US 11,807,367 B2
Multiple hoist delivery system for delivering parcels using unmanned aerial vehicles
John Pass, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/108,613.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/942,493, filed on Dec. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0253251 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 1/22 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/12 (2013.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. A system of for delivery of multiple parcels to multiple locations, the system comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a securing area and a flight controller; and
a multiple hoist system comprising:
a body releasably coupled to the UAV at the securing area, and
at least two hoists attached to the body, each of the at least two hoists being operable to independently extend a first line from a first hoist and a second line from a second hoist,
wherein the flight controller has one or more processors configured to:
navigate the UAV to a first delivery location;
command the first hoist to lower the first line downward to the first delivery location from an altitude above the first delivery location;
navigate the UAV away from the first delivery location to a second delivery location;
command the second hoist to lower the second line downward to the second delivery location from an altitude above the second delivery location; and
navigate the UAV away from the second delivery location.