公开(公告)号：US11107030B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-31

申请号：US15711136

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Federal Express Corporation

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/22 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G01S5/00 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: Improved systems, apparatus, and methods for enhanced positioning of an airborne relocatable communication hub supporting wireless devices are described. Such a method begins with moving an aerial communication drone operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub to a first deployed airborne position, detecting a first signal broadcast by a first wireless device using a communication hub interface on the drone, and detecting a second signal broadcast by a second wireless device using the communication hub interface. The method has the drone comparing a first connection signal strength for the first signal and a second connection signal strength for the second signal, and repositioning the aerial communication drone to a second deployed airborne position based upon the comparison. Once repositioned at the second deployed airborne position, the method has the drone linking the first and second wireless devices using the communication hub interface on the aerial communication drone.

公开(公告)号：US20210142271A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-13

申请号：US16950023

申请日：2020-11-17

Applicant: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

公开(公告)号：US20200258039A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US16849207

申请日：2020-04-15

Applicant: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64F1/22 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01S5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G06Q50/30

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.

公开(公告)号：US10679172B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US15711244

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Federal Express Corporation

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: An inspection drone exclusively paired to a delivery vehicle identifies targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle. A sensor on the drone detects inspection information relative to targeted inspection points once the drone has aerially moved proximate to each targeted inspection point. The drone automatically identifies a potential adverse inspection condition for a targeted inspection point based upon the inspection information. The drone responsively transmits an interactive intervention request to a display-enabled transceiver, where the request identifies the potential adverse inspection condition, indicates a need for a verified inspection of that targeted inspection point, and requests feedback regarding that targeted inspection point. The display-enabled transceiver responsively displays a notification related to the interactive intervention request on its user interface to present information about the potential adverse inspection condition and the need for the verified inspection for that targeted inspection point.

公开(公告)号：US20180088578A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US15711244

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Federal Express Corporation

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08

Abstract: An inspection drone exclusively paired to a delivery vehicle identifies targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle. A sensor on the drone detects inspection information relative to targeted inspection points once the drone has aerially moved proximate to each targeted inspection point. The drone automatically identifies a potential adverse inspection condition for a targeted inspection point based upon the inspection information. The drone responsively transmits an interactive intervention request to a display-enabled transceiver, where the request identifies the potential adverse inspection condition, indicates a need for a verified inspection of that targeted inspection point, and requests feedback regarding that targeted inspection point. The display-enabled transceiver responsively displays a notification related to the interactive intervention request on its user interface to present information about the potential adverse inspection condition and the need for the verified inspection for that targeted inspection point.

公开(公告)号：US20220004980A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-06

申请号：US17378887

申请日：2021-07-19

Applicant: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: Improved systems, apparatus, and methods for enhanced positioning of an airborne relocatable communication hub supporting wireless devices are described. Such a method begins with moving an aerial communication drone operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub to a first deployed airborne position, detecting a first signal broadcast by a first wireless device using a communication hub interface on the drone, and detecting a second signal broadcast by a second wireless device using the communication hub interface. The method has the drone comparing a first connection signal strength for the first signal and a second connection signal strength for the second signal, and repositioning the aerial communication drone to a second deployed airborne position based upon the comparison. Once repositioned at the second deployed airborne position, the method has the drone linking the first and second wireless devices using the communication hub interface on the aerial communication drone.

公开(公告)号：US11042831B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-22

申请号：US16846561

申请日：2020-04-13

Applicant: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64F1/22 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01S5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G06Q50/30

Abstract: Drone-based systems and methods for conducting a modified inspection of a delivery vehicle are described. A system has a delivery vehicle transceiver and an inspection drone paired to the vehicle that aerially inspects the vehicle. The delivery vehicle transceiver has a user interface and a wireless radio, while the paired inspection drone has a housing, onboard controller, memory storage, lifting engines, and a communication interface. The drone's onboard controller is operative to identify different existing delivery vehicle inspection points from an inspection profile record; receive an inspection update message from the communication interface; update the existing delivery vehicle inspection points with additional inspection points to yield a targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle; and conduct the modified inspection of the delivery vehicle by gathering the detected sensor-based inspection information related to each of the targeted inspection points.

公开(公告)号：US20210073727A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US16950085

申请日：2020-11-17

Applicant: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

公开(公告)号：US10657485B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-19

申请号：US15711167

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Federal Express Corporation

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/48 ,  G01S19/49 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28

Abstract: Drone-based systems and methods for conducting a modified inspection of a delivery vehicle are described. A system has a delivery vehicle transceiver and an inspection drone paired to the vehicle that aerially inspects the vehicle. The delivery vehicle transceiver has a user interface and a wireless radio, while the paired inspection drone has a housing, onboard controller, memory storage, lifting engines, and a communication interface. The drone's onboard controller is operative to identify different existing delivery vehicle inspection points from an inspection profile record; receive an inspection update message from the communication interface; update the existing delivery vehicle inspection points with additional inspection points to yield a targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle; and conduct the modified inspection of the delivery vehicle by gathering the detected sensor-based inspection information related to each of the targeted inspection points.

公开(公告)号：US10482418B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-19

申请号：US15710980

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Federal Express Corporation

Inventor： Reuben F. Burch, V ,  David A. Doyle ,  Brian D. Popp

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G01S5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G01S19/49 ,  H04W4/48

Abstract: Paired drone-based systems and methods are described that inspect a delivery vehicle. For example, a system may include a docking station within the vehicle and a sensor-enabled inspection drone paired to the vehicle and that aerially inspects targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle. In response to an activation command, the inspection drone transitions to an active power state, uncouples from the docking station, identifies the targeted inspection points as corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle, moves to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points, automatically identifies an out of range inspection condition about a targeted inspection point based upon sensor-based inspection information detected from at least one of the aerials positions, and responsively transmits an inspection notification message to a vehicle receiver on the vehicle to indicate the targeted inspection point is outside an acceptable range for operation of the vehicle.