Systems and methods for delivering a package from a drone to a vehicle

1. A method for delivering a package from a drone to a vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying, by the drone, the vehicle;

establishing, by the drone and the vehicle, a wireless communication connection between the drone and the vehicle;

opening, by the vehicle, an access door of the vehicle to expose an opening in the vehicle, wherein a net configured to receive the package from the drone is disposed within the vehicle below the opening;

releasing, by the drone, the package into the net, wherein releasing the package into the net comprises:

positioning the drone about the opening in the vehicle;

extending, by the drone, a retractable cable releasably attached to the package, wherein the package is extended via the retractable cable through the opening in the vehicle and positioned about the net;

determining, by one or more position sensors in the vehicle, that the package is in the correct position about the net;

releasing, by the drone and after it has been determined that the package is in the correct position about the net, the package into the net; and

retracting, by the drone and after the package has been released into the net, the retractable cable.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retractable cable comprises an electromagnetic attachment device disposed at a distal end thereof, and wherein the package comprises a magnetic element configured to be releasably attached to the electromagnetic attachment device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the retractable cable comprises one or more sensors configured to determine the position and movement of the electromagnetic attachment device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the package is in the correct position about the net comprises:

determining, by a first position sensor, that the package has been detected;

determining, by a second position sensor disposed below the first position sensor, that the package has been detected;

determining, by the first position sensor and after the first and second position sensors have determined that the package has been detected, that the package is no longer detected; and

determining, by the second position sensor after the first position sensor has determined that the package is no longer detected, that the package is no longer detected.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

elevating, by the vehicle, the net about the opening in the vehicle;

determining, by one or more net sensors in the vehicle, that the package has been received by the net; and

lowering, by the vehicle, the net and package therein.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining that the package has been received by the net comprises determining, by a weight sensor in communication with the net, that the package is disposed on the net.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising closing, by the vehicle and after the package has been received by the net, the access door of the vehicle to close off the opening in the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the vehicle comprises detecting, by the drone, a machine-readable optical element disposed on the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the wireless communication connection between the drone and the vehicle comprises syncing the drone and the vehicle such that the drone is capable of monitoring, anticipating, and/or tracking movement of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by the vehicle, the drone.

11. A vehicle configured to receive a package from a drone, the vehicle comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

establish a wireless communication connection with the drone;

cause an access door of the vehicle to open to expose an opening in the vehicle, wherein a net configured to receive the package is disposed within the vehicle below the opening;

cause one or more position sensors in the vehicle to determine that the package is in a correct position about the net, wherein determining that the package is in the correct position about the net comprises the at least one processor being configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

cause a first position sensor to determine that the package has been detected;

cause a second position sensor disposed below the first position sensor to determine that the package has been detected;

cause the first position sensor, after the first and second position sensors have determined that the package has been detected, to determine that the package is no longer detected; and

cause the second position sensor, after the first position sensor has determined that the package is no longer detected, to determine that the package is no longer detected.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

cause the net to be elevated about the opening in the vehicle;

cause one or more net sensors in the vehicle to determine that the package has been received by the net; and

cause the net and package thereon to be lowered.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein determining that the package has been received by the net comprises the at least one processor being configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause a weight sensor in communication with the net to determine that the package is disposed on the net.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause, after the package has been received by the net, the access door of the vehicle to close off the opening in the vehicle.

15. A method for delivering a package from a drone to a vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying, by the drone, the vehicle;

establishing, by the drone and the vehicle, a wireless communication connection between the drone and the vehicle;

opening, by the vehicle, an access door of the vehicle to expose an opening in the vehicle, wherein a net configured to receive the package from the drone is disposed within the vehicle below the opening;

releasing, by the drone, the package into the net;

elevating, by the vehicle, the net about the opening in the vehicle;

determining, by one or more net sensors in the vehicle, that the package has been received by the net; and

lowering, by the vehicle, the net and package therein.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining that the package has been received by the net comprises determining, by a weight sensor in communication with the net, that the package is disposed on the net.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising closing, by the vehicle and after the package has been received by the net, the access door of the vehicle to close off the opening in the vehicle.