US 12,339,673 B2
Package delivery by means of an automated multi-copter UAS/UAV dispatched from a conventional delivery vehicle
Elliot T. Bokeno, Fairfield, OH (US); Thaddeus M. Bort, Jr., Maineville, OH (US); Stephen S. Burns, Maineville, MI (US); Martin Rucidlo, Mason, OH (US); Wei Wei, Mason, OH (US); and Donald L Wires, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to Aero Velocity Inc., Sharonville, OH (US)
Filed by Workhorse Group Inc., Sharonville, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/378,330.
Application 18/378,330 is a continuation of application No. 17/887,721, filed on Aug. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,782,457.
Application 17/887,721 is a continuation of application No. 17/398,139, filed on Aug. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,520,357, issued on Dec. 6, 2022.
Application 17/398,139 is a continuation of application No. 15/915,144, filed on Mar. 8, 2018, granted, now 11,086,338, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 15/915,144 is a continuation of application No. 14/989,870, filed on Jan. 7, 2016, granted, now 9,915,956, issued on Mar. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/101,542, filed on Jan. 9, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0248474 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64U 70/97 (2023.01); B60L 53/53 (2019.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64F 1/36 (2017.01); B64U 70/93 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 10/16 (2023.01); B64U 50/15 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B64U 80/25 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); B64U 101/64 (2023.01)
CPC G05D 1/102 (2013.01) [B60L 53/53 (2019.02); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64F 1/362 (2013.01); B64U 70/93 (2023.01); B64U 70/97 (2023.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.02); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B60L 2200/36 (2013.01); B60L 2240/622 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 10/16 (2023.01); B64U 50/15 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B64U 80/25 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B64U 2101/64 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01); B64U 2201/104 (2023.01); Y02T 10/7072 (2013.01); Y02T 10/72 (2013.01); Y02T 90/14 (2013.01); Y02T 90/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to automatically manage an operation of a plurality of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as the plurality of UAS/UAVs operate in tandem with a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of UAS/UAV control systems, each UAS/UAV control system configured to:
guide each corresponding UAS/UAV from a current location of a vehicle that each UAS/UAV is positioned to a plurality of destination locations that each UAS/UAV travels to observe, wherein the current location of the vehicle differs from each of the destination locations that each UAS/UAV is instructed to travel,
return each UAS/UAV to a current location that the vehicle is positioned based on the current location of the vehicle and the destination location data of each corresponding destination location that each UAS/UAV is instructed to travel to observe, wherein the current location of the vehicle that each UAS/UAV initially launched from the vehicle differs from each corresponding destination location that each UAS/UAV travels to observe, and
dock each UAS/UAV with the vehicle at the current location of the vehicle.