Materials delivery container with battery system therein
AssigneeTulips Corporation
InventorsEric Fosgard, Jack C. Cornelius
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Combined container and battery system, materials delivery vehicle, and battery system charging system, adapted for charging a container battery system within rated specifications for accomplishing materials delivery of container contents depending on a determined power budget determined relative to such parameters as chosen vehicle weight, whether e-cargo delivery bike or autonomous delivery vehicle, chosen vehicle efficiency, battery system capacity, an allowed driver weight and driver efficiency for e-cargo bike deliveries, materials information, materials weight, number of stops, distance between each stop, recipient information, recipient address, and route topology, wherein excess power is indicated as available for auxiliary tasks.
Claims14
A combined container and battery system adapted for delivery of container contents when being carried by a battery-powered e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle that is for local delivery purposes, such as for last-mile package deliveries, the delivery vehicle otherwise being separate from the combined container and battery system, the combined container and battery system comprising:
- A container adapted for containing contents comprised of materials to be delivered to one or more locations;
- A battery system in said container;
- A connector adapted for interconnecting said battery system with the e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle during placement of said container on the e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle in the field for delivery of the contents to the one or more locations, said battery system thus being adapted for providing power via said connector to the e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle while said container is on the e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle to thus carry said container to the one or more locations and to thus help accomplish delivery of the contents of said container;
- and
- A control system for said container adapted for receiving materials information and delivery information, said control system facilitating any one of e-cargo cycle delivery vehicle choice, battery charging, and delivery status communication,
- wherein said control system is adapted to receive information pertaining to materials to be delivered within said container for a shipment along a specific delivery route and determines a minimum charge level needed considering factors comprising any of chosen vehicle weight and efficiency, battery system capacity, materials information, materials weight, number of stops, distance between each stop, route topology, driver weight, and driver efficiency.
A combined container and battery system adapted for delivery of container contents when being carried by a battery-powered human-operated cargo cycle delivery vehicle that is for local delivery purposes, such as for last-mile package deliveries, the cargo cycle delivery vehicle otherwise being separate from the combined container and battery system, the combined container and battery system comprising:
- A container adapted for containing contents comprised of materials to be delivered to one or more locations;
- A battery system in said container;
- and
- A connector adapted for interconnecting said battery system with the cargo cycle delivery vehicle during placement of said container on the cargo cycle delivery vehicle in the field for delivery of the contents to the one or more locations, said battery system thus being adapted for providing power via connector to the cargo cycle delivery vehicle while said container is on the cargo cycle delivery vehicle to thus carry said container to the one or more locations and to thus help accomplish delivery of the contents of said container, wherein the degree of charge to be imparted to said battery system is dependent upon parameters associated with the cargo cycle delivery vehicle container delivery.
A combined container and battery system adapted for delivery of container contents when being carried by a battery-powered autonomous vehicle (AV) that is for local delivery purposes, such as for package deliveries on busy city roadways and sidewalks, the AV otherwise being separate from the combined container and battery system, the combined container and battery system comprising:
- A container adapted for containing contents comprised of materials to be delivered to one or more locations;
- A battery system in said container;
- and
- A connector adapted for interconnecting said battery system with the AV during placement of said container on the AV in the field for delivery of the contents to the one or more locations, said battery system thus being adapted for providing power via said connector to the AV while said container is on the AV to thus carry said container to the one or more locations and to thus help accomplish delivery of the contents of said container, wherein the degree of charge to be imparted to said battery system is dependent upon parameters associated with AV delivery of said container.
A local delivery vehicle adapted for accommodating a combined container and battery system, comprising a container for carrying contents for delivery and a battery system with a connector for powering the delivery vehicle, adapted to accomplish delivery of the contents of the container when it is on the delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising:
- A delivery vehicle comprising a human-operated battery-powered e-cargo cycle;
- A physical interconnection on said delivery vehicle for retaining and carrying the container on said delivery vehicle;
- and
- An electrical interconnection on said delivery vehicle for interconnecting with the connector of the battery system when the container is being carried on said delivery vehicle, said delivery vehicle thus being adapted for receiving power from the battery system of the combined container and battery system via the connector to assist said delivery vehicle to deliver contents of the container while it is on said delivery vehicle, wherein said delivery vehicle comprises a computer in the delivery vehicle and the container comprises a computer in the container, and wherein the computers are adapted for communicating information relating to delivery and delivery status, wherein said vehicle is capable of being powered primarily by the battery system of the combined container and battery system while the container is carried on the delivery vehicle, wherein said computer in said delivery vehicle provides a communications interface for displaying sequential delivery instructions and navigation to the operator of the e-cargo cycle and for communicating status of delivery information to the computer in the container.
A battery system charging system adapted for facilitating charging of a combined container and battery system for powering a local delivery vehicle when the combined container and battery system is on the delivery vehicle, for facilitating delivery of the container's contents, the battery system charging system comprising:
- A control system;
- and
- A charging interface, wherein the control system facilitates charging of the combined container and battery system up to a full charge via the charging interface, wherein said control system communicates with a computer in the container to determine the power necessary for the battery system within battery system optimal charging and utilization parameters to complete a given anticipated delivery of a specific container load for a specific anticipated delivery route, as per a delivery manifest, and facilitates charging of the container battery system according to the determination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.