Unmanned aerial vehicle secure egress and ingress
US9764836B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2101/64
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This disclosure provides egress and ingress for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from a fulfillment center (FC) to perform deliveries of products and return to the FC from such deliveries while providing minimal exposure of an interior of the FC. The UAV may be used to deliver the cargo from the FC to a destination, and then return to the FC to retrieve other cargo for another transport to another destination. In some embodiments, departing UAVs may be launched from the FC through a launch bay and returning UAVs may land upon a conveyance system to await being transported back into the FC. A flight coordinator may also provide assignments to the UAV based upon a current state of the UAV and other nearby UAVs and also based on a current order backlog of the FC and/or other considerations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.