SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING A BACKUP NAVIGATIONAL TOOL FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES DELIVERING MERCHANDISE

1 . A system for delivery of merchandise using unmanned aerial vehicles, the system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a motorized flight system configured to facilitate flight of the UAV along a flight path from a starting location to a delivery location;

a storage area configured to hold merchandise for delivery;

a transceiver configured for wireless communication;

an imaging sensor configured to capture a plurality of images;

a GPS tracking device configured to determine position coordinates of the UAV to navigate to the delivery location;

a memory device configured to store the position coordinates of the UAV;

a flight simulator database configured for storing geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path;

a control circuit configured to:

navigate the UAV from the starting location along the flight path to the delivery location using the GPS tracking device as a first navigation mechanism;

store the position coordinates of the UAV at predetermined time intervals;

capture image sequences of geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path using the imaging sensor;

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

communicate with the flight simulator database to access the geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path;

calculate a predicted position for the UAV based on the position coordinates of the UAV;

compare the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database within a predetermined area about the predicted position; and

determine the actual position of the UAV if individual images in the image sequences match geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

compare the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database; and

navigate the UAV toward the delivery location based on matching individual images in the image sequences with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database as a second navigation system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

compare the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database not to exceed a predetermined maximum length of time; and

if no match is determined, navigate the UAV back along the flight path to the starting location.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

compare the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database not to exceed a predetermined maximum length of time; and

if no match is determined, communicate with and await instructions from a human pilot at a remote navigational control center for navigating the UAV.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path and no match is determined:

await instructions from the human pilot for navigating the UAV for a predetermined time interval; and

if instructions are not received within the predetermined time interval:

capture a plurality of images of the geographic and landscape features about the UAV;

determine if a subset of images matches predetermined conditions indicating level terrain suitable for landing the UAV; and

navigate the UAV to a landing location corresponding to one of the subset of images.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined conditions comprise a flat green zone or flat brown zone.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a match when a predetermined number of features of the image sequences from the imaging sensor correspond to geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path and no match is determined,

identify a landmark within a predetermined area of the predicted position of the UAV;

navigate the UAV in the direction of the landmark from the predicted position;

compare the image sequences from the imaging sensor with a known image of the landmark to determine the actual position.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database corresponding to the UAV's position to a device of a user receiving delivery of merchandise transported by the UAV.

10 . A method of delivering merchandise using unmanned aerial vehicles, the method comprising:

providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a motorized flight system configured to facilitate flight of the UAV along a flight path from a starting location to a delivery location;

a storage area configured to hold merchandise for delivery;

a transceiver configured for wireless communication;

an imaging sensor configured to capture a plurality of images;

a GPS tracking device configured to determine position coordinates of the UAV to navigate to the delivery location;

providing a flight simulator database containing stored geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path;

by a control circuit:

navigating the UAV from the starting location along the flight path to the delivery location using the GPS tracking device as a first navigation mechanism;

storing the position coordinates of the UAV at predetermined time intervals;

capturing image sequences of geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path using the imaging sensor;

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

communicating with the flight simulator database to access the geographic and landscape features along at least a portion of the UAV's flight path;

calculating a predicted position for the UAV based on the position coordinates of the UAV;

comparing the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database within a predetermined area about the predicted position; and

determining the actual position of the UAV if individual images in the image sequences match geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

comparing the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database; and

navigating the UAV toward the delivery location based on matching individual images in the image sequences with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database as a second navigation system.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

comparing the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database not to exceed a predetermined maximum length of time; and

if no match is determined, navigating the UAV back along the flight path to the starting location.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path:

comparing the image sequences from the imaging sensor with geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database not to exceed a predetermined maximum length of time; and

if no match is determined, communicating with and await instructions from a human pilot at a remote navigational control center for navigating the UAV.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path and no match is determined:

awaiting instructions from the human pilot for navigating the UAV for a predetermined time interval; and

if instructions are not received within the predetermined time interval:

capturing a plurality of images of the geographic and landscape features about the UAV;

determining if a subset of images matches predetermined conditions indicating level terrain suitable for landing the UAV; and

navigating the UAV to a landing location corresponding to one of the subset of images.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined conditions comprise a flat green zone or flat brown zone.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

determining a match when a predetermined number of features of the image sequences from the imaging sensor correspond to geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database.

17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

if the GPS tracking device is not determining position coordinates along the flight path and no match is determined,

identifying a landmark within a predetermined area of the predicted position of the UAV;

navigating the UAV in the direction of the landmark from the predicted position;

comparing the image sequences from the imaging sensor with a known image of the landmark to determine the actual position.

18 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, by the control circuit:

transmitting geographic and landscape features from the flight simulator database corresponding to the UAV's position to a device of a user receiving delivery of merchandise transported by the UAV.