Local Caches for Last-Mile Item Distribution

Abstract

Local caches are provided for last-mile item distribution. Each local cache stores items belonging to different customers. A management server tracks customer locations relative to a local cache. The management server instructs at least one robot within the local cache to ready for pickup items belonging to a particular customer as the particular customer nears the local cache. The robot retrieves and queues the items for pickup prior to the particular customer arriving at the local cache. The item is transferred once the particular customer arrives at the local cache. The management server monitors the position through a front-end application running on a mobile device of the particular customer. The application can also be used to contact delivery drivers to deliver items on behalf of customers that do not wish to pickup items from the local cache.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.