Drone Landing Pad System for Receiving Parcels & Packages

Abstract

A Drone Landing Pad (DLP) allows landing a drone or delivering a parcel and includes an interior platform which lowers into the DLP or a cushioned interior platform, and an upper platform above the interior platform which opens to receive parcels and closes to protect parcels. The DLP may include two way communication with drones to provide a DLP position and receive drone position and ETA. The DLP position may be programmed into a DLP processor, or may be a GPS position when the DLP is movable to different locations. An optical landing aid may be provided to guide the drone to the DLP in a safe and reliable manner and confirm the DLP, for example an optical landing aid affixed or painted on the DLP. The DLP may be equipped with solar paneling for self-sustaining continuous charge or include battery backup and direct power options to ensure safe delivery.

Claims

1. A parcel delivery Drone Landing Pad (DLP), comprising: a housing; a DPL interior configured to contain and secure parcels; an interior platform residing inside the DPL interior, the interior platform including a top surface for supporting the parcels; a top platform above the interior platform and opening to receive the parcels and closing to secure the parcels; and a transmitter providing DLP location to the drone.

2. The DLP of claim 1, wherein the interior platform is attached to a lift.

3. The DLP of claim 2, wherein the lift is a scissors lift.

4. The DLP of claim 2, further including a sensor detecting the presence of the parcels on the interior platform and signally to lower the interior platform.

5. The DLP of claim 1, wherein: the interior platform is stationary; and the top surface of the interior platform is padded.

6. The DLP of claim 1, further including an electrical power source selected from the group consisting of: solar panels and rechargeable batteries; a back-up battery; and a wiring to an external power source.

7. (canceled)

7. The DLP of claim 1, further including a transfer chute.

8. The DLP of claim 1, further including sensor configured to sense the available space in the DLP interior.

9. The DLP of claim 1, further including a GPS sensor unit affixed to the DLP and providing DLP location to the drone.

10. The DLP of claim 1, further including an optical landing aid detected by the drone to guide the drone to the DLP.

11. The DLP of claim 1, further including: a sensor sensing remaining interior space in the DLP; and a DLP receiving the remaining interior space and transmit the remaining interior space to the drone allowing the drone to determine if there is room for additional parcels.

12. The DLP of claim 1, wherein the top platform is rolled onto a drum to open the DLP interior to receive the parcel.

13. The DLP of claim 1, wherein the top platform is a split top platform separating to open the DLP interior to receive the parcel.

14. The DLP of claim 1, further including a security device and door to secure and retrieve the parcels.

15. A parcel delivery Drone Landing Pad (DLP), comprising: a housing; a DPL interior configured to contain and secure parcels; an interior platform residing inside the DPL interior, the interior platform including a top surface for supporting the parcels; a top platform above the interior platform and opening to receive the parcels and closing to secure the parcels; a GPS device obtaining a DLP location; and a transmitter providing the DLP location to the drone.

16. A method for operating a parcel delivery Drone Landing Pad (DLP), the method comprising: the drone receiving DLP location; the drone transiting to the DLP location; the drone releasing a parcel onto the DLP; the DLP receiving the parcel through an open top platform; and closing the top platform.

17. The method of claim 16, further including: the DLP receiving GPS location data; and the DLP transmitting the GPS location data to the drone.

18. The method of claim 16, further including: programming the DLP for multiple users; the DLP notifying the users that a parcel has been delivered; the users operating a security device to open a door into the DLP to retrieve the parcel.

19. The method of claim 16, further including opening a split top platform to receive the parcels.

20. The method of claim 16, further including rolling the top platform onto a drum to open the top platform to receive the parcels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a side view of a Drone Landing Pad (DLP) according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the DLP according to the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a top view of the DLP according to the invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the DLP according to the invention.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view of the interior of a second DLP according to the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a top view of the second DLP according to the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a side view of the interior of a third DLP with a top platform closed, according to the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a side view of the interior of the third DLP with a split top platform open, according to the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the interior of the third DLP with a split top platform closed, according to the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 10 and a side view of the interior of the third DLP with the split top platform 30a open, according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 11 shows a DLP including a door and security device, according to the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 12 shows a DLP opened to retrieve a parcel, according to the present invention.

[0036] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0038] Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement, or typically within 10 percent of a stated value.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a Drone Landing Pad (DPL) 10 according to the present invention and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the DLP 10 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. The DLP 10 provides a safe landing pad for a drone 42 for delivery of parcels 32 or other cargo and preferably includes a rectangular housing/frame 12, for example, three feet wide, five feet long, and four feet high, but the dimensions of different versions may depend on the size of the drone 42 and/or size of parcels 32, which may vary pending business and/or residential types and needs.

[0040] The DPL 10 includes a lifting/lowering device 14, lifting and lowering an internal platform 20. The lifting/lowering device 14 may be a scissors device, gear driven, a hydraulic or pneumatic type device, or any other suitable device. The scissors device 14 includes a pivoting end 16a and a translating and pivoting end 16b proximal to a base of the DLP 10, and a second pivoting end 18a and a second translating and pivoting end 18b both supporting the interior platform 20. The pivoting end 18b may be a wheel, for example a polyurethane wheel with bearings, that rolls or glides under the interior platform 20, while maintaining contact and supporting the weight of the interior platform 20 and parcels 32. The translating and pivoting end 16b may be attached to a motor 24 by a rod 22, for example, a threaded rod.

[0041] A security door or top platform 30 at the top of the DLP 10 is opened to receive parcels 32 and closed to secure the parcels 32. An example of a top platform is a roll-up top platform wound by a top platform actuator 28 onto a drum 31. The top platform actuator 28 may have a separate motor, or be connected to the motor 24 by a chain or belt 26.

[0042] The DLP 10 may include a DLP processor/transmitter 40 which provides a DLP location to a drone 42. The DLP position may be programmed into the DLP processor 40 or a GPS sensor 36 which may be attached to the DLP 10 to provide the DLP position, for example, for a mobile or movable DLP 10. An offset between the GPS sensor 36 and a vector to the center of the interior platform 20 or top platform 30 may be programed into the DLP processor to provide a position to the drone 41. For m ore accurate connection between the DLP 10 and the drone 42, the DLP 42 may include an optical landing aid 44, for example a scan code, (see FIG. 3) applied to a top surface of the interior platform 20 and/or the top platform 30 for recognition an optical recognition camera 46 of the drone 42.

[0043] The DLP 10 may include lighting 34 built into the frame or body 12 to provide illumination during use. The lighting 34 will be positioned around the periphery of the DLP 10 to alert anyone of its impending use due to drone in vicinity prior to drop-off of a parcel delivery.

[0044] The DLP 10 may be configured for receiving and holding a single parcel 32 or may be configured to receive and hold multiple parcels 32. A sensor 48 may be configured to sense the available space in the parcel space 38 for containing additional parcels 32. The DLP processor 40 may receive the available space and transmit the available space to the drone 42 allowing the drone 42 to determine if there is room for an additional parcel 32. When the drone 42 arrives, the drone 42 locates the interior platform 20 through recognition of the optical aid 44 and positions the drone 42 centered over the interior platform 20 to land and sets the parcel 32 atop the interior platform 20. Once a parcel 32 is disengaged from drone 42, the drone 42 flies away, leaving parcel 32 on the interior platform 20. The DLP 10 recognizes the parcel 32 using sensor 48 and signals the interior platform 20 to lower. Once the interior platform 20 lowered, the top platform 30 is closed to secure the receptacle space 38 to secure parcels 32 from theft. Weather proofing designs protect the parcel 32 from the external elements. The DLP 10 preferably transmits a delivery signal to a user after the delivery.

[0045] A battery 52 and charging circuit 54 may reside in the DLP 10, and power may be provided by wiring 56 connecting to an external power source, and/or a solar panel 58 attached to the DLP 10. The battery may be, for example, a 9-volt battery or lithium battery.

[0046] A top view of the DLP 10 and a parcel 32 resting on the top platform 30 is shown in FIG. 3 and a bottom view of the DLP 10 is shown in FIG. 4.

[0047] A cross-sectional view of a second DLP 10a is shown in FIG. 5 and a top view of the DLP 10a is shown in FIG. 6. The DLP 10a includes a linear actuator including a second motor 24a, track 23, and trolley 50 moved along the track by the motor 24a. The translating and pivoting end 16b is attached to the trolley 50 to raise and lower the interior platform 20. The DLP 10a may include any of the other elements of the DLP 10.

[0048] A side view of the interior of a third DLP 10c with a split top platform 30a closed is shown in FIG. 9 and a side view of the interior of the third DLP 10b with the split top platform 30a open, is shown in FIG. 10. The parcels 32 may be deposited or dropped by the drone 42 onto the closed split top platform 30a, or the split top platform 30a may be opened and the parcels 32 dropped by the drone 42 directly onto a padded interior platform 20a. When the parcels 32 are deposited or dropped by the drone 42 onto the closed split top platform 30a between parcel pushers 62, the split top platform 30a may be opened and parcel pushers 62 urge the parcels 32 to fall into the receptacle space 38 onto a cushion 64. After each different mode of receiving is complete, the DLP 10c will notify the user of the DPL that the parcels 32 have been received and secured. The use then accesses the parcel with the security code/device to safely open. The DLP 10a may include any of the other elements of the DLP 10a.

[0049] A DLP 10 including a door 68 and security device 70 is shown in FIG. 11 and the DLP opened along an arc A to retrieve a parcel 32 is shown in FIG. 12. The security device 70 may be a key pad, a key lock, a biometric device, a wireless device, and a smart phone controlled device, or any security device limiting opening to the user.

[0050] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above. For example, while the above description included the use of (GPS) sensors and optical landing aids, it will be understood that other sensor emitter combinations may be used.

[0051] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.