Method of Increasing the Efficiency of a Vehicle by Utilizing Available Space in a Cargo Hold
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian James Morman, Kevin S. Callahan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and system of transporting cargo in a vehicle. A method includes after first cargo has been loaded into a cargo hold of a vehicle at a first location, determining available space within the cargo hold of the vehicle with the available space being unoccupied by the first cargo. After the vehicle leaves the first location, determining second cargo that is sized to fit in the available space. Loading the second cargo into the available space of the vehicle at a second location. The method also includes transporting the first cargo and the second cargo to a third location.
Claims20
A method of transporting cargo in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- after first cargo has been loaded into a cargo hold of a vehicle at a first location, determining available space within the cargo hold of the vehicle, the available space being unoccupied by the first cargo;
- after the vehicle leaves the first location, determining second cargo that is sized to fit in the available space;
- loading the second cargo into the available space of the vehicle at a second location;
- and
- transporting the first cargo and the second cargo to a third location.
A method of transporting cargo in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining available space in a cargo hold of a vehicle after first cargo has been loaded into the cargo hold at a first location;
- when a first request to transport second cargo from a second location has been previously received, accepting the first request and causing second cargo to be loaded onto the vehicle at a second location;
- when no first request has been received, receiving a second request to transport the second cargo that is received after determining the available space;
- accepting the second request to transport the second cargo;
- and
- causing the second cargo from the second request to be loaded onto the vehicle at the second location.
A computing device configured to increase an efficiency of a vehicle, the computing device comprising:
- processing circuitry;
- communications circuitry;
- and
- memory circuitry that contains programming instructions that cause one or both of the processing circuitry and the communications circuitry to:
- determine available space in a cargo hold of a vehicle after first cargo has been loaded into the cargo hold;
- while the vehicle is transporting the first cargo, communicate to other entities that there is the available space within the cargo hold;
- in response to the communication, receive a request to transport second cargo in the vehicle;
- determine that the second cargo will fit into the available space;
- and
- accept the request to transport the second cargo while the vehicle is transporting the first cargo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.