Package acceptance, guidance, and refuel system for drone technology

Abstract

Some embodiments described herein relate to a drone landing platform. One or more sensors coupled to the drone landing platform can detect local conditions in the vicinity of the drone landing platform. A communications system can be operable to transmit information related local conditions to a drone.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a drone landing platform;   a sensor coupled to the drone landing platform and configured to detect a condition in a vicinity of the drone landing platform; and   a communication system configured to transmit an indication of the condition to a drone.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory configured to:
 apply a machine learning task to data collected from the sensor, the machine learning task operable to identify patterns of activity in a vicinity of the drone landing platform, the machine learning task configured to recognize a transient hazard in the vicinity of the drone landing platform based on the transient hazard deviating from patterns of activity; and   send a signal to the communication system to cause the communication system to transmit a warning of the transient hazard to the drone.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a package storage receptacle configured to receive a package from the drone when the drone has landed on the drone landing platform. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a charging module configured to provide energy to the drone when the drone has landed on the drone landing platform. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor is configured to detect a hazard; and   the communication system is configured to send a signal to alert the drone to the hazard.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor is configured to detect a hazard while the drone is on the drone landing platform; and   the communication system is configured to send a signal inviting the drone to remain on the drone landing platform while the hazard is present.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a drone landing platform;   a package storage receptacle configured to receive a package from a drone located on the drone landing platform;   a verification system configured to identify a user and provide access to the package upon identifying the user;   a sensor configured to detect transient hazards in a vicinity of the drone landing platform; and   a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of a transient hazard.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a processor operably coupled to the sensor and the transmitter, the processor configured to analyze patterns of transient hazards to predict future hazards, the processor configured to cause the sensor to transmit an alert of a predicted future hazard.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a processor configured to calculate a flight path for the drone and cause the transmitter to transmit the flight path to the drone.   
     
     
         11 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a conveyor configured to move the package from the drone landing platform into the package storage receptacle.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a package verification system configured to capture an image of the package and transmit the image of the package to the user. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a package verification system configured to:
 capture an image of the package;   transmit the image of the package to the user; and   receive an indication of acceptance of the package from the user.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a drone, a request to deliver a package, the request including an indication of a recipient of the package;   sending, to the drone, an indication of a local condition detected via a sensor coupled to a drone landing platform; and   directing the drone to land on the drone landing platform such that the drone travels to the drone landing platform based, at least in part, on the indication of the local condition.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the drone landing platform is a first drone landing platform from a plurality of drone landing platforms;   the sensor is a first sensor, each drone landing platform from the plurality of drone landing platforms including at least one sensor from a plurality of sensors; and   receiving the request to deliver the package includes receiving a request to deliver the package to a second drone landing platform, the method further comprising:   receiving from the plurality of sensors, indications of conditions local to each drone landing platform from the plurality of landing platforms;   applying a machine learning task to data collected from the plurality of sensors, the machine learning task operable to identify typical and hazardous configurations;   determining, using the machine learning task, that a hazardous configuration exists in a vicinity of the second drone landing platform from the plurality of drone landing platforms, the drone directed to land on the first drone landing platform based on the determination of the hazardous condition in the vicinity of the second drone landing platform.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sending an approach path to the drone;   receiving, from the drone, a rejection of the approach path; and   sending, to the drone a modified approach path based on receiving the rejection of the approach path.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drone landing platform is a first drone landing platform, the method further comprising:
 sending an approach path for the drone to land at a second drone landing platform; and   receiving, from the drone, a rejection of the approach path, the drone directed to land on the first drone landing platform based on the rejection of the approach path.   
     
     
         21 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sending, to the drone, a flight path for the drone to follow to land on the drone landing platform;   receiving, from the drone and in response to sending the flight path information, a modified flight path; and   sending, to the drone an acceptance of the modified flight path such that the drone follows the modified flight path and lands on the drone landing platform.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the package from the drone; and   transferring the package to a storage receptacle.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the package from the drone;   transferring the package to a package storage receptacle;   receiving an indication that the recipient is present at the drone landing platform; and   providing the recipient access to the package storage receptacle.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drone is a first drone, the method further comprising:
 receiving, from a second drone, a request to pick-up the package;   directing the second drone to land on the drone landing platform;   providing the package to the second drone; and   sending the second drone a flight path to a destination of the package.