US 12,110,198 B2
Retractable table tower for UAV package delivery
Donald R. High, Noel, MO (US); Robert Cantrell, Herndon, VA (US); and Brian McHale, Oldham (GB)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Jan. 29, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/260,683.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/624,685, filed on Jan. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0236521 A1, Aug. 1, 2019
Int. Cl. B65G 67/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); G06Q 10/083 (2023.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01)
CPC B65G 67/00 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/12 (2013.01); G06Q 10/083 (2013.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.02); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B65G 2814/0398 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A delivery tower for receiving a package from an aerial vehicle, the delivery tower comprising:
a table top externally coupled to a base including telescoping members, the table top externally coupled to the base via the telescoping members;
wheels and a drive motor for moving the delivery tower from a first location to a second location, the second location including an open space; and
a controller and communications module operably coupled to the base;
wherein the table top is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position with extension of the telescoping members,
wherein:
in the retracted position, the table top of the delivery tower is at a first height and configured to operate as an outdoor table, and
in the extended position, the table top of the delivery tower is at a second height, greater than the first height, and configured to receive a package from an aerial vehicle, wherein the second height is a variable height based on a signal provided by the aerial vehicle or a consumer that includes one or more parameters including a size and a weight of the package, and
wherein the delivery tower is configured to communicate with the aerial vehicle or the consumer and is further configured to:
after receipt of a signal from the aerial vehicle or the consumer, (i) drive into the second location and (ii) automatically move between the retracted position and the extended position, and
provide another signal to the aerial vehicle indicating that the delivery tower is in the second extended position for delivery of the package.