Systems and methods for monitoring the internal storage contents of a shipment storage using one or more internal monitor drones
US11068836B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drone-based monitored storage system includes a shipment storage with an interior storage area and a drone storage area, an internal docking station, and an internal monitor drone disposed within the shipment storage that aerially monitors the items being shipped within the interior storage area. The monitor drone includes an airframe, battery, onboard controller, lifting engines and lifting rotors responsive to flight control input, communication interface, sensor array that gathers sensory information as the drone moves within the interior shipment storage area of the shipment storage, and a drone capture interface that can selectively mate to the internal docking station to hold the monitor drone in a secure position. The monitor drone can gather the sensory information (such as environment information, image information, multidimensional mapping information, and scanned symbol information) and autonomously detect conditions of items being shipped based upon the sensory information from the sensor array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.