The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 15, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 22, 2016
Google Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Leila Takayama, Mountain View, CA (US);
Matthew Ball, Mountain View, CA (US);
Joanna Cohen, Mountain View, CA (US);
Roger William Graves, San Francisco, CA (US);
Mathias Samuel Fleck, Milpitas, CA (US);
Andrew Lambert, Mountain View, CA (US);
James Ryan Burgess, Redwood City, CA (US);
Paul Richard Komarek, San Jose, CA (US);
Trevor Shannon, Menlo Park, CA (US);
X Development LLC, Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.