A technique for detection of an obstacle by a UAV includes arriving above a location at a first altitude by the UAV; navigating a descent flight pattern from the first altitude towards the location; acquiring aerial images of the location below the UAV with a camera system disposed onboard the UAV; and analyzing the aerial images with a machine vision system disposed onboard the UAV that is adapted to detect a presence of the obstacle in the aerial images. The descent flight pattern is selected to increase perception by the machine vision system of the obstacle.

A system and method for payload securing and support in unmanned aerial delivery is presented. The system includes: a first member having a first connector configured to be connected to a first part of a UAV; a second member, having a second connector configured to be connected to a second part of the UAV; and a membrane coupled with the first member at a first edge and with the second member at a second edge, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to be deployed together in a first position relative to the vehicle and further configured to be deployed in a second position relative to the aerial vehicle such that the second position contacts a payload coupled to the aerial vehicle, providing support to the payload in a direction of travel of the aerial vehicle.

A case for carrying loads by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) comprises a first end comprising a first cap and a first opening and a second end comprising a second cap and a second opening, the second opening being smaller than the first opening. The case also comprises a rechargeable battery pack that, when the case is secured to the UAV, is configured to provide a power source for the UAV and the first cap and the second cap each comprising at least one metal connector for providing power to the UAV.

Vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (VTOLs) of the type used for the point-to-point delivery and transport of payloads (e.g., packages, equipment, etc.) and personnel, are significantly stabilized at least during takeoff and landing with present aspects significantly ameliorating or significantly eliminating destabilizing effects, including ground effect, during VTOL takeoff and/or landing. VTOL performance is further improved through the use of increased lift pressure and battery charging during takeoff.

A detachable, self-balancing, pod for an unmanned aerial vehicle. The pod is configured to hold a plurality of different payloads, and to dynamically shift the location of these payloads in order to maintain an optimal center of mass (center of gravity) for the combination pod and UAV. The pod will have its own processor, as well as processor-controlled actuators to shift the payload location inside the pod to optimize balance, and to dispense the different individual payloads in different locations as directed.

A payload receiver apparatus including a base configured to receive a payload suspended from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), an extending member having an upper end positioned above the base, a first tether engager that extends in a first direction from the extending member, wherein the base includes a payload platform positioned below the first tether end of the channel and configured to receive a payload thereon, wherein the first tether engager is adapted to guide a tether having a first end attached to the UAV and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus to a position above the payload platform.

The technology disclosed herein relates to a rooftop platform to facilitate a delivery of a parcel by an aerial vehicle. The rooftop platform may comprise an elevator apparatus at least partially accessible via the rooftop platform. The rooftop platform may also comprise a rotatable turntable mounted to the rooftop platform. The rotatable turntable can be rotated to position the parcel on the elevator apparatus. The rotatable turntable may have tracks for receiving track wheels of a parcel containment unit. In some embodiments, the parcel may be positioned on the elevator apparatus at a top surface of a lift cabin of the elevator apparatus. The rooftop platform may also comprise a landing area for the aerial vehicle to deliver or receive the parcel containment unit via the rotatable turntable.

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.

An unmanned delivery system 100 includes a self-propelled robot 2, an unmanned aerial vehicle 1 which transports a package to an intermediate location on the way of delivering the package, and a robot controller which controls the self-propelled robot 2 so that the self-propelled robot 2 delivers to a receiver's address 4 the package which is unloaded at the intermediate location.

A delivery drone that delivers a package includes: an imager that captures a video around the drone; a location determination unit that compares, when the drone falls within a predetermined range from a delivery destination location of the package, the video captured by the imager and a receiving location identification video of the package acquired from an orderer of the package, to determine whether or not coincident locations are present; an orderer determination unit that determines, when the coincident locations are present, whether or not a terminal apparatus of the orderer is present within a predetermined distance from a current location of the drone; and a release location determination unit that determines, when the terminal apparatus is present within the predetermined distance from the current location of the drone, a location that coincides with the receiving location identification video of the package as a release location of the package.