Secure package receptacle for receiving drone deliveries

A postal and package receptacle includes a main body that has an open top and a lid over the top that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The lid is moved from the open to the closed position upon receiving an open command via a wireless communication, whereupon a package can be placed in the interior of the main body. After a package is placed in the interior of the main body, the lid can be closed. A drone can be programmed to deliver a package to the postal and package receptacle and upon arriving at the location of the postal and package receptacle, the drone can communicate with the postal and package receptacle to issue the open and close commands, accordingly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to automated delivery receptacles, and more particularly to an automated delivery receptacle having a retractable top for receiving drone deliveries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the increasing popularity of e-commerce there has been a corresponding rise in parcel deliveries. For many people, receiving parcels has not changed; a delivery service vehicle hauls the parcel to a destination address and typically leaves the parcel at front door. The increase in such deliveries has likewise given rise to an increase in parcel theft, where parcels are stolen from the destination address before the intended recipient can take possession of the parcel. The thieves are indiscriminate, taking whatever package they find with no knowledge of what is inside the package. Sometimes the items stolen are inexpensive, sometimes they are valuable, and increasingly the packages can include medicine. The losses due to package theft are significant, with responsibility often falling on the merchant and/or delivery service. This has given rise to a secondary form of theft where the recipient fraudulently claims to have not received the package, resulting in a refund or a second item being shipped to the person.

As a result, merchants and delivery services have an interest in reducing package theft and fraud. However there have been few options that have been widely accepted. A common solution is to simply pay for a delivery box at a postal facility (government or private) that will receive deliveries and hold them for the customer. Some people have provided their own lock boxes for receiving deliveries at their residences, however, these are not standardized, and delivery personnel are not required to use them. They also don't solve the problem when multiple deliveries arrive on the same day since the first package to be delivered will be safely locked in the box, but subsequently delivered packages can then not be locked in the delivery box as it is then already locked.

At the same time, delivery services are looking at increasing their capacity in cost effective ways. Conventional delivery services use delivery vehicles to drive to each address/destination for packages. Packages can be grouped according to region/neighborhood and put on the same delivery vehicle. The costs associated with maintaining a fleet of road-going delivery vehicles is substantial. They require a competent driver, equipment to track packages, fuel, maintenance, licensing and other taxes, and insurance, among other costs. As a result, delivery service operators have been looking at aerial delivery using drone aircraft to deliver smaller packages. Drones have the potential to increase the volume of deliveries without increases in associated costs. However one concern with drone use is that they could make package theft easier as thieves can simply follow a drone to the delivery destination, and the lack of an actual human delivery person may embolden thieves to take packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a package receptacle that includes a main body container having an interior, a front, a back, a first side and a second side opposing each other between the front and the back, and a top that is open. The package receptacle can further include a lid mounted at the top of the main body and configured to move horizontally between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the top is completely covered by the lid, and in the open position the lid is moved towards the back of the main body to expose the open top. The package receptacle can further include a drive system mounted to the lid at a bottom side of the lid that moves the lid between the open and closed positions. The package receptacle can further include a controller operably coupled to the drive system and configured to control the drive system to move the lid selectively to the open position and the closed position. The package receptacle can further include a wireless network transceiver coupled to the controller and configured to receive commands to move the lid to the open position and provide the commands to the controller.

In accordance with another feature, the wireless network transceiver is a local wireless network transceiver, the package receptacle further includes a cellular data network transceiver.

In accordance with another feature, a solar array is mounted on a top of the lid.

In accordance with another feature, the controller is responsive to the commands, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the drive system to open the lid only when a pre-shared key is provided in the received command that matches a pre-shared key in a memory associated with the controller.

In accordance with another feature, the lid is mounted on opposing telescoping roller tracks disposed on the first side and the second side of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, the main body comprises a front door having an interior portion and an exterior portion at an angle to the interior portion, wherein the front door is pivotally mounted at the front of the main body to allow the exterior portion to be pulled down causing the interior portion to rise up, thereby blocking access to the interior of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, a rear door at the rear of the main body includes a lock which, when opened, allows access to the interior of the main body.

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a postal and package receptacle including a main body container having an interior, a front, a back, a first side and a second side opposing each other between the front and the back, and a top that is open. The postal and package receptacle can further include a lid mounted at the top of the main body and configured to move horizontally between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the top is completely covered by the lid, and in the open position the lid is moved towards the back of the main body to expose the open top. The postal and package receptacle can further include a wireless network transceiver configured to receive an open command to move the lid to an open position and to receive a close command to move the lid to a closed position. The postal and package receptacle can further include a drive system mounted to the lid at a bottom side of the lid, the dive system including a drive motor that is powered by a battery, the drive system being configured to move the lid to the open position in response to the open command being received by wireless network transceiver, and wherein the drive system is further configured to move the lid to the closed position in response to the close command being received by wireless network transceiver;a front door at the front of the main body that is configured to receive postal deliveries; anda rear door at the rear of the main body that include a lock and which, when opened, allows access to the interior of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, a graphical receptacle identifier is disposed in the interior of the main body so as to be viewable when the lid is in the open position.

In accordance with another feature, a cellular transceiver is configured to receive a pre-shared key for a package delivery, and wherein the open command includes the pre-shared key.

In accordance with another feature, the drive system is configured to open the lid only when the open command includes the pre-shared key.

In accordance with another feature, the postal and package receptacle is configured to transmit a message via the cellular transceiver to an owner of the postal and package receptacle upon receiving the open command.

In accordance with another feature, the lid is mounted on opposing telescoping roller tracks disposed on the first side and the second side of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, the front door has an interior portion and an exterior portion at an angle to the interior portion, wherein the front door is pivotally mounted at the front of the main body to allow the exterior portion to be pulled down causing the interior portion to rise up, thereby blocking access to the interior of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, a solar array is mounted on a top of the lid that is coupled to the battery.

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a method that includes providing a postal and package receptacle having a main body having an opening at a top of the main body, a lid mounted at the top of the main body that is moveable horizontally between an open position and a closed position, a drive system including a drive motor mounted on the lid to move the lid between the open and closed positions, the postal and package receptacle further include a wireless network transceiver. The method can further include receiving, at the wireless network transceiver, an open command and in response to receiving the open command, the drive system moving the lid from the closed position to the open position. The method can further include receiving, at the wireless network transceiver, a close command, and in response to receiving the close command, the drive system moving the lid from the open position to the closed position. In accordance with another feature, providing the postal and package receptacle further comprises providing the postal and package receptacle having a front door at a front of the main body and a rear door at the rear of the main body.

In accordance with another feature, providing the postal and package receptacle further comprises providing the postal and package receptacle having a cellular transceiver, the method further comprises, prior to receiving the open command, receiving a pre-shared key at the postal and package receptacle via the cellular transceiver, and wherein the drive system moving the lid from the closed position to the open position is only performed when the open command includes a copy of the pre-shared key.

In accordance with another feature, in response to receiving the open command, the postal and package receptacle transmitting a message to an owner of the postal and package receptacle that a package has been received.

“In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as “installed”, “coupled”, “connected” should be broadly interpreted, for example, it may be fixedly connected, or may be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it may be mechanically connected, or may be electrically connected; it may be directly connected, or may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the length of the lid. The terms “instruction code,” “program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system, and specifically on a processor. “Instruction code,” a “program,” “computer program,” or “software application” may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the embodiments of the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1is a side elevational view of a package receptacle100that is configured to receive and secure packages delivered by a drone, in accordance with some embodiments.FIGS.2-4and6show substantially the same package receptacle so common reference numerals will be used throughout these drawings. The package receptacle100includes a main body104which defines an interior space in which parcels, packages, letters, and other delivered items can be received and secured. The main body has a front106and a back108. A lid102is mounted on the top of the main body, and the top is otherwise open so as to be able to receive a package through the top when the lid102is moved into an open position. As shown here inFIG.1, the lid102is in a closed position.

The lid102is moved automatically by a controller mounted inside the lid102that operates a drive system that is also mounted inside the lid102. The lid can be opened in response to a command or a request received over a local wireless network interface or a wireless device to device interface, and will then appear substantially as shown inFIG.2. For example, the lid102or another part of the receptacle100can include a wireless local area network radio transceiver that operates according to Specification 802.11 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), also known commonly as “WiFi.” Alternatively, or in addition, the lid or another part of the receptacle100can include a personal area network radio transceiver can be used such as those defined by Specification 802.15 of the IEEE, which include the protocols know commonly as BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE. The lid can be commanded to open by the owner or other authorized person using, for example, a cellular phone device running an appropriately designed application program. The lid102can include a locking mechanism that is operated by circuitry in the lid102or at another portion of the receptacle100, and upon receiving a command to open, the lid102unlocks and opens. Likewise, a delivery drone can communicate with the receptacle100to indicate that a valid delivery is to be completed, and in response the controller can cause the lid102to open to receive the delivery.

FIG.2is a side elevational view of a package receptacle100that is configured to receive and secure packages delivered by a drone, with the lid102open, in accordance with some embodiments. The lid102can be mounted on telescoping roller tracks114on the outside of the main body104at the top of the main body104and which extend in the direction the lid102is to move. Also shown here is the front door112in an open position to allow the delivery of letters and similar post materials. Upon closing the front door112the post materials deposited at the front door112will be lifted by the front door to slide down into the main body104.

FIG.3is a front left perspective view a package receptacle100that is configured to receive and secure packages delivered by a drone, with the front door112open, in accordance with some embodiments. The front door112is designed to block access to the interior of the main body104when opening the front door112. This is accomplished by providing an interior portion116and an exterior portion118at an angle to the interior portion116. Thus, when a handle120is used to open the front door112by pulling the handle forward and down, the exterior portion rotates downward about a base pivot line and causes the interior portion116to correspondingly rotate upwards to block access into the interior of the main body104. To send mail, a retention shelf117can be used to hold outgoing mail without letting it fall into the interior of the main body. An extendable mail indicator110can be extended to indicate there is outgoing mail. Upon picking up the outgoing mail, the mail indicator110can be pushed back in by the postal service personnel. Mail being delivered can be placed on the interior portion116so that when the front door is closed the mail simply slides into the interior of the main body. The interior portion116can be weighted such that it biases the front door to the closed position.

FIG.4is a side rear perspective view a package receptacle100that is configured to receive and secure packages delivered by a drone, with the front112and rear122doors open, in accordance with some embodiments. In this view the rear door122can be seen in an open position to allow access to the interior of the receptacle100. The bottom of the rear door122can be connected at a hinge to the interior of the receptacle100to allow the rear door to open, rotating about the hinge. A lock124can be provided to selectively engage a latching feature inside the receptacle near the top of the receptacle100. A key can be used from the outside of the rear door122to operate the lock to engage or disengage the latching feature. A user can thereby access and remove the contents of the receptacle100by unlocking and lowering the rear door122.

FIG.5is a graphical sequence diagram showing a top view of a package receptacle with lid moving between the closed and open positions, in accordance with some embodiments. The top view is the view that a drone making a delivery to the package receptacle would have. In a first state500the lid504is in a closed position, as inFIG.1. This is the normal and default state of the package receptacle. Further, the lid504can have a solar cell array or matrix506for recharging a battery used to power the components of the package receptacle, including the drive system that opens and closes the lid504.

In a second state502the lid504is in an open position, similar to that shown inFIG.2. In the open position the interior516of the main body508is exposed. In the present example, a package512is shown in the interior516. The package512has a visual identifier514which can be a bar code or quick read (QR) code to identify the package. Similarly a graphical receptacle identifier510can be provided in the interior516of the main body508to visually identify the receptacle. Upon making a delivery a drive can use a wireless network radio transceiver (e.g. WiFi, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE) to communicate with the receptacle, causing the receptacle to open the lid504. The drone can confirm and verify the identity of the receptacle by visually recognizing the identifier510. In other embodiments the receptacle can be provided with a password key for a given item being delivered, and the drone can provide the password in the initial communication where it can be confirmed by the receptacle which then open the lid504to receive the package. The drone can then take a picture of the package in the interior516of the main body508with both identifiers510,514in view in the image as verification that the package was delivered.

FIG.6is a side rear perspective view of the main body104of a package receptacle with the lid removed to show the lid support structure, in accordance with some embodiments. The lid can be supported on a pair of opposing telescoping roller tracks114,115. The telescoping roller tracks114,115are positioned horizontally on each side of the main body104at the top of the main body104, and on the outside of the main body104, running from front to back. Each of the telescoping roller tracks have several portions including a fixed portion130,136which are fixedly mounted to the main body104at their respective sides. An intermediate portion132,138is supported by, and rolls on its respective fixed portion130,136. A connecting member134,140is supported by, and rolls on a respective intermediate portion132,138. The connecting portions are fixedly coupled to the inside of the lid by conventional means. In some embodiments other forms of track or moveable supports can be used equivalently.

FIG.7is a bottom view of a lid102for a package receptacle showing the drive, control, and power systems, in accordance with some embodiments. In the example shown here, all of the circuitry and most of the components to operate movement of the lid102are housed on the bottom700of the lid102. The bottom700is the opposite side from the top surface seen inFIG.5, and faces the interior of the main body of the receptacle. The telescoping roller tracks couple to the sides701,703to support the lid102as it moves. A pair of support rails702,704can run along the length of the lid, parallel to each other, generally equidistant from the centerline of the lid102. A guide rod706can be mounted between the support rails702,704along the centerline of the lid102. The guide rod passes through a guide708and terminates in a guide stop and lock710which can connect to a brace or other structure of the main body. The guide708is attached and fixed to the inside of the main body104, such as at the rear of the main body104. A drive motor712drives a gear to turn a belt714that engages the guide708to cause the lid102to move relative to the guide708, and therefore relative to the main body104. Thus, the drive motor712can be activated to turn its gear in either direction, causing the lid to move accordingly between the open and closed positions. A circuit module716can contain the control circuitry for operating the drive motor712as well as the various radio network transceivers for communicating with other devices and networks as described and taught herein. The guide stop and lock710can also be operated responsive to operation of the drive motor712to engage or disengage the structure in the main body to lock and unlock the lid. A rechargeable battery718can be provided to power the circuitry in the circuit module716and the drive motor712, and can be charged or kept charged by a solar array on the top of the lid102as shown inFIG.5. Although a belt drive system is shown here, it is contemplated that other equivalent drive systems can be used, such as, for example, the guide rod706being threaded such as a screw/worm rod that is driven by a corresponding worm gear by the drive motor712. By locating the drive components on the bottom700of the lid102, the interior space of the main body104is maximized for receiving and holding packages.

FIG.8is a block schematic diagram800of the drive, control, and power systems of a package receptacle, in accordance with some embodiments. A majority of the components shown there can be included in the circuit module716or equivalent. The circuitry includes a controller802that can include a microcontroller or microprocessor that performs instruction code to produce outputs in response to various inputs. The instruction code and be stored or instantiated in a memory804that can include various types of memory including read only memory, random access memory, and flash memory. The controller802can be operably coupled to a cellular data transceiver806such as one operating according to the Long Term Evolution protocol. The cellular data transceiver acts as a network interface element to connect the controller802to a wide area network to enable communications with other devices connected to the wide area network. The wide area network can include the internet. The controller can also be operably coupled to a local wireless network transceiver808which can operate using WiFi or PAN networking protocols, and can be used particularly to communicate with a delivery drone during a package delivery. Both the cellular data network transceiver806and the local wireless network transceiver808have unique identifiers so that they can be identified and verified. The cellular data network transceiver806can have an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) and the local wireless network transceiver can have a Media Access Controller (MAC) address. These identifiers are provided by the manufacturer of the respective transceiver and are hard coded into the circuitry, making them reliable identifiers. The controller802is able to send and receive information using the network transceivers806,808using the various network protocols. For example, using the cellular data network transceiver806the controller can send and receive information using hypertext markup language (HTML) using uniform resource locator (URL) addressing.

The controller802is also operably coupled to a lid drive circuit810that controls power to the drive motor812to open and close the lid. When the lid is to be opened the controller802provides an OPEN command to the drive circuit810which, in response, switches current to the motor812to cause the motor812to turn in a direction that causes the lid to open so that the interior of the main body of the package receptacle is exposed to receive a package. After the package is delivered, then the controller802can provide a CLOSE command to the drive circuit810, which switches current in the opposite direction to cause the lid to close, thereby protecting the package.

The controller802is further coupled to a charge controller814which controls charge from a solar array818to a battery816used to power and operate the various electrical components. The charge controller814can maintain a charge status of the battery816so that the controller can, if necessary, alert the owner/operator of the package receptacle if there is an issue with the battery816. The controller802can form a battery alert message that can be transmitted via the cellular data transceiver806to, for example, a text message recipient, an email recipient, a server, and so on. The owner/operator of the package receptacle can then take action to address the issue, such as by replacing the battery816or fixing any wiring issues that may be impeding the transfer of charge from the solar array818to the battery816.

FIG.9is a graphical sequence diagram showing a package delivery by a drone to a package receptacle, in accordance with some embodiments. In particular there are an approach phase900and a delivery phase902shown. In the approach phase900the drone908has been provided with the geolocation of the package receptacle906and flies out to the location being guided by an on-board navigation system, such as a satellite positioning system. The package receptacle can have visual indicia on the top of the lid to allow the delivery drone908to identity the package receptacle and align with the package receptacle. Once the package receptacle is found by the delivery drone908and the delivery drone908is in position over the package receptacle906the delivery drone908can then transmit a request910to the package receptacle to open the lid. The request910can include a pre-shared key, such as a tracking number, to ensure that the entity transmitting to the package receptacle is a valid delivery drone. Upon receiving the request910, the package receptacle906(e.g. the controller) can compare the information with information it has been provided by the owner/operator of the package receptacle906, and if there is a match, then the package receptacle can respond, both by opening the lid and by transmitting to the delivery drone that the request is authorized. Then the state transitions to phase902as indicated by arrow904, where the delivery drone908can deposit the package into the interior of the main body of the package receptacle906, as indicated by arrow912. The delivery drone908can then confirm the package has been delivered using a visual recognition of the package in the package receptacle, as inFIG.5, and then the delivery drone908can transmit conformation to the package receptacle906, which in response will close the lid.

FIG.10is a process diagram of a process1000for ordering an item from a merchant and having the package delivered by a drone to a package receptacle, in accordance with some embodiments. The process1000involves a customer, an online merchant, the package receptacle, a delivery service, and the delivery drone, each having their own vertical line. In a first step1002the customer can interact with the online merchant to purchase an item. In the process of completing the purchase, the online merchant can indicate, in step1004, confirmation of the purchase and an identifier to be associated with the item for delivery. Also as part of the purchase process, the customer provides a location for the delivery, which may be more specific than an address and include geo-spatial coordinates of the package receptacle. In some embodiments, the merchant or other entity can keep a database that cross references addresses with the geo-spatial coordinates of the package receptacle for that address. In step1006the customer can communicate with the package receptacle to provide the identifier to the package receptacle. This can be done using a cellular data network link or a local wireless network link. The identifier can be a pre-shared key that is also shared with the online merchant and/or the delivery service, or which can be generated by the online merchant or the delivery service. In some embodiments, the delivery service can generate the identifier and provide it to the customer directly, or to the customer through the online merchant.

In step1008the merchant provides the purchased item to the delivery service, along with delivery information, which can include the identifier. The delivery service can then provide the item to a drone that is programed to deliver the item to the package receptacle in step1010. The drone can be driven to a location near the package receptacle, and then the drone can fly to the approximate location and in step1012the drone can communicate with the package receptacle, including providing the identifier, and in step1014the package receptacle can respond with approval, after opening the lid, where upon the drone can deliver the package into the package receptacle. In step1016the package receptacle can alert the owner/operator of the package receptacle that the package has been delivered. Specifically, in response to receiving an open command from a drone or other delivery entity, the package receptacle can then transmit a message to the owner/customer to indicate that a package has been received. For example, The package receptacle can transmit a text message or send an email or other such message to an indicated address or device, as set up by the owner/operator, using the cellular data network transceiver. Thereafter, the owner/operator of the package receptacle can go to the package receptacle, unlock and open the rear door, and retrieve the delivered item (and any other items that have been deposited into the package receptacle).

In cases where a delivery is made by a person, in a conventional delivery service manner, steps1002-1008can be performed and steps1012,1014are not performed. Instead, in step1018, the delivery service sends a deliver driver, which can be a private delivery service or the government postal service, to the location of the receptacle. The driver then uses a device to communicate with the receptacle in the same manner as in step1012when performed by a drone. The device can be a cellular phone device or equivalent that can either communicate directly using low power local wireless network communications similar to WiFi, or it can communicate indirectly using a cellular data communication link with an authorization entity (e.g. server) that in turn communicates with the receptacle to authorize and command the receptacle to open. In step1020the receptacle can open the lid to allow the delivery service driver to place a package into the receptacle. In step1022, then, the receptacle can issue a message to the owner/operator (“customer”) that the package has been received.

Embodiments of a package receptacle have been disclosed that allow automated delivery by drone in a way that secures the delivered package and therefore prevents theft of packages and verification that packages have been delivered. The disclosed embodiments allow merchants to verify that packages have been delivered with a photographic record showing the package in the customer's package receptacle. By opening and closing the lid, and locking the lid, the package receptacle can hold the package out of sight, thereby eliminating a main way in which package thieves are able to steal packages, but also the secure package receptacle resists attempt to gain access to the interior of the package receptacle. As a result, the disclosed embodiments facilitate advances in package delivery while also providing security for the customer, as well as eliminating the burden of theft on the system.