US 11,935,347 B1
Security and safety configurations for drone delivery
Ashley Raine Philbrick, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to United Services Automobile Association (USAA), San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by UIPCO, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,460.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/168,497, filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Int. Cl. G07C 9/23 (2020.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01); A61L 2/24 (2006.01); A61L 2/28 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01); G06V 10/70 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01)
CPC G07C 9/23 (2020.01) [A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2/24 (2013.01); A61L 2/28 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); G05D 1/104 (2013.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08355 (2013.01); G06V 10/70 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G07C 9/00896 (2013.01); A61L 2202/122 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01); A61L 2202/16 (2013.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); G07C 2009/0092 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for delivering community items via a drone equipped with a secured container comprising a locking mechanism and one or more ultraviolet (UV) disinfecting lights, the method comprising:
receiving delivery information for one or more items;
obtaining transportation parameters, for the one or more items, specifying: a first route to a pickup location;
a second route from the pickup location to a drop-off location;
security procedures to employ at the drop-off location including an indication of an access code for the locking mechanism; and
a disinfectant schedule for the one or more items that is based on a mapping of A) UV illumination intensities and durations to B) one or more categories assigned to the one or more items and one or more surface materials of the one or more items;
using the first route to travel to the pickup location and unlocking the locking mechanism of the secured container in response to arriving at the pickup location, wherein the secured container receives the one or more items at the pickup location;
using the second route to transport the one or more items to a delivery location while engaging the one or more UV disinfecting lights according to the disinfectant schedule; and
upon arriving at the delivery location, executing the security procedures by: performing an authentication at the delivery location based on receiving the access code indicated in the security procedures; and
in response to the authenticating, unlocking the locking mechanism of the secured container.