IP Library Granted Patent US 12,434,836
Granted Patent B2
US 12,434,836 · App. 17/930,849 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Delivery drop points for autonomous delivery vehicles

Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay (Vienna, VA); Robert E. Dixon, Jr. (Haymarket, VA); Gregory Cooil (Arlington, VA)
Assignee: United States Postal Service
B64D1/12B64F1/32B65G1/00G05D1/0094G06Q10/0836B64D1/02B64U10/13B64U70/95B64U80/25B64U2101/64B64U2101/69B64U2201/10B65G2209/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,434,836
App. No.
17/930,849
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Autonomous delivery drop points for delivery of an item are provided. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a proxy sensor to communicate information related to the autonomous delivery drop point to an autonomous delivery vehicle. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a delivery inlet configured to accept the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a storage receptacle configured to store the item until the item is retrieved by the owner of the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include an attachment member coupled to the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a hook configured to couple to the attachment member to accept the item, wherein the hook comprises the proxy sensor.

Claims (18)

1. An autonomous delivery receptacle comprising:

a proxy sensor disposed on the autonomous delivery receptacle comprising a plurality of storage receptacles, the proxy sensor configured to:

communicate information related to the autonomous delivery receptacle to an autonomous delivery vehicle;

receive a recipient identifier from the autonomous delivery vehicle;

identify a storage receptacle of the plurality of storage receptacles corresponding to the received recipient identifier; and

instruct the autonomous delivery vehicle to deposit an item for delivery into the identified receptacle;

a delivery inlet configured to accept the item; and

a storage receptacle configured to store the item; and

an access port to allow access to the item within the storage receptacle.

2. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the delivery inlet is an aerial port.

3. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising one or more arms configured to accept the item.

4. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the item is delivered via an autonomous delivery vehicle.

5. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of storage receptacles has a unique identifier thereon.

6. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of storage receptacles is assigned to a different recipient, and wherein the unique identifier on each of the plurality of storage receptacles is associated with the recipient assigned thereto.

7. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the proxy sensor is configured to interact with an autonomous delivery vehicle, and wherein the delivery inlet is configured to be opened upon completing a virtual handshake with the proxy sensor and the autonomous vehicle.

8. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the proxy sensor identifies the autonomous delivery receptacle as associated with a multi-unit dwelling.

9. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the delivery inlet is automatically operable.

10. The autonomous delivery receptacle of claim 9 , wherein the delivery inlet is configured to automatically open in response to a virtual handshake between the autonomous delivery receptacle and an autonomous delivery vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2025
From: LUCKAY, RYAN M.; DIXON, ROBERT E., JR.; COOIL, GREGORY
To: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Reel/Frame 070605/0645 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15861191 · Jan 3, 2018
Provisional Application 62441878 · Jan 3, 2017
Related Publication 20230109266A1 · Apr 6, 2023
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