Drone based delivery system using vehicles

Abstract

A method for determining a route for a drone to deliver a package from an origin to a destination using vehicles that are not actively participating in a delivery of a package; a method for delivering the package from the origin to the destination using the drone in accordance with the route; a method for determining a route for delivering a package from an origin to a destination using drones and vehicles that are not actively participating in a delivery of the package; a method for delivering the package from the origin to the destination using the drones and vehicles in accordance with the route; a vehicle-associated package repository, for retaining packages deposited and collect by a drone, to be transported by a vehicle; and a vehicle-transported container including the vehicle-associated package repository.

1 . A delivery method comprising:
 obtaining a delivery data of a package to be transported by a drone, wherein the delivery data comprises an origin and a destination of the package;   obtaining a schedule of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the schedule comprises a schedule of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles is capable of transporting the drone thereon;   determining, based on the delivery data and the schedule, a route for the drone to deliver the package, wherein the route begins at the origin, wherein the route ends at the destination, wherein the route comprises a plurality of legs, wherein in accordance with the route in a first portion of the plurality of legs the drone is planned to fly, and wherein in each leg of a second portion of the plurality of legs the drone is planned to ride on a different vehicle, wherein at least one leg of the second portion is located within a no-fly zone, wherein the drone is prohibited to fly in the no-fly zone due to regulations, wherein the route is planned so as the drone is planned to ride on a vehicle in the no-fly zone, whereby enabling the drone to pass through the no-fly zone; and   providing the route to the drone, whereby the drone delivers the package while performing the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vehicles of the plurality of vehicles are not actively participating in a delivery of the package, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is performing another task that is independent from the delivery of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the route comprises a first leg, a second leg and a third leg, wherein in accordance with the route the first leg immediately precedes the second leg and the second leg immediately precedes the third leg; wherein in the first leg, the drone is planned to be transported by a first vehicle; wherein in the second leg, the drone is planned to fly from the first vehicle to a second vehicle, wherein in the third leg, the drone is planned to be transported by the second vehicle, wherein the third leg is located in the no-fly zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drone is planned to utilize at least a portion of the plurality of vehicles for charging a power source of the drone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining is further performed based on an initial energy level of a power source of the drone, and based on expected power consumption of the drone at each leg, whereby the route is planned so as to be feasible for the drone in view of energy available to the drone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said determining is further performed based on expected charging of the power source at least one leg of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the delivery data comprises characteristics of the drone, wherein said determining is further based on the characteristics of the drone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the delivery data comprises characteristics of the package, wherein said determining is further based on the characteristics of the package. 
     
     
         9 . A delivery method comprising:
 obtaining a delivery data of a package to be transported by a drone, wherein the delivery data comprises an origin and a destination of the package;   obtaining a schedule of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the plurality of vehicles comprise a first vehicle and a second vehicle;   determining, based on the delivery data and the schedule, a route for the drone to deliver the package, wherein the route begins at the origin, wherein the route ends at the destination, wherein the route comprises at least a first leg, a second leg and a third leg, wherein in accordance with the route the first leg immediately precedes the second leg and the second leg immediately precedes the third leg; wherein in the first leg, the drone is planned to be transported by the first vehicle, wherein in the second leg, the drone is planned to make a stop at a stationary location after flying off from the first vehicle and before flying on to the second vehicle in accordance with the schedule of the second vehicle, whereby the drone waits at the stationary location for the second vehicle to arrive to a location that the drone can fly thereon, wherein in the third leg, the drone is planned to be transported by the second vehicle; and   providing the route to the drone, whereby the drone delivers the package while performing the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A delivery method comprising:
 obtaining a delivery data of a package, wherein the delivery data comprises an origin and a destination of the package;   obtaining a schedule of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the schedule comprises a schedule of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is capable of transporting a package that is deposited and collected autonomously by one or more autonomous drones without intervention of the vehicle or person riding thereon, wherein vehicles of the plurality of vehicles are not actively participating in a delivery of the package, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is performing another task that is independent from the delivery of the package; and   determining, based on the schedule, a route for delivering the package; wherein the route begins at the origin; wherein the route ends at the destination,
 wherein the route comprises a plurality of legs; wherein the plurality of legs comprises a first leg, a second leg and a third leg; wherein in the first leg, the package is planned to be transported by a first drone to a vehicle, 
   wherein in the second leg, the package is planned to be transported on the vehicle, independently of any drone, and   wherein in the third leg, the package is planned to be transported from the vehicle by a second drone.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first drone and the second drone are different drones, wherein each different drone is local to a different area. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the different drones are adapted in capabilities for the different areas. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transporting the package in accordance with the route. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first drone and the second drone are not transported by the vehicle during the second leg. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of legs further comprises a fourth leg and a fifth leg, wherein in the third leg, the package is planned to be transported by the second drone from the vehicle to a second vehicle; wherein in the fourth leg, the package is planned to be transported on the second vehicle, independently of any drone; wherein in the fifth leg, the package is planned to be transported from the second vehicle by a third drone.