typically on the roof of a building, after which the controller instructs the drone to either release or collect the package, or the drone does this of its own accord, and after the drone has left, the controller is arranged to close the gate.

In another version, there may be a plurality of boxes each with its own gate, with each box having its own unique box identifier, including location information, which the drone will be provided with to ensure that the package is delivered or collected from the correct box.

In yet another version, the drop off zone takes the form of an entrance to one or more chutes, the chute/s terminating either in a central room or apartment of the building, for subsequent collection, or each chute terminating within one of the apartments within the building. Typically, each chute has a unique chute identifier, including location information, which the drone will be provided with to ensure that the package is delivered into the correct chute.

In an embodiment, the chute can be classified as a hot chute, a cold chute or a general chute, depending on the nature of the package being delivered. In this regard, the package itself can be colour coded accordingly, with a red package being associated with the hot chute, a blue package being associated with the cold chute, and a white package (corresponding to a general or standard package) being associated the white chute.

In yet a further version, the drop off zone may be any centralised location or building, preferably secured, that may be accessed by the intended recipient of the package or by someone wishing to have a package collected.

In an embodiment, the system is implemented proximate the drop off zone, in which case the system includes a communications module to communicate with a central control station. The central control station is thus responsible for appointing a particular drone, and sending the drone to fetch the package from a product dispatching centre. The central control station is also arranged to send details of the appointed drone to the detector, including the expected drone identifier. In addition, the central control station is also arranged to receive the unique box or chute identifier resulting from a transaction authorizing the delivery of the package, which it in turn transmits to the appointed drone.

In an embodiment, the drone may be arranged to deliver or collect a plurality of packages, with the central control station sending transportation scheduling data to the drone, the transportation scheduling data including location information of the pickup location and the drop off location and the related flight path that the drone needs to follow, including a unique chute or box identifier if appropriate/required.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a package delivery and collection method using drones, each drone having a unique identifier, the method comprising: detecting the arrival of a drone at the drop off zone, which includes the step of determining the unique identifier of the drone; comparing the drone’s identifier with an expected drone identifier, to ensure that the correct drone has arrived; and allowing the drone to access the drop off zone if there is a match in the identifiers.

In an embodiment, the method comprises controlling the speed and placement of the drone within the drop off zone, and once safely landed, instructing the drone to either release the package at the drop off zone, in the case of a delivery, or pick up a package, in the case of a collection.

In one version, the method comprises opening a gate into a box or container, typically on the roof of a building, and thereafter instructing the drone to either release or collect the package, or allowing the drone to do this of its own accord, and after the drone has left, closing the gate.

In an embodiment, the drone may be arranged to deliver or collect a plurality of packages, with the method comprising sending transportation scheduling data to the drone, the transportation scheduling data including location information of the pickup location and the drop off location and the related flight path that the drone needs to follow, including a unique chute or box identifier if appropriate/required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a high level schematic block diagram of a package delivery and collection system, according to a first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic flow chart of a package delivery and collection method, according to a second aspect of the invention; Figures 3 to 7 show the operation of a drone when being controlled by the system and method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

Referring first to Figure 1 , a package delivery and collection system 10 using drones 12 is shown, with the delivery/collection of a package 15 taking place at a drop off zone 14.

Each drone 12 has a unique identifier 16, which it transmits intermittently, or in response to a valid interrogation signal. The drones 12 may be of the type shown in Figures 3 and 4, as described in more detail further below.

The system 10 comprises a detector 18 to detect the arrival and subsequent departure of the drone 12 at the drop off zone 14. The detector 18 may comprise a sensor and/or camera to detect an incoming or outgoing drone 12.

The detector 18 is arranged to determine (either by interrogation and/or extraction) the unique identifier 16 of the drone 12 to ensure that the correct drone 12 has arrived. This may be done in many ways but is typically done by comparing the drone’s identifier 16 with an expected drone identifier.

The system 10 further includes a controller 24 which is arranged to communicate with the drone 12. If there is a match in the identifiers, the controller 24 is arranged to allow the drone 12 to access (or depart from) the drop off zone 14.

In an embodiment, the controller 24 is in active communication with the drone 12, and can take over control of the drone 12 to ensure that the drone 12 arrives at and/or departs from the drop off zone 14 safely and correctly.

In one version, the controller 24 is arranged to control the speed and placement of the drone 12 within the drop off zone 14. Once safely landed, the controller 24 is arranged to instruct the drone 12 to either release the package 15 at the drop off zone 14, in the case of a delivery, or pick up a package 15, in the case of a collection.

In one version, with reference also to Figures 5 and 6, drop off zone 14 comprises a box or container 28, typically on the roof of a building 86. In this version, the controller 24 is arranged to open a gate 26 into the box or container 28, as the drone 12 approaches. Once opened, the controller 24 instructs the drone 12 to either release or collect the package 15, or the drone 12 is arranged to do this of its own accord. After the drone 12 has left, the controller 24 is arranged to close the gate 26 of the box 28. Thus, in the case of a delivery, the package 15 is safely secured within the box 28 for subsequent retrieval by a customer.

In another version, there may be a plurality of boxes 28 each with its own gate 26. Each box 28 would typically have its own unique box identifier, including location information, which the drone 12 would be provided with to ensure that the package 15 is delivered or collected from the correct box 28.

In yet another version, with reference now to Figure 7, the drop off zone 14 takes the form of an entrance 30 to a chute 32. After being dropped into the entrance 30 of the chute 32, the package 15 either simply falls down towards a lower collection point 34, where a customer can collect the package, or is conveyed or transported downwardly towards the collection point 34, of course depending upon the nature of the package 15.

Although only one chute 32 is shown in Figure 7, clearly more than one chute 32 may be provided. In this case, the chutes 32 may terminate either in a central room or apartment of the building, for subsequent collection, or each chute 32 may terminate within one of the apartments within the building 86. Typically, each chute 32 has a unique chute identifier, including location information, which the drone 12 will be provided with to ensure that the package 15 is delivered into the correct chute 32.

In an embodiment, the chute 32 can be classified as a hot chute, a cold chute or a general chute, depending on the nature of the package 15 being delivered. In this regard, the package 15 itself can be colour coded accordingly, with a red package 15 being associated with the hot chute, a blue package 15 being associated with the cold chute and a white package (corresponding to a general or standard package) being associated the white chute.

In yet a further version, the drop off zone 14 may be any centralised location or building, preferably secured, that may be accessed by the intended recipient of the package 15 or by someone wishing to have a package 15 collected.

In an embodiment, the system 10 is implemented proximate the drop off zone 14, as for example shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this case, turning back to Figure 1 , the system 10 includes a communications module 20 to communicate with a central control station 22, via any communications network 21 . The central control station 22 is thus responsible for appointing a particular drone 12, and sending the drone 12 to fetch the package from a product dispatching centre. The central control station 22 is also arranged to send details of the appointed drone 12 to the detector 18, including the expected drone identifier 16.

In addition, the central control station 22 is also arranged to send details of the appointed drone 12 to the intended recipient, including details of the expected delivery time, and requesting confirmation from the recipient that the drone 12 may proceed to deliver/collect the package 15. This communication between the central control station 22 and the recipient may be done in different ways, but would typically be facilitated by means of a software application (‘app’) on a mobile device associated with the recipient. The app could also be used to send the coordinates of the drone’s destination, which would either be predetermined/preset or would be based on the current position of the user’s mobile device. Typically, two coordinate points may be used or needed by the drone 12, the first being the coordinates of the actual drop off zone 14, and the second being the coordinates of the exit point off a main airway that the drone 12 is obliged to follow. In the latter, the express approval of the recipient may be required before the drone 12 can exit the main airway, thus entering the recipient’s premises. In the case of an emergency or a failure of sorts, the central control station 22 can remotely control the flying of the drone 12.

In addition, the central control station 22 is also arranged to receive the unique box or chute identifier resulting from a transaction authorizing the delivery of the package 15. The transaction would typically be a sale of a product or products, to be accommodated within the package 15, at a retailer, whether a physical store or an online store, with the central control station 22 then in turn transmitting the box or chute identifier to the appointed drone 12.

In an embodiment, the drone 12 may be arranged to deliver or collect a plurality of packages 15, with the central control station 22 sending transportation scheduling data to the drone 12. The transportation scheduling data includes location information of the pickup location and the drop off location and the related flight path that the drone 12 needs to follow, including the unique chute or box identifier if appropriate/required.

Turning now to Figure 2, a corresponding package delivery and collection method 50 using drones is shown. As indicated above, the drone has a unique identifier, with the method 50 typically comprising the step of detecting the arrival of the drone at a drop off zone, as indicated by block 52. This step 52 may in turn include the step of determining the unique identifier of the drone, as indicated by block 54.

The method 50 proceeds to then compare the drone’s identifier with an expected drone identifier, to ensure that the correct drone has arrived, as indicated by block 56.

If there is a match, as shown by decision block 58, the method 50 proceeds to allow the drone to access the drop off zone, as indicated by block 60.

In use, with reference now to Figures 3 to 7, the system 10 is used to control the arrival of a drone 12 at a drop off zone 14. The drone 12 typically comprises a body 80, a plurality of propeller arrangements 82 extending away from the body 80 and a holder 84 for releasably holding a package 15 for delivery. The drone 12 has a unique identifier, typically embedded within electronics within the body 80, which it can transmit intermittently, or in response to a valid interrogation signal.

As described above, the system 10 comprises a detector to detect the arrival of the drone 12 at the drop off zone 14, typically by interrogating and/or extracting the unique identifier of the drone 12 to ensure that the correct drone 12 has arrived at the drop off zone 14. If the unique identifier of the drone 12 matches that of an expected drone 12, the system 10 allows the drone 12 to access the drop off zone 14.

In particular, the system 10 is arranged to open a gate 26 into a chamber 28, after which the system 10 instructs the drone 12, and in particular the holders 84, to release the package 15 into the chamber 28. After the drone 12 has left, the system 10 is arranged to close the gate 26 thereby securing the package 15 within the chamber 28. The chamber 28 may comprise an entrance to a chute, such as a chimney chute of a building.

Claims

1 . A package delivery and collection system using drones, each drone having a unique identifier, the system comprising: a detector to detect the arrival of a drone at a drop off zone, the detector being arranged to determine the unique identifier of the drone to ensure that the correct drone has arrived, by comparing the drone’s identifier with an expected drone identifier; and a controller that is arranged, if there is a match in the identifiers, to allow the drone to access the drop off zone.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in active communication with the drone, and can take over control of the drone to ensure that the drone arrives at and/or departs from the drop off zone safely and correctly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is arranged to control the speed and placement of the drone within the drop off zone, and once safely landed the controller is arranged to instruct the drone to either release the package at the drop off zone, in the case of a delivery, or pick up a package, in the case of a collection.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is arranged to open a gate into a box or container associated with a building, after which the controller instructs the drone to either release or collect the package, or the drone does this of its own accord, and after the drone has left, the controller is arranged to close the gate.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein there are a plurality of boxes each with its own gate, with each box having its own unique box identifier, including location information, which the drone will be provided with to ensure that the package is delivered or collected from the correct box.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the drop off zone takes the form of an entrance to one or more chutes, the chute/s terminating either in a central room or apartment of the building, for subsequent collection, or each chute terminating within one of the apartments within the building.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each chute has a unique chute identifier, including location information, which the drone will be provided with to ensure that the package is delivered into the correct chute.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the chute can be classified as a hot chute, a cold chute or a general chute, depending on the nature of the package being delivered, with the package itself being colour coded accordingly.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the drop off zone may be any centralised location or building that may be accessed by the intended recipient of the package or by someone wishing to have a package collected.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is implemented proximate the drop off zone, in which case the system includes a communications module to communicate with a central control station, with the central control station being responsible for appointing a particular drone, and sending the drone to fetch the package from a product dispatching centre.

1 1 . The system of claim 10, wherein the central control station is arranged to send details of the appointed drone to the detector, including the expected drone identifier.

12. The system of claim 1 1 , wherein the central control station is also arranged to receive the unique box or chute identifier resulting from a transaction authorizing the delivery of the package, which it in turn transmits to the appointed drone.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the drone is arranged to deliver or collect a plurality of packages, with the central control station sending transportation scheduling data to the drone, the transportation scheduling data including location information of the pickup location and the drop off location and the related flight path that the drone needs to follow.

14. A package delivery and collection method using drones, each drone having a unique identifier, the method comprising: detecting the arrival of a drone at the drop off zone, which includes the step of determining the unique identifier of the drone; comparing the drone's identifier with an expected drone identifier, to ensure that the correct drone has arrived; and allowing the drone to access the drop off zone if there is a match in the identifiers.

15. The method of claim 14, which includes controlling the speed and placement of the drone within the drop off zone, and once safely landed, instructing the drone to either release the package at the drop off zone, in the case of a delivery, or pick up a package, in the case of a collection.

16. The method of claim 14, which includes opening a gate into a box or container associated with a building, and thereafter instructing the drone to either release or collect the package, or allowing the drone to do this of its own accord, and after the drone has left, closing the gate.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein there are a plurality of boxes each with its own gate, with each box having its own unique box identifier, including location information, which the drone will be provided with to ensure that the package is delivered or collected from the correct box.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the drone is arranged to deliver or collect a plurality of packages, with the method comprising sending transportation scheduling data to the drone, the transportation scheduling data including location information of the pickup location and the drop off location and the related flight path that the drone needs to follow, including a unique chute or box identifier.