United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Julian Leland Bell

Julio Gil

Stephens B Woodrough, Jr

Justin Ashtiani

Dameion Teres Drake

Jared Nauert

Gregory Casanova Brown, Ii

Stephens Woodrough

Youngjun Choi

Jeff Luckett

Fredric Michael Lopez

Jeffrey Radaker

Patrick Wall

Ryan Grajewski

The technology disclosed herein relates to a rooftop platform to facilitate a delivery of a parcel by an aerial vehicle. The rooftop platform may comprise an elevator apparatus at least partially accessible via the rooftop platform. The rooftop platform may also comprise a rotatable turntable mounted to the rooftop platform. The rotatable turntable can be rotated to position the parcel on the elevator apparatus. The rotatable turntable may have tracks for receiving track wheels of a parcel containment unit. In some embodiments, the parcel may be positioned on the elevator apparatus at a top surface of a lift cabin of the elevator apparatus. The rooftop platform may also comprise a landing area for the aerial vehicle to deliver or receive the parcel containment unit via the rotatable turntable.

Methods and systems for delivering or accepting a parcel at a rooftop via an aerial vehicle

A case for carrying loads by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) comprises a first end comprising a first cap and a first opening and a second end comprising a second cap and a second opening, the second opening being smaller than the first opening. The case also comprises a rechargeable battery pack that, when the case is secured to the UAV, is configured to provide a power source for the UAV and the first cap and the second cap each comprising at least one metal connector for providing power to the UAV.

Payload container with power supply for unmanned systems

Various embodiments described herein provide apparatuses, systems, methods, technologies, and/or the like for loading, re-orienting, and/or transferring objects in an automated or semi-automated fashion. Accordingly, various embodiments enable such automated and/or semi-automated loading, re-orienting, and/or transferring of objects in different environments such as mobile environments, stationary environments, and/or the like. Various embodiments involve a supply apparatus that is used to load objects onto a re-orienting apparatus. Additionally, or alternatively, various embodiments involve a re-orienting apparatus that is used to rotate objects from an initial orientation to a desired orientation. Additionally, or alternatively, various embodiments involve a pushing mechanism that is used to transfer objects from a re-orienting apparatus to a downstream apparatus.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for loading, rotating, and transferring objects in an automated or semi-automated fashion

A multi-tiered automated parcel sortation system is utilized to sort parcels according to a common destination. A first tier includes an automated sorter configured to transport parcels from a source location to a release destination. A second tier includes accumulation containers each associated with a shipping destination, and the release destination within the first tier is a positioned directly above the accumulation container associated with the shipping destination of the parcel. Once transported to the release destination, a parcel is released into the accumulation container, and once the accumulation container is filled, the accumulation of parcels within the container is released into a third tier, which may include conveyors or autonomous guided vehicles with transport containers. In the third tier, the parcels are transported away for further processing.

Multi-tiered parcel sortation system

A canister is coupled to a delivery vehicle using a rail bracket. The canister comprises a securing channel having a first securing channel volume and a second securing channel volume. A width of the first securing channel volume is less than a width of the second securing channel volume. The rail bracket comprises a rotational shaft having a finger at one end. The rail bracket is inserted into the securing channel, and the rotational shaft is rotated. When rotated, the finger inhibits removal of the rail bracket from the securing channel, thereby providing a mechanism by which the canister can be releasably coupled to the rail bracket. The rail bracket may be provided on a delivery vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to transport the canister and contents within it.

Locking mechanism and container for delivering items

In general, various embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, apparatus, and technologies, and/or the like for generating predicted states of apparatus, equipment, items, and/or the like based at least in part on associated tag-reader modulations such as, for example, a presence of an RFID tag, an absence of an RFID tag, a combination of the two, and/or a metric of one or more reads of an RFID tag.

Detecting equipment state via tag-reader modulations

Loading, securing, transporting, and/or depositing objects as well as systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same, including those that operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a mobile robotic platform is provided. The mobile robotic platform is designed to receive, transport, and deposit objects at desired destinations. In another embodiment, a flat transport surface, e.g., a pallet, is provided. The flat transport surface is designed to facilitate efficient loading, transport, and deposit of objects, e.g., between automated or semi-automated handling systems, in one aspect. In another embodiment, a system for handling objects is provided. The system is designed to support automated or semi-automated loading and/or unloading of objects, e.g., onto or from a mobile robotic platform, and may be implemented in a vehicle, in one aspect.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for loading, securing, transporting, and depositing objects

An intelligent container system is provided that accommodates a variety of sizes and shapes of parcels, and that allows the parcels to be dispensed from the container one at a time, in any order. The container system has an open face, such as the bottom. A first panel cooperates with a second panel to selectively close the open bottom, and to selectively open the bottom below a desired parcel, allowing the parcel to be individually dispensed when desired. The container system has a plurality of dividers that can be moved along the length of the container to create a series of compartments that match the sizes of the parcels within the compartments. A position sensing system is used to determine the location of the dividers, and thus the location of the compartments.

Container to facilitate selective delivery of parcels

A landing gear system that can be used with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) retrieves and releases canisters suitable for delivering items. To do so, the landing gear comprises a first leg and a second leg. The first landing leg and the second landing leg are rotationally engages at a first leg connection end and a second leg connection end. A tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location, biasing the first leg toward the second leg. Each of the first and second legs can include a curved portion. A UAV comprising the landing gear can be lowered over a canister, and the canister is secured in place within the curved portions of the legs. To release, the landing legs are rotated against the bias, which can be facilitated by landing the UAV and placing the rotors into a reverse thrust.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing gear system for holding delivery canisters

A landing system suitable for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). A landing surface is disposed on the AGV, and the landing system comprises a loading channel suitable for passing an object delivered by the UAV through a first loading channel opening in the landing surface. The object passes within the loading channel through to a second loading channel opening at a bottom aspect of the AGV. In this way, a UAV can land on the landing surface, and the AGV positions the object in line with a target delivery location, where the object is delivered. Aspects of the landing system comprise an electromagnet or vacuum chamber for securing the UAV to the landing surface, thereby enhancing stability of the UAV during movement of the landing system.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing systems

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof. Such packages and systems may be used in a logistics network to the increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of processing packages having, at least in part, a non-fixed geometry.

Automated handling and manipulation of packages and packages specially adapted therefor

A pneumatic delivery system is used to facilitate delivery of canisters comprising delivery payloads by unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The pneumatic delivery system comprises a tube having a channel within a tube wall, where a canister is configured to move through the tube. The tube comprises a tube opening and a transfer mechanism proximate the tube opening. The transfer mechanism engages a canister having a payload that is moved within the tube. The transfer mechanism moves the canister through the tube opening by extending from a first transfer position to a second transfer position. At the second transfer position, the transfer mechanism orients the tube and releases it to a UAV for delivery.

Pneumatic delivery system and method for use with unmanned vehicle systems

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects. The systems may be used to unload objects from a storage space, e.g., inside a vehicle or facility, including one associated with a logistics network operation. The systems disclosed herein may operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, e.g., at the direction of a control system associated with a computing device. The systems may further utilize shifter mechanisms that each include one or more belt-driven mechanisms and position-changing mechanisms that facilitate the locating, engaging, and shifting of objects in a storage space. The components of these systems may operate independently, or in coordination, thereby increasing the efficiency of an object-handling operation.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects in automated or semi-automated fashion

Latching mechanisms, storage receptacles with latching mechanisms, and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the latching mechanism includes a first latching element, a second latching element, and a ball-locking mechanism. The ball-locking mechanism allows the first latching element to be releasably secured to the second latching element. The latching mechanism may be integrated with a frame, which may be adjustable, and which may further be integrated with a storage receptacle, e.g., one that has a storage compartment and an opening. The components of the latching mechanism may be shaped, sized, or otherwise configured to enable, and facilitate, automated and/or semi-automated handling and manipulation. The latching mechanisms, storage receptacles, and associated handling systems described herein may be used in a logistics network operation.

Growing community of inventors

Decatur, GA, United States of America

Julian Leland Bell