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US 2021/0201249 A1Published application
System and method for delivering items using autonomous vehicles and receptacle targets
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorDonald E. Crone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle for delivery of items can detect its location and the location of targets on item receptacles in order to position the vehicle at a receptacle. The vehicle, in an autonomous mode, can automatically travel between delivery points along a delivery route. A presence sensor on the vehicle can detect ingress and egress from the vehicle to determine when the vehicle is ready to travel to the next delivery point.
Claims20
A method for delivering items comprising:
- assigning a first delivery resource to a first delivery route, the first delivery route comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments divided by a first designated stop, each of the first and second segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- assigning a second delivery resource to a second delivery route, the second delivery route comprising a third segment and a fourth segment, the third and fourth segments divided by a second designated stop, each of the third and fourth segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- loading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the first segment with the first delivery resource;
- loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment with the second delivery resource;
- loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second and fourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle;
- commencing delivery by the first delivery resource to the first segment;
- commencing delivery by the second delivery resource to the third segment;
- determining, in a processor, the location of the first delivery resource and an expected time the first delivery resource will arrive at the first designated stop;
- determining, in the processor, a time for dispatching the autonomous delivery vehicle from the distribution facility such the first delivery resource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the first designated stop at or near the same time;
- loading from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second segment with the first delivery resource;
- and
- delivering, by the first delivery resource, the items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the second segment.
9 more elements
A system for delivering items comprising:
- an autonomous delivery vehicle;
- a first delivery resource having a first mobile computing device;
- a second delivery resource having a second mobile computing device;
- a processor configured to:
- assign the first delivery resource to a first delivery route, the first delivery route comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments divided by a first designated stop, each of the first and second segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- assign the second delivery resource to a second delivery route, the second delivery route comprising a third segment and a fourth segment, the third and fourth segments divided by a second designated stop, each of the third and fourth segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- direct loading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the first segment with the first delivery resource;
- direct loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment with the second delivery resource;
- direct loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second and fourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle;
- determine the location of the first delivery resource and an expected time the first delivery resource will arrive at the first designated stop;
- determine a time for dispatching the autonomous delivery vehicle from the distribution facility such the first delivery resource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the first designated stop at or near the same time;
- dispatch the autonomous vehicle to the first designated stop at the determined time;
- and
- send instructions to the first mobile computing device for the first delivery resource to load, from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second segment.
11 more elements
A system for delivering items comprising:
- means for assigning a first delivery resource to a first delivery route, the first delivery route comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments divided by a first designated stop, each of the first and second segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- means for assigning a second delivery resource to a second delivery route, the second delivery route comprising a third segment and a fourth segment, the third and fourth segments divided by a second designated stop, each of the third and fourth segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;
- means for loading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the first segment with the first delivery resource;
- means for loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment with the second delivery resource;
- means for loading, at the distribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second and fourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle;
- means for determining the location of the first delivery resource and an expected time the first delivery resource will arrive at the first designated stop;
- means for determining a time for dispatching the autonomous delivery vehicle from the distribution facility such the first delivery resource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the first designated stop at or near the same time;
- and
- means for loading from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second segment with the first delivery resource.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.