System and method for intermodal materials delivery

An at least partially autonomous parcel carrier, comprising:

• a carrier body configured to:
• receive at least one parcel to be delivered from an origin zone to a destination zone and along a pre-determined delivery path, and
• ride within, autonomously move around within, and removably dock within a mass transit vehicle to thereby enable the carrier to travel along a mass transit line for at least one mass transit leg of the delivery path;
• a carrier transceiver configured to:
• communicatively connect with at least a server,
• receive delivery data from the server, wherein the delivery data includes at least one of a parcel quantity and a means of parcel identification,
• receive mass transit data from the server, wherein the mass transit data includes at least one of a mass transit vehicle location, a mass transit link location, and a mass transit schedule,
• transmit carrier data to the server as the carrier travels along the delivery path, wherein the carrier data includes at least a carrier location,
• receive directions from the server to board and ride at least one suitable mass transit vehicle for the delivery path selected based at least in part on an economic value, an environmental value, and a public welfare value,
• communicatively connect and interact with the at least one mass transit vehicle to autonomously navigate within the mass transit vehicle;
• and
• a navigation control operatively connected to said, carrier transceiver, and including a memory and a processor configured to:
• receive environmental data via a plurality of sensors,
• compute the delivery path based on at least one of the delivery data, the mass transit data, and the environmental data,
• re-compute the delivery path in real time based on the environmental data, and
• determine at least one safety parameter based on the environmental data, wherein the at least one safety parameter includes at least a carrier travel speed.

A system for intermodal materials delivery, comprising:

• at least one at least partially autonomous carrier configured to:
• deliver at least one material along a delivery path, from an origin zone of the material to a destination zone of the material,
• utilize a mass transit vehicle to facilitate movement of the carrier during at least one mass transit leg of the delivery path,
• make space on the mass transit vehicle for a passenger having one of a wheelchair and a stroller,
• interact with the mass transit vehicle to autonomously navigate within the mass transit vehicle,
• navigate along the delivery path based on environmental data obtained via a plurality of sensors, and
• at least one mass transit vehicle configured to:
• receive and transport a plurality of passengers inside said at least one mass transit vehicle,
• receive said at least one carrier within said at least one mass transit vehicle,
• said mass transit vehicle having a designated area therein for said at least one carrier so that any passengers sharing the mass transit vehicle with said at least one carrier may know to vacate the area when said at least one carrier boards said at least one mass transit vehicle;
• and
• a server configured to:
• communicate delivery data with a carrier transceiver of said at least one carrier, the delivery data including at least, one of a material quantity and a means of material identification,
• communicate mass transit data with the carrier transceiver, the mass transit data including at least one of a mass transit vehicle location and a mass transit link location,
• communicate with the carrier transceiver to direct said at least one carrier to board and ride said at least one mass transit vehicle;
• and
• a computing device with a memory and processor configured to:
• communicatively connect with said server,
• process the delivery data and the mass transit data to select the at least one mass transit vehicle suitable for delivering the at least one material based at least in part on a transit ridership level, an economic value, an environmental value, and a public welfare value,
• process the delivery data and the mass transit data to compute the delivery path, based at least in part on the delivery data and the mass transit data, and
• re-compute the delivery path in real time based on at least the environmental data.