METHODS FOR LOADING A PARCEL CARRIER TO AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.
1 . A method for loading/unloading a parcel carrier to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
receiving a parcel to be delivered by a UAV;
engaging a parcel carrying mechanism of a parcel carrier with the parcel, the parcel carrying mechanism being configured to engage and secure the parcel to the parcel carrier;
moving the parcel carrier and parcel toward a UAV chassis of the UAV; and
securing an engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis of the UAV, wherein the engagement housing of the parcel carrier is coupled to and positioned above the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis comprises moving an engagement member of the UAV chassis from a retracted position to an extended position.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis comprises inserting the engagement housing into an interior cavity defined by the UAV chassis.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis comprises inserting the UAV chassis into a cavity defined by the engagement housing.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the parcel carrier through a supply portal defined by a roof panel of a primary delivery vehicle prior to securing the engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the engagement housing of the parcel carrier to the UAV chassis comprises electrically connecting a power source of the parcel carrier to propulsion members of the UAV.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parcel carrying mechanism comprises a pair of parcel carrying arms, and the step of engaging the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier with the parcel comprises engaging the parcel carrying arms with the parcel.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the parcel carrying arms comprise a plurality of pins, and the step of engaging the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier with the parcel comprises inserting the plurality of pins at least partially into apertures defined by the parcel.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the parcel carrying arms comprise a pair of support flanges and the step of engaging the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier with the parcel comprises engaging the support flanges with a bottom surface of the parcel.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the parcel carrying arms comprise a plurality of pins, and the step of engaging the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier with the parcel comprises inserting the plurality of pins at least partially into apertures defined by a parcel frame coupled to the parcel.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the parcel carrying mechanism comprises a parcel housing coupled to the engagement housing, and the step of engaging the parcel carrying mechanism of the parcel carrier with the parcel comprises positioning the parcel within the parcel housing.
12 . A method for loading/unloading a parcel carrier to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
engaging a parcel with a parcel carrier, the parcel carrier comprising an engagement housing and a parcel carrying mechanism coupled to and positioned below the engagement housing, wherein the parcel is engaged with the parcel carrying mechanism;
moving the parcel carrier toward a UAV chassis positioned on a UAV support mechanism;
moving an engagement member of the UAV chassis from an extended position into a retracted position;
engaging the engagement housing of the parcel carrier with a UAV chassis; and
moving the engagement member of the UAV chassis from the retracted position into the extended position, securing the engagement housing to the UAV chassis.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of engaging the engagement housing comprises inserting the engagement housing into an interior cavity defined by the UAV chassis.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the parcel carrying mechanism comprises parcel carrying arms comprising a plurality of pins, and wherein the step of engaging the parcel with the parcel carrying mechanism comprises positioning the plurality of pins at least partially within apertures defined by the parcel.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the parcel carrying mechanism comprises parcel carrying arms comprising a pair of support flanges, and wherein engaging the parcel with the parcel carrying mechanism comprises positioning the support flanges under a bottom surface of the parcel.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of the parcel carrying mechanism comprises a parcel housing, and wherein engaging the parcel with the parcel carrying mechanism comprises positioning the parcel within the parcel housing.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of engaging the engagement housing of the parcel carrier with the UAV chassis comprises electrically connecting a power source of the parcel carrier to propulsion members of the UAV.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising, prior to the step of moving the parcel carrier toward the UAV chassis, detecting the presence of the UAV chassis within a supply region of the UAV support mechanism.
19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving the parcel carrier through a supply portal defined by a roof panel prior to engaging the engagement housing of the parcel carrier with the UAV chassis.