Patent · US Active

Methods and systems for self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

US11618565B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
42References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 14, 2020
Grant dateApr 4, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2041

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T90/16
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Example implementations may relate to self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Specifically, a control system may determine operational location(s) from which a group of UAVs is to provide aerial transport services in a geographic area. For at least a first of the operational location(s), the system may cause a first UAV from the group to perform an infrastructure deployment task that includes (i) a flight from a source location to the first operational location and (ii) installation of operational infrastructure at the first operational location by the first UAV. In turn, this may enable the first UAV to operate from the first operational location, as the first UAV can charge a battery of the first UAV using the operational infrastructure installed at the first operational location and/or can carry out item transport task(s) at location(s) that are in the vicinity of the first operational location.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.