System and method for generating a delivery plan for multi-tier delivery schemes

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• generating a delivery plan for a region including multiple delivery locations, wherein the delivery plan comprises:
• an expected vehicle travel route of a vehicle conveying shipments within the region;
• and
• at least one agent delivery route within the region, wherein the agent delivery route includes at least one shipment acquisition location coinciding with the expected vehicle travel route, wherein said agent delivery route is distinct from the expected travel route of the vehicle, and wherein said agent delivery route is to be traversed by a robotic agent that is to deliver a specific group of shipments acquired from the vehicle at said shipment acquisition location;
• wherein generating the delivery plan includes generating a delivery plan that specifies that the robotic agent is to traverse at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• selecting the specific group of shipments for delivery on a segment of said agent delivery route, wherein said selecting is based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• historical delivery time information for previous deliveries to the multiple delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route;
• and
• transmitting one or more instructions associated with the generated delivery plan to the robotic agent via network communication over one or more networks, wherein the one or more instructions direct the robotic agent to traverse the at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• calculating, based on a robotic agent rendezvous time at the vehicle and one or more delivery times at points of delivery along the agent delivery route obtained from the robotic agent, delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• for a next delivery plan:
• selecting a subsequent group of shipments for delivery on the segment of said agent delivery route based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the subsequent group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• the calculated delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• and
• transmitting instructions, via network communication over one or more networks to the robotic agent, that direct the robotic agent to traverse the agent delivery route to deliver the subsequently-selected group of shipments while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route.

A system, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory, wherein the memory comprises program instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
• generate a delivery plan for a region including multiple delivery locations, wherein the delivery plan comprises:
• an expected vehicle travel route of a vehicle conveying shipments within the region;
• and
• at least one agent delivery route within the region, wherein the agent delivery route includes at least one shipment acquisition location coinciding with the expected vehicle travel route, wherein said agent delivery route is distinct from the expected travel route of the vehicle, and wherein said agent delivery route is to be traversed by a robotic agent that is to deliver a specific group of shipments acquired from the vehicle at said shipment acquisition location;
• wherein to generate the delivery plan for the region, the program instructions are executable to generate a delivery plan that specifies that the robotic agent is to traverse at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• wherein to select the specific group of shipments for delivery on a segment of said agent delivery route, the program instructions are executable to select that group based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• historical delivery time information for previous deliveries to the delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route;
• transmit one or more instructions associated with the generated delivery plan to the robotic agent via network communication over one or more networks, wherein the one or more instructions direct the robotic agent to traverse the at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• calculate, based on a robotic agent rendezvous time at the vehicle and one or more delivery times at points of delivery along the agent delivery route obtained from the robotic agent, delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• for a next delivery plan:
• select a subsequent group of shipments for delivery on the segment of said agent delivery route based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the subsequent group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• the calculated delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• and
• transmit one or more instructions, via network communication over one or more networks to the robotic agent, that direct the robotic agent to traverse the agent delivery route to deliver the sub sequently-selected group of shipments while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions computer-executable on a computer to:

• generate a delivery plan for a region including multiple delivery locations, wherein the delivery plan comprises:
• an expected vehicle travel route of a vehicle conveying shipments within the region;
• and
• at least one agent delivery route within the region, wherein the agent delivery route includes at least one shipment acquisition location coinciding with the expected vehicle travel route, wherein said agent delivery route is distinct from the expected travel route of the vehicle, and wherein said agent delivery route is to be traversed by a robotic agent that is to deliver a specific group of shipments acquired from the vehicle at said shipment acquisition location;
• wherein to generate the delivery plan the instructions are executable to generate a delivery plan that specifies that the robotic agent is to traverse at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• wherein to select the specific group of shipments for delivery on a segment of said agent delivery route, the program instructions are executable to select that group based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• historical delivery time information for previous deliveries to the delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route;
• transmit one or more instructions associated with the generated delivery plan to the robotic agent via network communication over one or more networks, wherein the one or more instructions direct the robotic agent to traverse the at least a portion of the specified agent delivery route while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route;
• calculate, based on a robotic agent rendezvous time at the vehicle and one or more delivery times at points of delivery along the agent delivery route obtained from the robotic agent, delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• for a next delivery plan:
• select a subsequent group of shipments for delivery on the segment of said agent delivery route based on:
• a time constraint for delivering the subsequent group of shipments to respective delivery locations along said segment of the agent delivery route, and
• the calculated delivery time information associated with the agent delivery route;
• and
• transmit one or more instructions, via network communication over one or more networks to the robotic agent, that direct the robotic agent to traverse the agent delivery route to deliver the subsequently-selected group of shipments while the vehicle traverses at least a portion of the specified expected vehicle travel route.