DELIVERY DRONE GUIDING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A system and method are disclosed herein. The system communicates with at least one delivery drone over at least one wireless network to accurately guide the at least one delivery drone to a device. The system includes the device, and in some embodiments, a software application/website. The device is preferably installed outside of a home or other building and includes a housing, a display screen, a camera, a motion sensor, at least one location determining module, at least one second communication module and at least one processor. The system utilizes the location determining module and the at least one second communication module to accurately guide one or more delivery drones to an exact location of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of unmanned arial vehicles of existing art and more specifically relates to a system and method for accurately transmitting location information to a delivery drone.

RELATED ART

A delivery drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used to transport packages, medical supplies, food, or other goods. With the use of autonomous vehicles rising along with the use of robots to perform human jobs rising, the use of these delivery drones is becoming more and more widespread. Further, the use of these delivery drones offers extensive benefits over human delivery, as the delivery drones are able to deliver items quickly, deliver in remote areas difficult to reach by humans, etc. However, because the delivery drones are autonomous, there is a need to communicate with them in order to provide optimal implementation thereof. Particularly, there is a need to communicate a specific location at which the delivery drone must land. This is important as without specific location information, the delivery drones may deliver to a wrong location, creating security issues, may land in an irretrievable location, or the like. As such, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known delivery drone art, the present disclosure provides a novel delivery drone guiding system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a system including a device that is installable in an area about a home or other building and that includes location determining modules and communication modules enabling the broadcast of a geographical location of the device to one or more delivery drones.

A system for communicating with at least one delivery drone over at least one wireless network is disclosed herein. The at least one delivery drone may comprise at least one first communication module. The system may comprise a device including a housing, a display screen, at least one location determining module, at least one second communication module and at least one processor. The housing may include a front section opposite a rear section. The display screen may be attached at the front section of the housing and configured to selectively display information.

The location determining module may be disposed within the housing and configured to receive location information identifying a geographic location of the device. The at least one second communication module may also be disposed within the housing. The at least one second communication module may be configured to communicate with the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network and may enable transmission of the geographic location of the device to the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module. The at least one processor may be disposed within the housing and in communication with the display screen, the location determining module and the at least one second communication module.

The device may accurately guide the at least one delivery drone to the geographic location of the device and the at least one second communication module may consistently broadcast the geographic location of the device to the at least one delivery drone during guiding thereof.

According to another embodiment, a method of accurately guiding at least one delivery drone to a device is also disclosed herein. The method includes providing the device as above; receiving, at the at least one second communication module, communication from the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; determining, via the location determining module, the location information identifying the geographic location of the device; consistently broadcasting, via the at least one second communication module, the geographic location of the device to the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; and guiding the at least one delivery drone to the geographic location of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to drone delivery and more particularly to a delivery drone guiding system and method. Generally, the delivery drone guiding system and method may include a device and software/a website. A display screen of the device may display a message, code, etc. utilizing alphanumeric characters. For example, the display screen may display an address where the device is located. The delivery drone guiding system and method may utilize GPS and communication module(s) to accurately guide one or more delivery drones to an exact location of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown inFIGS. 1-12, various views of a system100. The system100may include a device104and, in some embodiments, a software application106. As discussed above, the system100may be used for communicating with at least one delivery drone5over at least one wireless network. Particularly, the device104may accurately guide the at least one delivery drone5to a geographic location of the device104. To facilitate this, the at least one delivery drone5may comprise at least one first communication module10. In some examples, the at least one delivery drone5may be one delivery drone in which the device104is configured to communicate with and guide the delivery drone to its location. In other embodiments, the device104may communicate with a plurality of delivery drones at any one given time.

As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the device104may include a housing120, a display screen130, at least one at least one location determining module140, at least one second communication module150and at least one processor160. The at least one processor160may disposed within the housing120and in communication with the display screen130, the at least one location determining module140and the at least one second communication module150. In some examples, the at least one processor160may include (but is not limited to) a 1.4 Ghz-bit quad-core processor.

The housing120may include a front section121opposite a rear section122. A circuit board containing the at least one location determining module140, the at least one second communication module150and the at least one processor160may be located in the rear section122of the housing120. As such, the rear section122of the housing120may be removable to enable access to these components if needed. As shown, in some embodiments, the housing120may include a rectangular shape (however it should be appreciated that the housing120is not limited to the shape or configuration shown). In some embodiments, the housing120may be placed outside of a building, such as a home or a commercial building. In some examples, the housing120may be attached next to the garage door, as shown inFIG. 1. In other examples, the housing120may be placed on a front doorstep.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 2-5, the device104may include a camera170attached about the front section121of the housing. The camera170may enable the device104to capture photos and/or videos of what is in front of the device104. In some examples, the camera170may capture 1024×720-pixel image. Further, in some embodiments, the camera170may include a wide angle for capturing a wide view of what is in front of the device104.

Particularly, the camera170may preferably be configured to capture still images and motion video. In some embodiments, the device104may include a memory storage190for storing an amount of the still images and motion video thereon. For example, the memory storage190may be internal to the device104, or the device104may include a port for receiving external memory cards. In other embodiments, the memory storage190may include a temporary memory and the device104may be configured to transmit the images and video to the software application /website106. For example, the still images and motion video may be automatically uploaded to and saved on a server, which may be viewed by the user on the software application/website106(using an external device25).

The device104may further include a sensor180in communication with the camera170. For example, the sensor180may be a motion sensor180. As such, once motion is sensed by the motion sensor180, the camera170may begin recording an event and the at least one processor160may generate and send an alert to the user via text, voice or other notification. For example, the user may receive a push notification on an external device25. The captured image/video may then again be transmitted to the server and viewable on the software application/website106via the external device25. The captured image/video may include images of the delivery drone, or products that are being delivered, so that the user is alerted once their package has been received. The captured image/video may be compatible with third party cloud-based services like, but not limited to, Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) data services. This may provide long term storage and remote internet playback. Further, via the software application/website106, a sensitivity of the motion sensor180may be adjusted.

As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the display screen130may be attached at the front section121of the housing120. To provide protection to the display screen130and the components of the housing120, the housing120may be made from a durable and sturdy material. For example, the housing120may be made from a plastic material. The housing120may further include an aesthetically pleasing appearance, for example, the housing120may include various colors various patterns, designs, etc. This may be useful in maintaining a pleasing appearance to the house/building. Further, as the device104may be preferably stored outdoors, the housing120may be weatherproof and waterproof, comprising seals for preventing water from getting into the circuit board.

The display screen130may be configured to selectively display information131. For example, the information131may be a number132and/or a message133in alphanumeric characters. In some embodiments, the display screen130may be sized to display a top line of five (5) alphanumeric characters, and a bottom line of eleven (11) alphanumeric characters. The message133may be chosen or written by the user. For example, in some embodiments, the top line may display a house number, and the second line may display a street name, apartment number, etc. In other examples, the display screen130may be utilized to display emergency messages such as “help” (as shown inFIG. 5), “SOS”, etc. It should be appreciated that the display is not limited to this number of alphanumeric characters within the display.

Further, a color of the alphanumeric characters may be selectively altered by the user based on their preference, and a background color of the top line and the second line may be selectively altered by the user based on their preference. For example, the alphanumeric characters may be white, and the background color of the second line may be purple. All configurations may be achieved via the software application106. For example, the user may utilize an external device25to connect with the at least one second communication module150. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 6, particularly, the at least one second communication module150may include a WIFI transceiver153configured to communicate over a WIFI network. In some embodiments, the WIFI transceiver153may communicate with the software application/web site106over the WIFI network. In this embodiment, the user may either download or access the software application106via the external device25. For example, the software application106may be incorporated into a website accessible with any standard web browser, may be a web application downloadable to a computer, may be a smartphone application downloadable to a smartphone, etc.

The software application106may be configured to transmit user-input commands to the device104via the WIFI transceiver153, as shown inFIGS. 7-8. The user-input commands may be input via keyboard input and/or voice input. For example, the user may type a message into one or both form fields (corresponding to the top line and the second line on the display), and the display screen130may then display the message. Similarly, the user may choose a color of the alphanumeric characters and/or the background colors of the lines using the software application/website106. In some embodiments, the user may choose from a wide selection of colors. For example, the software application/website106may allow the user to select from a color wheel. In other embodiments, the user may choose from preset standard colors.

In another example, the user may speak the message133/number132they would like the display screen130to display. In this example, a microphone on the external device25may be used. Further, in this example, voice recognition software may be used. In some embodiments, this may be third party voice recognition software. Communication between the software application/website106and the device104may be achieved in real time, or at least substantially in real time, and thus, display of the information131/colors on the display screen130may be nearly instantaneous. This may be particularly useful in emergency situations where the user needs to attract attention quickly.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 6, the device104may include a power supply123. For example, in some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 10, the device104may include a power cable with plug124for connecting an outlet inside of the building to supply power to the device104.

As shown inFIGS. 9-10, the rear section122of the housing120may include a bracket125for attaching the device104to the house/building. As shown, the bracket125may include a main bracket portion127and side clips126either side thereof. The main bracket portion127may be removable from the housing120. In some examples, the main bracket portion127may be attached to a wall on the house/building and the side clips126may slide onto the main bracket portion127to attach the housing120to the wall. This method of attachment may ensure that the housing120remains waterproof.

The at least one location determining module140may be disposed within the housing120and may be configured to receive location information141identifying the geographic location of the device104, as demonstrated inFIG. 11. For example, the location information141may be exact latitude and longitude coordinates of the device104. In some embodiments, the at least one location determining module140may be a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver142configured to receive GPS coordinates from GPS satellite(s)30. The at least one location determining module140may also work alongside the at least one second communication module150to obtain the most accurate geographic location. For example, the device104may also utilize internet reception to enhance GPS positioning information.

Further, in some embodiments, the at least one location determining module140may utilize a geocode system, such as “geohashing” to provide the at least one delivery drone5with latitude and longitude coordinates of the device104. In some embodiments, initial location information141of the device104may be provided by existing geolocation application programming interfaces (“API”) such as GOOGLE® Maps services utilizing the user's address. Additionally, or instead of this, the GPS receiver142may provide the initial location information141. This may be particularly useful for operation in remote locations that do not have internet access.

The at least one second communication module150may also be disposed within the housing120. The at least one second communication module150may preferably communicate with the at least one first communication module10over the at least one wireless network and enable transmission of the geographic location of the device104to the at least one delivery drone5(via the at least one first communication module10). Particularly, the at least one second communication module150may consistently broadcasts the geographic location of the device104to the at least one delivery drone5during guiding thereof.

Preferably, this communication may preferably be performed over long ranges, enabling the device104to begin guiding the at least one delivery drone5from a far distance. As such, the at least one second communication module150and the at least one first communication module10communicate via a long distance wireless network. For example, preferably, the device104may begin communicating with the at least one delivery drone5once the at least one delivery drone5has begun its journey to the device104. This communication range may be aided by the fact that the housing120is preferably located outdoors. As such, once the at least one delivery drone5gets in range of the device104(and the at least one second communication module150), the at least one second communication module150and the at least one first communication module10may begin communicating, allowing the at least one second communication module150to transmit the geographic location of the device104to the at least one first communication module10, thereby guiding the at least one delivery drone5to the device104.

To facilitate this long range of communication, in some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 11, the at least one second communication module150may include a second low-power wide-area transceiver151and the at least one second communication module150may include a first low-power wide-area transceiver15. As such, the long distance wireless network may include a second low-power wide-area network. For example, in some embodiments, the second low-power wide-area transceiver151and the first low-power wide-area transceiver15may include LoRa® transceiver modules communicating via LoRaWAN® network protocol. In some examples, second low-power wide-area transceiver151and the first low-power wide-area transceiver15may communicate over a 10 mile or greater range.

To further aid in guiding the at least one delivery drone5, at least one second communication module150and the at least one first communication module10may also communicate via a short distance wireless network. For example, in some embodiments, the short distance wireless network may be a BLUETOOTH® network. As such, as shown inFIG. 11, the at least one second communication module150may further a second BLUETOOTH® transceiver152and the at least one first communication module10may further includes a first BLUETOOTH® transceiver20.

In this embodiment, once the at least one delivery drone5gets in range of the device104(and the second BLUETOOTH® transceiver152), the second BLUETOOTH® transceiver152and the first BLUETOOTH® transceiver20may begin communicating. This communication may enable more data to be transmitted and received therebetween, and as such, the location information141transmitted by the second BLUETOOTH® transceiver152may be more detailed and accurate, thereby enhancing the accuracy when guiding the at least one delivery drone5in the final (approximately) 10 meters of the journey.

In some embodiments, the second BLUETOOTH® transceiver may utilize a 16-byte Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) dynamically configured by a geocoding algorithm of the location information141(latitude/longitude). The 16-byte UUID may be represented as 32 hexadecimal digits. The UUID may be easily decoded by the at least one delivery drone5to validate the geographic location. Once the geographic location is validated, the at least one delivery drone5may utilize a signal level provided by the second BLUETOOTH® transceiver152to accurately land at the exact geographic location of the device104. In some embodiments, the at least one second communication module150may continuously broadcast a signal (when the device104is powered), so that the at least one delivery drone5is able to communicate as soon as it gets in range of the at least one second communication module150.

In some embodiments, the device104may also utilize hardware to bridge from the at least one drone5over LoRaWAN®, building a multi-protocol bridge. Thus, this may enable the at least one drone5to update its position and identification first via LoRaWAN® (or another low-power wide-area network) and to get course updates back from the device104. Once in range of the second BLUETOOTH transceiver152the at least one drone may utilize Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) for final approach. The device104and the at least one drone5may utilize a third party server that enables worldwide drone positioning and identification. For example, if communicating via LoRaWAN®, the third party server40may be (but is not limited to) “The Things Stack/Network” as shown inFIG. 12. The device104may act as the LoRaWAN® gateway and communication hub. The third party server preferably provides a high level of security and device identification that can be leveraged.

The third party server40may provide a unique three tiered sphere of communication for drone collision avoidance and position control. Further, to aid in drone collision avoidance, each drone5that is monitoring for RSSI level of a given device104may be able to also determine its proximity to another drone5in its area and the exact location of the other drone5via the geocoded information contained in the device104. As such, if a second drone is within a certain proximity of a first drone, the second drone may not be able to continue until the first drone has moved away.

In some embodiments, the camera170on the device104may enable a pilot of the at least one drone5(or the at least one drone5itself if autonomous) to access internet/video feedback from the camera170as shown inFIG. 2. Particularly, wide-band internet and video may be back hauled to the at least one drone5via the at least one network. This may act as an added redundancy should any other communication fail. Further, in some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 11, the drone communication module10may also be configured to communicate with a global connectivity satellite, such as, but not limited to, OMNISPACE® satellite35. This may provide added redundancy to the system, providing the at least one drone5with direct-to-satellite communications over LoRaWAN® network protocol.

In general use, a user may connect the device104to a WIFI network in their house or building and install the device104in an area outside of their house or building. Then, utilizing an external device25such as a smartphone or a laptop, the user may connect to the software application/website106, either by downloading the software application106or accessing the website106via a standard web browser. The user may then use the software application/website106to enter the information on the display screen130. When a delivery drone5is making a delivery to the house or building, it may receive communication from the device104(via the at least one second communication module150) including the location information141of the device104. The delivery drone5may thus be accurately guided by the device104to its location.

Referring now toFIG. 13, there is shown method200of accurately guiding at least one delivery drone to a device. As shown, the method200may comprise the steps of: step201providing the device104(and in some embodiments the software application106) as above; step202receiving, at the at least one second communication module, communication from the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; step three203, determining, via the at least one location determining module, the location information identifying the geographic location of the device; step four204, consistently broadcasting, via the at least one second communication module, the geographic location of the device to the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; and step five205, guiding the at least one delivery drone to the geographic location of the device.

Referring now toFIG. 13showing a flow diagram illustrating a method200of accurately guiding at least one delivery drone to a device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method200may include one or more components or features of the system100as described above. As shown, the method200may comprise the steps of: step201providing the device104(and in some embodiments the software application106) as above; step202receiving, at the at least one second communication module, communication from the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; step three203, determining, via the at least one location determining module, the location information identifying the geographic location of the device; step four204, consistently broadcasting, via the at least one second communication module, the geographic location of the device to the at least one delivery drone via the at least one first communication module over the at least one wireless network; and step five205, guiding the at least one delivery drone to the geographic location of the device.

Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of drone delivery, low-power-wide-range communication, short-range communication, etc. as described herein, methods of guiding delivery drones via low-power-wide-range communication and other communication modules will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.