IP Library Granted Patent US 10,124,912
Granted Patent B2
US 10,124,912 · App. 14/587,828 · Granted Nov 13, 2018

Landing pad for unmanned aerial vehicle delivery

Inventors: Ryan Walsh (Aurora, IL); Alex J. Falesch (Oswego, IL)
Assignee: BLACKNIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC
B64F1/32A01M29/16A47G29/14B64C39/024B64F1/04G05D1/0202B64C2201/027B64C2201/128B64C2201/145
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,124,912
App. No.
14/587,828
Filed
Dec 31, 2014
Granted
Nov 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Examiner
DO, TRUC M
Art Unit
3669
USPC
701/3
Abstract

A landing pad receives and stores packages delivered from an aerial vehicle are awaiting pickup from an aerial vehicle. The landing pad can be placed outside of a window and can contain a transmitter for sending out an identification signal via radio frequency to aid aerial vehicles in finding the landing pad. The landing pad contains a landing platform with a trapdoor that leads to a storage compartment. The trapdoor can be configured to only open when it receives a signal from an authorized aerial vehicle. The storage compartment can be accessed via a storage compartment door which can contain a locking mechanism. The storage compartment can be climate controlled. The landing pad can also have a transmitter that emits sounds to discourage animals from nesting on or near the landing pad. The landing pad can also include a solar power generator as a source of electrical energy.

Claims (37)

1. A landing pad system configured to be placed in a window of a residence comprising:

(a) a drone delivering an item; and

(b) a landing pad comprising (i) a landing platform; and (ii) a storage compartment, wherein said landing platform comprises a trapdoor in a normally closed position which when open exposes the interior of said storage compartment wherein a storage compartment door is attached to said storage compartment; wherein said storage compartment containing a conveyer belt and a hydraulic system configured to tilt the floor of said storage compartment; and

wherein said drone and said landing pad communicate with each other via a signal and wherein an at least one temperature setting, an at least one humidity setting and an at least one light setting of said storage compartment are i adjusted by a plurality of climate control mechanisms in response to an at least one physical property of said item being delivered.

2. The landing pad system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage door lock, wherein said storage door lock is configured to bias said storage door in a closed position.

3. The landing pad system of claim 2 , wherein said storage door lock is one of an electronic lock or a mechanical lock.

4. The landing pad system of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter capable of emitting a signal recognizable by a receiver associated with said landing pad.

5. The landing pad system of claim 1 , wherein said identifying transmitter is disposed in an electronics housing.

6. The landing pad system of claim 1 , wherein said landing pad further comprises

(iii) a power cord connectable to an electrical outlet;

(iv) a battery;

(v) a solar power generator; and

(vi) a sound emitter.

7. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad is made substantially of a rust resistant material.

8. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said storage compartment has a conveyer belt.

9. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad has a unique landing pad ID and said drone has a unique drone ID.

10. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad further comprises a charging station configured to charge said drone.

11. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad system is configured to send a confirmation to a third party when said drone delivers a package to said landing pad.

12. The landing pad system of claim 11 wherein said confirmation is sent via email.

13. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad is configured to fold into a window when not interacting with said drone.

14. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said landing pad is configured to charge said drone via inductive charging.

15. The landing pad system of claim 1 wherein said climate control mechanisms include a heating unit, a cooling unit, a humidifier, a dehumidifier and an adjustable light source.

16. A landing pad system configured to be placed in a window of a residence comprising:

(a) a drone picking up an item; and

(b) a landing pad made substantially of a rust resistant material and configured to fold into a window when not interacting with said drone comprising:

(i) a landing platform;

(ii) a storage compartment containing a conveyer belt and a hydraulic system configured to tilt the floor of said storage compartment, wherein said landing platform comprises a trapdoor in a normally closed position which when open exposes the interior of said storage compartment wherein a storage compartment door is attached to said storage compartment, said storage door lock is one of an electrical lock or a mechanical lock configured to bias said storage door in a closed position, and wherein said drone and said landing pad communicate with each other via a signal and wherein the temperature, humidity and light intensity of said storage compartment are adjusted by climate control mechanisms in response to the physical and chemical properties of said item being picked up to provide optimal storage conditions for said item, wherein said climate control mechanisms include a heating unit, a cooling unit, a humidifier, a dehumidifier and an adjustable light source;

(iii) a transmitter capable of emitting a signal recognizable by a receiver associated with said landing pad; said identifying transmitter is disposed in an electronics housing located under said landing platform;

(iv) a charging station configured to charge said drone wirelessly, wherein said charging station is a power cord connectable to an electrical outlet, a battery or a solar power generator; and

(vii) a sound emitter,

wherein said drone has a unique drone ID and said landing pad has a unique pad ID; and

wherein said landing pad is configured to send a confirmation to a third party when said drone picks up a package to said landing pad, wherein said confirmation is sent via email.

17. A landing pad system apparatus comprising:

(a) a drone delivering an item; and

(b) a landing pad comprising (i) a landing platform; and (ii) a storage compartment including a climate controller and at least one of a heater device and a refrigeration device; wherein said storage compartment containing a conveyer belt and a hydraulic system configured to tilt the floor of said storage compartment;

and (iii) a computer communicatively coupled to said climate controller and configured to receive a temperature signal indicative of at least one of a temperature setting or an item to be delivered by a drone, and instruct said climate controller to activate said at least one of said heater device and said refrigeration device based on said temperature signal to cause an interior temperature of said storage compartment to reach a desired temperature for preserving contents of said item, wherein said landing platform comprises a trapdoor in a normally closed position which when open exposes said interior of said storage compartment wherein a storage compartment door is attached to said storage compartment; and wherein said drone and said landing pad communicate with each other via a delivery signal indicative that an item has been released by said drone, said delivery signal causing said trapdoor to open and wherein said climate of said storage compartment is adjusted based upon the identity of said item being delivered.

18. The landing pad apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said temperature signal is received by said computer prior to said drone arriving at said landing pad to enable said climate controller to adjust said interior temperature of said storage compartment to reach said desired temperature before said item is delivered by said drone.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2020
From: BLACKNIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: VALQARI HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052761/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2015
From: WALSH, RYAN; FALESCH, ALEXANDER J.
To: BLACKNIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035591/0057 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61923207 · Jan 2, 2014
Related Publication 20150183528A1 · Jul 2, 2015
Cited By (8)
US 12,269,592 US 12,304,671 US 12,312,108 US 12,330,811 US 12,346,865 US 12,558,981 US 12,649,575 US 12,703,981