Automated local delivery center
AssigneePepsiCo, Inc.
InventorsGino Malpartida, Michael Sasloff, Eleonor Dorin Stoenescu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for automated vending and delivery of products to consumers is provided. The system may include a mobile delivery unit, a product dispenser, and a web server. The system may also include a pickup area. The web server may instruct the product dispenser to dispense a product to the mobile delivery unity. The web server may also provide instructions to the mobile delivery unit, which may then navigate to the consumer for delivery.
Claims18
A system for automated vending and delivery of products to consumers, the system comprising:
- a mobile delivery unit configured to autonomously handle a product and comprising:
- an arm;
- a gripper attached to the arm and configured to grasp the product;
- a receptacle configured to store the product;
- and
- a first communication assembly;
- a product dispenser comprising a second communication assembly and configured to, in a first transaction, dispense a first product to the mobile delivery unit for subsequent delivery to a first consumer remote from the product dispenser and, in a second transaction, dispense a second product to a second consumer at the product dispenser;
- and
- a web server in communication with the first communication assembly and the second communication assembly and configured to instruct the product dispenser to dispense the first product to the mobile delivery unit in the first transaction;
- wherein the product dispenser comprises a sensor configured to detect when a product is positioned at a delivery area of the product dispenser, and
- wherein the web server is configured to instruct the mobile delivery unit to grasp the product based on feedback from the sensor.
A system for automated vending and delivery of products to consumers, the system comprising:
- a mobile delivery unit configured to autonomously handle a product and comprising:
- an arm having a gripper configured to grasp the product;
- a receptacle configured to store the product;
- a cover configured to close the receptacle;
- a lock configured to secure the cover from being removed;
- and
- a user interface;
- a product dispenser configured to dispense the product the mobile delivery unit for subsequent delivery to a consumer remote from the product dispenser;
- and
- a web server in communication with the product dispenser and the mobile delivery unit and configured to instruct the product dispenser to dispense the product to the mobile delivery unit and to instruct the mobile delivery unit to deliver the product to the consumer;
- wherein the product dispenser comprises a sensor configured to detect when a product is positioned at a delivery area of the product dispenser, and
- wherein the web server is configured to instruct the mobile delivery unit to grasp the product based on feedback from the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.