# US 2019/0170423 A1 · Systems and methods for delivering perishable items

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- Number: US 2019/0170423 A1
- Document ID: US20190170423A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/267,057
- Filed: 2019-02-04
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-27
- Assignees: Walmart Apollo, LLC
- Applicants: Walmart Apollo, LLC
- Inventors: David C. Winkle; Bruce W. Wilkinson; Todd D. Mattingly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170423A1

## CPC

- F25D 11/003: {Transport containers}
- F25D 3/125: {Movable containers}
- F25D 31/005: {Combined cooling and heating devices}
- G05D 1/0027: {involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00)}
- G05D 23/1931: {to control the temperature of one space}
- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- B64U 2101/64: for parcel delivery or retrieval
- F25D 3/08: portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
- F25D 3/107: {portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally}
- F25D 3/14: portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
- F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure
- F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering and maintaining perishable items within a certain temperature range during delivery. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for transporting merchandise including: a container for transporting merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in a delivery vehicle along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location, the container including: a merchandise storage area receiving merchandise and a coolant; an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area; a temperature sensor measuring the temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport; and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature measurements from the temperature sensor during transport and to modify the insulation characteristics of the container during transport in response to the temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for transporting merchandise using aerial drones comprising:
an aerial drone configured to fly along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location and to transport a container therewith;
a container configured to store and maintain merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in the aerial drone as the drone flies along the delivery route, the container comprising:
a merchandise storage area configured to receive merchandise and a coolant;
an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area;
a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;
a vacuum pump configured to adjust a partial vacuum in the insulation compartment;
a control circuit configured to:
receive the temperature measurements from the first temperature sensor during transport; and
actuate the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to the first temperature sensor temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside of the container at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor during transport;
compare temperature measurements of the first temperature sensor with temperature measurements of the second temperature sensor; and
actuate the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to both the first and second temperature sensor temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive a predetermined number of simultaneous temperature measurements from the first and second temperature sensors; and
modify the insulation characteristics of the container by actuating the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum if each temperature measurement of the second temperature sensor exceeds the corresponding temperature measurement of the first temperature sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one valve operable during transport between an open position allowing air to flow from outside the container to inside the container and a closed position in which air flow from outside the container through the at least valve is blocked.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one valve comprises:
a uni-directional intake valve that is arranged to permit air flow into the container; and
a uni-directional exhaust valve that is arranged to permit air flow out of the container;
the control circuit configured to actuate the valves to modify the partial vacuum in the container.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein:
the uni-directional intake valve is disposed on a first surface oriented facing a direction of travel to facilitate the intake of air through the intake valve; and
the uni-directional exhaust valve is disposed on a second surface oriented opposite the direction of travel to facilitate the exhaust of air through the exhaust valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a command and control center remote from the container and communicatively coupled to the control circuit;
the control circuit configured to receive the first temperature sensor measurements and transmit them to the command and control center during transport; and
the command and control center configured to receive the first temperature sensor measurements from the control circuit, to make a determination regarding modification of the insulation characteristics, and to transmit the modification of the insulation characteristics to the control circuit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one sensor configured to measure environmental conditions outside the container during transport;
a command and control center remote from the container and communicatively coupled to the control circuit;
the control circuit configured to receive sensor measurements from the at least one sensor and transmit them to the command and control center during transport; and
the command and control center configured to receive the sensor measurements from the control circuit, to make a determination regarding modification of the insulation characteristics, and to transmit the modification of the insulation characteristics to the control circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of wind chill, heat index, amount of sunlight, elevation of route, humidity, and wind speed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1,
wherein the container comprises: an outer bag with an interior divided into the merchandise storage area and the insulation compartment; an inner bag disposed within the interior of the outer bag and defining the merchandise storage area; and the outer bag and the inner bag define the insulation compartment therebetween; and
wherein the coolant comprises dry ice.

### Claim 12

A method for transporting merchandise using aerial drones comprising:
providing an aerial drone configured to fly along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location and to transport a container therewith;
providing a container configured to store and maintain merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in the aerial drone as the drone flies along the delivery route, the container comprising:
a merchandise storage area configured to receive merchandise and a coolant;
an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area;
transporting the container in the aerial drone along the delivery route from the source location to the destination location;
by a first temperature sensor, measuring a temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;
by a vacuum pump, adjusting a partial vacuum in the insulation compartment;
by a control circuit:
receiving temperature measurements from the first temperature sensor during transport; and
actuating the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to the first temperature sensor temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
by a second temperature sensor, measuring a temperature outside of the container at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising, by the control circuit:
receiving temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor during transport;
comparing temperature measurements of the first temperature sensor with temperature measurements of the second temperature sensor; and
actuating the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to both the first and second temperature sensor temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising, by the control circuit:
receiving a predetermined number of simultaneous temperature measurements from the first and second temperature sensors; and
modifying the insulation characteristics of the container by actuating the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum if each temperature measurement of the second temperature sensor exceeds the corresponding temperature measurement of the first temperature sensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
by a valve, switching during transport between an open position allowing air to flow from outside the container to inside the container and a closed position in which air flow from outside the container through the valve is blocked.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
by the control circuit, receiving the first temperature sensor measurements and transmitting them to a command and control center during transport; and
by the command and control center, receiving the first temperature sensor measurements from the control circuit, making a determination regarding modification of the insulation characteristics, and transmitting the modification of the insulation characteristics to the control circuit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
by at least one sensor, measuring environmental conditions outside the container during transport;
by the control circuit, receiving sensor measurements from the at least one sensor and transmitting them to a command and control center during transport; and
by the command and control center, receiving the sensor measurements from the control circuit, making a determination regarding modification of the insulation characteristics, and transmitting the modification of the insulation characteristics to the control circuit.

### Claim 19

A system for transporting merchandise using aerial drones comprising:
an aerial drone configured to fly along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location and to transport a container therewith;
a container configured to store and maintain merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in the aerial drone as the drone flies along the delivery route, the container comprising:
a merchandise storage area configured to receive merchandise and a coolant;
an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area;
a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;
a control circuit configured to:
receive the temperature measurements from the first temperature sensor during transport; and
modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to the first temperature sensor temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the insulation compartment is configured to retain a variable amount of insulation.