Drone delivery systems and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US11379784B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Drone delivery systems and methods",
  "abstract": "A drone delivery system for receiving a package on a roof of a structure includes a panel coupled to the roof that selectively provides access to an opening in the roof upon identification and authorization of an incoming package. Once the package is identified and authorized, the panel opens and the package is received from an aerial vehicle on a platform in the opening. The platform is lowered by a drive assembly and the panel is closed over the opening. The drive assembly then lowers the platform and package to an intended destination inside the structure.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system, comprising: an access panel coupled to a structural support of a building, the access panel configured to selectively provide access to an opening in the structural support; a platform movably positionable within an internal space of the building, the platform including a frame, a package support plate and a rail coupled to the frame and extending around the package support plate, the platform further including an upper portion and a lower portion, the package support plate provided at the upper portion, and the platform further including a cable mounting arrangement at the lower portion; a drive assembly coupled to the platform, the drive assembly configured to move the platform within the internal space of the building between a plurality of positions relative to the structural support; and a controller in electronic communication with the access panel and the drive assembly, the controller including a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: detect an authorized incoming package from a delivery device; manipulate the access panel to provide access to the opening and expose the platform to an external environment; detect receipt of the package on the platform; activate the drive assembly to lower the platform; and manipulate the access panel to cover the opening, and wherein the access panel and the platform are each at least partially formed of a transparent or translucent material to allow natural light from the external environment to enter the internal space of the building.",
    "2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cable mounting arrangement includes a plurality of eyes coupled to or integrally formed with the lower portion of the platform.",
    "3. The system of claim 2 wherein the drive assembly includes at least one cable coupled to the plurality of eyes.",
    "4. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening is a first opening of a shaft in the building, the system further comprising: at least one biasing element coupled to the structural support and configured to move the package received on the structural support proximate the panel toward the first opening; the shaft in the building; the shaft extending through at least one wall of the building; and a door coupled to the at least one wall, the door configured to selectively provide access to a second opening of the shaft, the second opening being in the at least one wall of the building.",
    "5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute further instructions to: activate the drive assembly to lower the platform to the second opening; manipulate the door to provide access to the second opening; detect removal of the package from the platform; and manipulate the door to cover the second opening.",
    "6. A system, comprising: an access panel coupled to a roof of a building and configured to selectively provide access to a first opening of a shaft in the building, the first opening being in the roof; a first drive assembly coupled to the access panel and configured to move the access panel between a first position wherein the access panel restricts access to the first opening and a second position wherein the access panel allows access to the first opening; a platform including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, the platform including a package support panel provided at the upper portion of the frame and a cable mounting arrangement provided at the lower portion of the frame; a second drive assembly coupled to the platform, the second drive assembly including: a drive; and a plurality of cables, coupled to the drive and the cable mounting arrangement of the platform; the second drive assembly configured to move the platform between a plurality of positions relative to the roof; at least one biasing element coupled to the roof and configured to move an authorized incoming package received on the roof toward the first opening; the shaft in the building, which extends through at least one wall of the building; a door coupled to the at least one wall, the door configured to selectively provide access to a second opening of the shaft, the second opening being in the at least one wall of the building; and a controller in electronic communication with the access panel and the second drive assembly, the controller including a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: detect the authorized incoming package from a delivery device; manipulate the access panel to provide access to the first opening; activate the second drive assembly to raise the platform to a first position wherein the platform is positioned in the first opening; detect receipt of the authorized incoming package on the package support panel of the platform; activate the second drive assembly to lower the platform to a second position; manipulate the access panel to cover the first opening; activate the second drive assembly to lower the platform to the second opening; manipulate the door to provide access to the second opening; detect removal of the authorized incoming package from the package support panel of the platform; and manipulate the door to cover the second opening.",
    "7. The system of claim 6 wherein the access panel and the package support panel are each at least partially formed of a transparent or translucent material to allow natural light from an external environment to enter an internal space of the building.",
    "8. The system of claim 6 wherein the frame of the platform is supported at the lower portion by the plurality of cables, with the second drive assembly further configured to position the frame in the first opening and the package support panel at or above the roof.",
    "9. The system of claim 6 further comprising: a housing coupled to the roof and the access panel, the access panel configured to slide in and out of the housing.",
    "10. The system of claim 6 wherein the access panel includes a first door and a second door, the first and second doors of the access panel rotatably coupled to the roof and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide access to the first opening."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure generally relates to drone delivery systems and methods.\n\nUnmanned aerial vehicles or drones are known. Recently, the concept of delivering packages with drones has been explored as an alternative to using trucks or vans to perform last mile delivery from a warehouse to a final destination of the package. However, package theft is also a known issue with package delivery, regardless of the type of vehicle used in the delivery. In other words, a package delivered by a drone to a customer's front door is as susceptible to package theft as typical truck or van delivery. There are also concerns with how packages are verified for delivery to the correct customer in large-scale drone delivery applications. There has been some research with respect to drone delivery systems that are integrated into structures, but such systems require significant structural changes for implementation and do not have an aesthetically pleasing design, which limits their applicability and adoptability for widespread use.\n\nEmbodiments described herein provide devices and systems for delivery of packages with drones and include a system that can be integrated into an existing structure with minimal structural changes and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Related methods are also provided.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 10/083",
    "B64C 2201/027",
    "B64C 2201/128",
    "B64C 39/024",
    "B64U 2101/64"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64C 39/02",
    "G06Q 10/08"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James Lawrence Eastman"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-04-09",
  "publication_date": "2022-07-05",
  "grant_date": "2022-07-05",
  "priority_date": "2021-04-09",
  "application_number": "US-202117226654-A",
  "family_id": "82261380",
  "cited_by_count": 24,
  "citations": [
    "US2198168A",
    "US20090169345A1",
    "US20140265754A1",
    "US20150158599A1",
    "US20160159496A1",
    "US10112712B1",
    "US9984347B2",
    "US10501205B1",
    "US10377507B2",
    "WO2018071943A1",
    "US9975651B1",
    "US20180225628A1",
    "US10730621B2",
    "US20190135433A1",
    "CN206984905U",
    "US10689111B2",
    "US20190043007A1",
    "US10351261B1",
    "US20190300202A1",
    "CN108346238A",
    "US10746348B2",
    "WO2020118552A1",
    "US20200198801A1",
    "US20210010315A1",
    "US20210049858A1"
  ]
}