Patent Application
20230296361
The present invention relates to a ballistic, point to point transportation mechanism and system comprised of processing, inspection and transportation stations for delivery and preparation of various goods. The system maintains several methods that are existing elements of the current marketplace, as well as novel features. Present transportation systems rely heavily on distribution centers, cars, trucks and planes, and in turn, an array of other factors, such as the glacial pace of long-distance delivery with limited capabilities. Other issues associated with the prior art include immense environmental impacts in contemporary transportation methodologies which produce significant carbon emissions, and even sound pollution which disrupt ecosystems. More recently, drones have been utilized for efficient point to point delivery systems but are often limited in terms of the distance required for delivery and desired speed for desired delivery requirements. Indeed, in remote regions of the world, there exists a need for delivery on a same day or overnight basis, between points separated by several hundred miles.
Congested highways and waterways, delayed deliveries, and investments on expensive road infrastructure have all proven to be costly and inefficient as mediums of transportation. The present invention seeks to remedy the problems associated with end-to-end delivery, among other issues. Because these deliveries are often road bound, there are obstacles such as speed limits, closures and accidents that interfere with the urgency of certain deliveries. A federal study concluded that road damage from an 18-wheeler vehicle is equivalent to the impact of 9,600 cars and causes more wear and tear than tractor trailers. Trucks with heavier loads damage state and local roads that are not built with the impact of their weight in mind, as this model generates traffic on non-arterial rural roads by 16%. In that same study, approximately 22% of all loaded tractor-trailers exceed state weight limits, and the percentage only rises for other types of trucks. Federal weight limits are often combative against state regulations, which adds to the cumbersome organizational structure of the delivery method. In other words, there exists a need to send materials from point to point without reliance on a pre-constructed way of passage, such as roads, tunnels, bridges and the like.
Last mile deliveries, which feature the movement of goods through traditional travel methods, have continued to create logistical complications. The present invention seeks to remedy these issues with the novel approach of discharging goods or services or a combination thereof to people door to door, with the use of projectile artillery, modified transportation shelling, torpedoes, and fitting shells that employ scramjet and ramjet design technology.
In addition, the prior art is often categorized by mode of transportation: drones are drones for relatively short range air; helicopters are helicopters; cars are cars for roadways, etc. Intermodal systems do exist (train or rail to plane; maritime shipping containers to air or land or rail; trucks to air, etc.), but, so far, no intermodal transportation or delivery system has been taught whereby ballistic (using a missile projectile) point to point transit is provided with a smooth hand-off from and to localized transportation, such as to a drone or hand delivery mechanism or land or sea based autonomous vehicle system. In other words, often, the inefficiency of the originating transportation mode (e.g., land courier) is inefficiently adopted to the end destination, resulting in roadway congestion and other undesired effects and delivery chaos. The prior art does have some suggestion of the use of drones for point to point delivery, but the present invention uses a ballistic missile to cover various desired distances, and to seamlessly interface with both supplying the ballistic transport and off-loading the ballistic transport, so that the ballistic segment is used in optimal proximity with other modes of transport to and from the ballistic link. Moreover, nowhere in the prior art has such an arrangement been taught in connection with a carrier or smart carrier, which encapsulates the payload of interest, which can be virtually any type of payload, from valuable to toxic or dangerous, to precious or non-fungible, to invaluable. In all cases, the user of the present invention would want to track the payload, insure that the payload is not compromised (over shock, out of temperature ranges, tampered with during the transport, and so forth), so that a safe and efficient and timely delivery of a payload is insured. There exists a need as well for supervised delivery systems that incorporate a ballistic missile projectile in at least one leg of the overall system, whereby valuable payloads (including cash) may be transported from a sender to an intended recipient, in a manner where the payload is encapsulated within a missile for example, or alternatively, encapsulated within a carrier or smart carrier within a missile for at least part of the transportation journey, to improve delivery times and overall efficiency and payload integrity and security.
The present invention relates to a mechanized system for delivery, preparation and the transportation of goods, services and people to various locations using at least one artillery or ballistic projectile link or missile in the delivery process. There are several examples of this mechanized system in use, and they require modifications to traditional military grade equipment in order to optimize the process in order to ensure both safety and promptness. In one example, preparation and delivery of goods and services can be organized from a hospital, pharmacies, lab, or any central supply locality to other locations, such as specific units in the hospital, and even residential neighborhoods. The process utilizes several steps, such as, the preparation of goods, the ways in which goods are assembled, optionally through automated means, which utilize robot devices that carry and transport, for example, carriers or smart carriers within a facility setting or manned means, wherein loading is executed by an individual tending to each launch station and then discharged. Smart carriers (or carriers in general) for containing payloads of interest come in an extensive variety of shapes and sizes in order to accommodate the physical characteristics of the system in use. They are used to transport a multitude of articles, by way of example and not by way of limitation, such as cash, electronic data, medical samples, pharmaceutical supplies, stock transactions, letters, and cryptographic materials. These carriers, which can be situated in a broad range of caverns in a cylindrically compatible missile, which upon modification, creates a cavernous location to store the goods. In order for these carriers to fix themselves within their transportation encasements, they must be closed and sealed entirely. To affirm, each of these carriers are to be fashioned with security measures, by way of example and not by way of limitation, lock or pass codes, QR codes, cryptographic codes, decryption requirements, facial recognition software, or other locking mechanisms that are only active upon specified authorized parties retrieving their item. The carriers are particularly important to the present invention, in that the carrier may have its own telemetry port for providing status and control to the outside world. For example, if the payload within a carrier is particularly valuable, the carrier should employ security measures or alarms or silent alarms. Also, if a point of sale payment system is combined with the present invention, the carrier needs to be capable of reading and transmitting its environment, including by imaging, sound gathering and the like. In other words, the smart carrier according to the present invention may be brought to a ballistic missile launch pad by a robot or drone; “launched” via a ballistic missile many miles away; received at a ballistic missile receiving pad; and then loaded to a local delivery service (courier, human, drone, etc.). But, at each point, the carrier may record and store where it has been, temperature, security parameters, access attempts, and any volume of information to insure that the payload has been safe, not tampered with, if toxic contained safely without detectable leakage, and be able to keep the payload safe, isolated and secure, so that point to point payload integrity is insured, by way of a smart carrier and its carriage upon a ballistic missile during the desired point to point transfer.
These systems and methods consist of several steps, which involve queuing and inputting and requesting good and service on to some type of app or communication device, such as a mobile device, preparing the product, inspecting the product, loading the product, and then a final transportation step, which involves launching the carrier with the product for delivery. The invention utilizes a robotics handler for handling carrier as desired, for insertion into a missile or receipt from a missile, interfacing with other modes of transportation. The overall transportation system according to the present invention must transport carrier payloads with the utmost safety, use of projectile technology, and security measures to ensure the safe departure and arrival of goods and services. In places such as hospitals, certain necessities need to be prepared habitually. An automated system in conjunction with the mechanized system will aid in the simplification of manual operations, all while maintaining speed and efficiency.
The present invention also bypasses the issue of congested roads and speed limits by avoiding them entirely, all while using military grade artillery and modifications to transportation shells and delivery drones, in an effort to ameliorate the process and transportation standards. These systems and methods also cause significantly less environmental damage that is caused by carbon emissions from trucks, which may also run into the issue of overwhelming infrastructure due to weight restrictions. In remote regions of the world, through the use of the present invention, many hundreds of miles, for example, may be traversed without the need for scheduled air service or even the use of an airport. Instead, a drone can take a carrier or smart carrier from a sender (the carrier contains the payload of interest), and then the payload within the carrier (and if a smart carrier, the payload is monitored at all times (open/close, shock, vibration, temperature range, audio transcript, video surveillance, point of sale data, etc.) and able to provide GPS data as to position autonomously, and able to communicate with all the associated handling systems according to the present invention), and deliver the payload to a receiver desired by the sender, whereby the carrier containing the payload may be handled any number of times. By way of example, the payload and carrier may be inserted into a carrier holder of a drone, passed off to a ballistic shell to contain the carrier and then handed off to other missiles or projectiles or drones, until the ultimate destination is reached. The recipient of the payload not only receives the payload but receives tracking data as to the position and environment of the payload, to insure its quality and integrity upon receipt.
Furthermore, deliveries that are both prompt and reliable (e.g., safe) are essential to the daily operations of multiple facilities, with a hospital or medical environment being exemplary. Traditional delivery methods, such as cars, trucks, and planes are becoming outmoded due to their negative environmental impacts, such as pollution, that overwhelm the atmosphere with emissions. The present invention seeks to transfigure the process by producing both a speedier, and more streamlined system with the use of carriers or smart carriers, and modified transportation shells for projectile deliveries, and in some embodiments, torpedoes. The present invention is an ecosystem for an end-to-end transport that delivers various goods door to door. These systems and methods account for optimizing the transportation industry. The primary fixture for this ecosystem implements projectile artillery, such as large range military artillery, mortars, howitzers and torpedo units that yield carriers and containments for goods.
The system comprises various encasements dependent on the type of transportation artillery used. In one embodiment, the method of transportation is a modified 155 mm shell. The modified transportation shell, which can vary in size, can be acted upon by a pusher plate, and an electronic time sensor. The transportation shell or carrier is then fixed on to a moveable apparatus and a projectile cannon thereafter. The cannon is, in essence, any large tubular firearm that has the ability to launch projectiles over a large distance, with the added modification of using reinforced material that has a greater ability to withstand supersonic velocity and an extended shell range. The way in which a shell range can be extended is by increasing the muzzle velocity, which results in the projectile coming out of the apparatus faster, and therefore farther before drag and gravity brings it down. Another way in which the range can be modified is by adding lift surfaces, such as wings and fins to the shell for a more aerodynamic model. With more lift generated, the projectile can fly for even longer. Lastly, adding a post launch propulsion, or a ramjet, can greatly help in thrusting the projectile. Shock absorbing material is also an essential component in protecting the product and is a crucial implementation in ensuring safety. These modifications all allow the ballistic projectile apparatus to withstand more. In addition, any carrier or smart carrier contained within an artillery shell according to the present invention may possess its own shock sensor, so that the condition of the payload may be monitored at all times.
The present invention relates to a mechanized system for delivery, preparation and the transportation of goods, services and people to various locations using military artillery. The mechanisms include an ecosystem for an end-to-end transport that delivers various goods and services door to door. These system and methods account for optimizing the transportation industry. The primary fixture for this ecosystem implements projectile artillery, such as large range military artillery, mortars, howitzers and torpedo units that yield carriers or smart carriers and containments for goods and services.
The system comprises an input queue, a dispensing figure and apparatus consisting of a robotic device, a plurality of separate stations in which the robotic device executes its mechanisms, an inspection station, and a loading station. The plurality of stations aids in the transportation of goods and services. A digital, or computer interface enables bi-directional communication between the analytical instruments of the operation, computers, robots, and the subsequent peripheral devices. The robotic and automated functions are responsive to predefined computer demands and are capable of performing functions, such as selection and retrieval in order to obtain what is contained for departure. The contents of the carrier or smart vary depending on the industry, distributor or manufacturer, associated of course with the user of the transportation system according to the present invention. Different information may also be required and disclosed, such as name, item characteristics, precise location, label instruction and notes, among other things, which are dependent on the industry, distributor or manufacturer.
Barcodes, QR codes, and or blockchain technology could be used to provide any of the above-mentioned information upon scanning, or retrieval, therefore enabling the control system database to be scoured to determine the status of any product at any time during both preparation and transportation. Furthermore, the system may enable manual requests, which allows cleared people to input this data at any plurality of computer terminals within a hospital, institution, warehouse, business, etc.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical shells, or transportation shells, which may be a modified shell of varying size, contains a Discarding Rotating Band (DRB), a base plug, a carrier transportation, a pusher plate, and an electronic time sensor. The transportation shell or carrier is then fixed on to a moveable apparatus and a projectile cannon thereafter for the delivery process. The cannon is a tubular firearm that has the ability to launch projectiles over a large distance, with added modifications to further ruggedize the technology, in order for it to withstand supersonic velocity. The transportation shell or carrier employs ramjet technology to extend their range by way of increasing muzzle velocity, adding lift surfaces such as wings and fins to the shell for a more aerodynamic effect, and by adding the ramjet, which is a post launch propulsion that can help trust the projectile. The projectiles also have shock absorbing material in order to ensure strength and safety throughout the journey to its destination. The above technology will allow for the transportation of goods, up to 50 kilograms, over 100 kilometers expeditiously, and in various types of cannons, which could discharge goods to distances up to 1000 miles, when factors such as projectile weight, length, velocity, pressure, charge and propellant type and weight are taken into consideration.
In one embodiment, a 138 mm bullet casing can be used to transport highly secure messages. With decryption becoming more viable, a higher rate of encryption can be achieved with the present technology's system and methods. In one example, a USB thumb drive with data can be encased within a stationed sniper rifles .50 caliber bullet, which are traditionally 138 mm and 5.45 inches in length. In another, cryptographic materials may be stored within the bullet's casing, in an effort to maintain maximum security.
The architecture of the invention also considers a distance between two drop off stations, with the assistance of drone technology to manage the transport in one embodiment. The distance between these stations may be 50 kilometers to 100 kilometers. At each station, the transportation shell, which transports a carrier, is loaded into a cannon or any ballistic projectile apparatus and subsequently launched to several stations until it is in proximity to the final destination.
In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes torpedoes in order to transfer and move goods throughout bodies of water. In some examples, there can be human torpedo transportation. In others, there are transportation torpedoes that discharge goods through various ports and stations in bodies of water. The shell or cannister in this example utilizes a cavitating appendage, which ejects gas throughout the torpedo's nose. In the same embodiment, there are detection and homing electronics to ensure that the torpedo remains on target. The invention utilizes a cavity piercing control fin in order to steer the missile and a storage tank for bubble-generating gas. The rocket motor of the torpedo allows it to accelerate up to 230 miles per hour, ensuring the quick transport of goods.
In another example, the transportation shell or carrier is modified to convert into a drone with expandable rotors that push the air down for propulsion and control. The modified rotors allow the shell to deploy in midair, emulating a drone landing. These modifications allow the transported goods to enable extended flights and withstand significantly heavier loads. These drone devices meet at various stations that are multiple kilometers in distance, which are then subject to movement to other destinations, depending on the variable of stations present. These goods can then be transported to, in some examples, a residential area.
In yet another embodiment, the casing may be housed within other forms of military grade equipment, such as military tanks, mortars, howitzers and other robust artillery. The container can be safely projected up to 40 km using new and improved launch technology, such as modified transportation shells—and in some examples be reused once emptied. Accordingly, it is clear why the present invention has distinct advantages over the prior art. The use of ballistic missile or projectile technology, in combination with more traditional transport means, accomplishes the goal of potentially covering thousands of miles within a transport system. Indeed, even re-entry technology may be employed whereby the projectile is fired into near orbital regions for capture far afield upon the surface of the earth. In addition, launch to and from submersible areas is contemplated for maritime operations, and of course, launch reaching escape velocity is possible for transport off of the earth.
According to the invention, the system will utilize a robotics section and a dispensing fixture or apparatus in order to prepare and transport products with utmost safety through the use of projectile technology. In some embodiments, security measures, by way of example and not by way of limitation, such as blockchain and cryptographic technology may be employed. The ecosystem uses both novel concepts, such as the modified transportation shells with ramjet technology that ruggedize the mechanics, modified drone technology for the safe departure and landing of goods, and an allover more streamlined process for facilities that need to deliver goods with more urgency, and therefore bypassing conventional methods that may delay delivery. Concepts that are currently in the marketplace, such as automated processing of goods and services through mobile or electronic devices, are utilized in the mechanics of the system. Robotic devices that have the ability to grip and apportion goods to stations may be utilized in the present invention, through drop and transportation stations that are either on land or in bodies of water.
The carriers or transportation shells may have watertight and airtight properties to assure that contents of these carriers do not escape outside and become uncontrollable. In the event that this happens, as mentioned prior, the indicator will inform handlers and activate a warning, either in the form of a digital output, a locking method wherein only certain individuals are privy to clearing out the carrier. In other words, the carrier remains locked because a potentially hazardous condition exists within the interior of the carrier, and accordingly, the carrier remains locked until suitable preparations may be made for cleaning or clearing out the payload.
When smart carriers are used, a lock may be employed for any reason to secure the payload within the carrier, whereby the carrier remains locked and secures the payload, but, when the intended recipient receives the smart carrier containing the payload of interest, the recipient, under appropriate circumstances, may be able to access the payload. For example, if the payload is actual cash or marketable securities, then the smart carrier will remain locked until only an authorized recipient may utilize or present biometric means to verify the identity and gain access to the payload or value. Through the use of this embodiment, a sender may actually send cash or other marketable securities to a recipient without relying on an electronic wire transfer. In another embodiment, the payload may require payment prior to it being accessed within the smart carrier. That is, the recipient needs to “pay for” the payload, for example, by way of a smartphone, at which point the sender criteria for payment may be met, payment tendered, and then the smart carrier changes to an “unlock” state so the recipient may retrieve the intended payload. In addition, the any carrier may be fitted with GPS and smart tags so that they may be tracked and kept track of, and perhaps a deposit may be received for carriers returned to the system (akin to soft drink bottle deposit returns).
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.
The various embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
In one embodiment, each transaction (or a block of transactions) is incorporated, confirmed, verified, included, or otherwise validated into the blockchain via a consensus protocol. Consensus is a dynamic method of reaching agreement regarding any transaction that occurs in a decentralized system. In one embodiment, a distributed hierarchical registry is provided for device discovery and communication. The distributed hierarchical registry comprises a plurality of registry groups at a first level of the hierarchical registry, each registry group comprising a plurality of registry servers. The plurality of registry servers in a registry group provide services comprising receiving client update information from client devices, and responding to client lookup requests from client devices. The plurality of registry servers in each of the plurality of registry groups provide the services using, at least in part, a quorum consensus protocol.
As another example, a method is provided for device discovery and communication using a distributed hierarchical registry. The method comprises broadcasting a request to identify a registry server, receiving a response from a registry server, and sending client update information to the registry server. The registry server is part of a registry group of the distributed hierarchical registry, and the registry group comprises a plurality of registry servers. The registry server updates other registry servers of the registry group with the client update information using, at least in part, a quorum consensus protocol.
While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that may be included in the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features may be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations may be implemented to implement the desired features of the technology disclosed herein. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein may be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
Although the disclosed technology is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead may be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed technology, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the technology disclosed herein should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
