US 10,120,383 B2 · Systems and methods to deter theft of commercial products

Abstract

In some embodiments, autonomous product delivery systems and methods are provided herein useful to deter theft of commercial products via an autonomous ground vehicle (“AGV”). In some embodiments, systems are provided to deter theft of commercial products, and may comprise: an AGV configured to transport commercial products to delivery locations that includes control circuits, which are communicatively coupled to sensors, container storage areas housing commercial products for delivery, defensive elements positioned proximate to the commercial products and configured to physical alter the commercial products and render them unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. The control circuits can determine the presence of unknown third parties positioned next to the AGV and, in response thereto, determine occurrences of adverse events associated with the AGV. Some embodiments, in response to determining the occurrence of adverse events, the control circuits can activate the defensive elements to physically alter the one or more commercial products.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An autonomous product delivery system to deter theft of commercial products, comprising:

an autonomous ground vehicle (“AGV”) on a commercial product delivery route and configured to transport a commercial product to a delivery location comprising:
a control circuit;
a container storage area communicatively coupled to the control circuit and housing therein one or more commercial products for delivery;
a sensor communicatively coupled to the control circuit and configured to transmit sensor data to the control circuit;
a defensive element communicatively coupled to the control circuit, positioned proximate to the one or more commercial products, and configured to physically alter the one or more commercial products and thereby render the one or more commercial products unsatisfactory for their intended purpose;
and
the control circuit configured to:
determine, using the sensor data, a presence of an unknown third party positioned within a threshold distance relative to the AGV;
determine, using the sensor data, an occurrence of an adverse event associated with the AGV when the presence of the unknown third party is determined;
and
activate the defensive element when the occurrence of the adverse event is determined to physically alter the one or more commercial products.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods to deter theft of commercial products

Life of this patent

Systems and methods to deter theft of commercial products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19