Temperature controlled payload container

Abstract

A thermally controlled payload container for carrying payloads by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) comprising an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall forms a chamber having an open end and a closed end. The payload container also comprises a thermal control body adjacent to the inner wall and disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. The payload container also comprises a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) extending through the outer wall from a first side of the TEC to a second side of the TEC, the first side adjacent the thermal control body and the second side coupled to an external heat sink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A payload container for carrying loads, the payload container comprising:
 an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall forming a chamber having an open end and a closed end;   a heat sink positioned on the outer wall;   a thermal control body extending from the inner wall and disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and   a thermal electric cooler (TEC) extending from a first side of the TEC to a second side of the TEC, the first side of the TEC adjacent to the inner wall and the second side of the TEC coupled to the heat sink.   
     
     
         2 . The payload container of  claim 1 , wherein an internal void between the inner wall and the outer wall comprises a vacuum. 
     
     
         3 . The payload container of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises a series of extensions extending from the closed end to the open end. 
     
     
         4 . The payload container of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the outer wall comprises a reflective material. 
     
     
         5 . The payload container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall comprises a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body. 
     
     
         6 . The payload container of  claim 1 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body is from about 0.004 to about 0.020 W/m·K. 
     
     
         7 . The payload container  claim 1 , wherein an internal void disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         8 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
 a payload container for carrying loads by the UAV, the payload container comprising:
 an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall forming a chamber having an open end and a closed end; 
 a heat sink positioned on the outer wall; 
 a thermal control body extending from the inner wall and disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and 
 a thermal electric cooler (TEC) extending from a first side of the TEC to a second side of the TEC, the first side of the TEC adjacent to the inner wall and the second side of the TEC coupled to the heat sink. 
   
     
     
         9 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein an internal void of the payload container between the inner wall and the outer wall comprises a vacuum. 
     
     
         10 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein the heat sink comprises a series of extensions extending from the closed end to the open end. 
     
     
         11 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein an outer surface of the outer wall comprises a reflective material. 
     
     
         12 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein the outer wall comprises a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body. 
     
     
         13 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body is from about 0.004 to about 0.020 W/m·K. 
     
     
         14 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein an internal void between the inner wall and the outer wall is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         15 . A method of temperature controlled delivery, the method comprising:
 navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a first location to a second location, the UAV having a payload container coupled thereto, the payload container comprising:
 an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall forming a chamber having an open end and a closed end; 
 a heat sink positioned on the outer wall; 
 a thermal control body extending from the inner wall and disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and 
 a thermal electric cooler (TEC) extending from a first side of the TEC to a second side of the TEC, the first side of the TEC adjacent to the inner wall and the second side of the TEC coupled to the heat sink; 
   at the second location, securing a payload within the payload container; and   navigating the UAV having the payload within the payload container away from the second location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the payload container further comprises an internal void between the inner wall and the outer wall, and wherein the internal void comprises a vacuum. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat sink comprises a series of extensions extending from the closed end to the open end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an outer surface of the outer wall comprises a reflective material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outer wall comprises a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the thermal control body is from about 0.004 W/m·K to about 0.020 W/m·K.