# US 11,992,566 B2 · Self sanitizing storage of a delivery robot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,566 B2 - Document ID: US11992566B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/249,985 - Filed: 2021-03-19 - Published: 2021-09-23 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-20 - Assignees: Serve Robotics Inc. - Applicants: Serve Robotics Inc. - Inventors: David Gillespie; Colin Janssen; Sean Plaice; Aaron Leiba; Ali Haghighat Kashani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992566B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/202: Ozone - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/121: Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A delivery robot includes a cargo bin to carry cargo for delivery, and a door coupled to the cargo bin. The door to the cargo bin has an open state to allow access to an interior of the cargo bin, and a closed state to seal the interior of the cargo bin from an exterior environment. The delivery robot also includes a disinfecting light source operable to generate a disinfecting radiation to disinfect the interior of the cargo bin. The disinfecting light source is allowed to be activated when the door is in the closed state, and is prevented from being activated when the door is in the open state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A delivery robot comprising: a cargo bin; a door coupled to the cargo bin, wherein the door has an open state to allow access to an interior of the cargo bin, and a closed state to seal the interior of the cargo bin from an exterior environment; and a disinfecting light source operable to generate a disinfecting radiation to disinfect the interior of the cargo bin, wherein the disinfecting light source is allowed to be activated when the door is in the closed state, and is prevented from being activated when the door is in the open state, wherein the delivery robot is programmed to navigate a delivery route to a destination, and wherein a controller of the delivery robot is configured to activate the disinfecting light source for a first duration of time after departing the destination. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the interior of the cargo bin includes a reflective surface to reflect the disinfecting radiation toward a portion of the interior of the cargo bin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the interior of the cargo bin includes a transmissive surface to transmit the disinfecting radiation toward a portion of the interior of the cargo bin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the door is arranged on a topside of the cargo bin, and the disinfecting light source is mounted on an inside surface of the door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting light source has a circular loop shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting light source has a linear shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein a controller of the delivery robot is configured to activate the disinfecting light source for a second duration of time before arriving at the destination. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The delivery robot of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to keep the disinfecting light source activated for a third duration of time once the delivery robot has arrived at the destination. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The delivery robot of claim 8, wherein the third duration of time is less than the second duration of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The delivery robot of claim 7, wherein the destination is a cargo pickup location, and the first duration of time is longer than the second duration of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The delivery robot of claim 7, wherein the destination is a cargo drop-off location, and the first duration of time is shorter than the second duration of time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting light source includes an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The delivery robot of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting light source includes an ozone creating vacuum-ultraviolet light source that generates ozone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The delivery robot of claim 13, further comprising a fan operable to circulate the ozone in the cargo bin. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented method comprising: initiating a delivery robot having a cargo bin to traverse a delivery route to a destination; activating a disinfecting light source integrated with the delivery robot for a first duration of time to disinfect an interior of the cargo bin prior to arriving at the destination; determining that the delivery robot has arrived at the destination; in response to determining that the delivery robot has arrived at the destination, deactivating the disinfecting light source while the delivery robot is stopped at the destination; determining that the delivery robot has departed the destination; and in response to determining that the delivery robot has departed the destination, reactivating the disinfecting light source to disinfect the interior of the cargo bin for a second duration of time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the destination is a cargo pickup location, and the second duration of time is shorter than the first duration of time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the destination is a cargo drop-off location, and the second duration of time is longer than the first duration of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an indicator on an exterior of the delivery robot to indicate whether the disinfecting light source is activated.