133results about "Small article transportation" patented technology

A shelving and package locating system for delivery vehicles includes one or more shelves for storing packages within a delivery vehicle during delivery. Each package is associated with both a geographic delivery address and an assigned location on a particular shelf within the delivery vehicle. A GPS unit determines the location of the delivery vehicle during delivery, and a computer provides the shelf location of a particular package when that package's delivery-location information substantially corresponds to vehicle location information. Several embodiments exist for registering the location of the package in the vehicle at load time, such as scanned location indicia, light sensors on shelves, pressure sensors on shelves, pressure sensors on the floor of the vehicle, and light spot. Several embodiments exist for locating the package in the vehicle at delivery time, such as a pick-to-light system that employs variable length lighting and a light pointer system that generates a light spot.

The container has a specific construction for low weight with low thermal loss by combining the use of certain polymer insulation with the use of air space between internal structures. The container contains a single or multiple heaters or coolers that can be integrated as a single heating and cooling element, and either integrated into a single container, or in separate containers. The heating or cooling is accomplished by attaching to an internal thermal conducting, e.g. metal, structure either heating or cooling thermal conducting elements or internal thermal heat exchangers with a fan that circulates air over the thermal heat exchanger and heats or cools the air directly. An intelligent power management electronic controls management system is used to result in food delivery containers suitable for power, limited lower capacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters. The present invention provides the power for these hot and cold boxes by either modifying the existing alternator to increase the power available from a limited power low capacity motorcycle or similar vehicle or relying on one or more auxiliary alternators added to and driven by the limited power and low capacity vehicle. Further, an additional heat source can be used from the engine or exhaust and the heat can be transferred to the heated container by liquid, gas, or thermal conduction means, to reduce the electrical energy required for limited power low capacity vehicles.

A food preparation and delivery system can include a plurality of cooking units such as ovens, each containing one or more prepared, but partially or completely uncooked, food items. The food items in the cooking units are for delivery to each of a corresponding plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking units are loaded into a cargo compartment of a delivery vehicle for delivery to the plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking conditions within the cooking unit are controlled such the each food item is cooked prior to arrival at the consumer destination location. In at least some embodiments, the estimated delivery time for each consumer destination location can be dynamically updated and the cooking conditions within the cooking unit adjusted.

The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle.

A shelving system for a cargo vehicle is provided. Free-standing substantially vertical upright support members not attached to the walls of the cargo area of a vehicle are secured at their bottom ends to the floor of the cargo area of a vehicle and are horizontally spaced apart. The top ends of the upright support members may be secured to ribs in the roof of the vehicle or to separate transverse support members parallel to the roof. Shelves are vertically adjustably attached to the upright members. The upright and / or transverse support members may be provided with telescoping portions so as to be adjustable in height / length.

The present disclosure pertains to a vehicle for transporting or vending refrigerated product having a peripheral body extending vertically from the supporting surface, the peripheral body having a driver area, retail area, and cooling area, a bulk head for dividing the retail area from the cooling area, and an auxiliary power system for powering at least one electrical component, having a battery bank and a charging mechanism, the charging mechanism having a vehicle charging system, shore power charging system, and solar array charging system, the charging mechanism imparting electrical charge to the battery bank, where the electrical component is a temperature control system for maintaining the temperature of the cooling area within a desired temperature range.

Vehicles, components, and methods are disclosed for distributing hot or cold food items from a vending kiosk, a locker system, or a self-propelled delivery vehicle. The vending kiosk may have multiple doors, at least one of which is unlocked responsive to confirming a purchase transaction or authenticating the presence of a person or device associated with the purchase transaction. The multiple doors provide access to respective compartments that may be selectively heated and refrigerated. Such temperature changes may be based upon a temperature control schedule. The locker system may include one or more configurable compartments that may be accessible via a set of set of doors that can be selectively coupled into larger doors. The self-propelled delivery vehicle may have a plurality of thermally insulated compartments that may be used to carry multiple items at different temperatures.

Vehicles, components, and methods are disclosed for distributing hot or cold food items from a vending kiosk, a locker system, or a self-propelled delivery vehicle. The vending kiosk may have multiple doors, at least one of which is unlocked responsive to confirming a purchase transaction or authenticating the presence of a person or device associated with the purchase transaction. The multiple doors provide access to respective compartments that may be selectively heated and refrigerated. Such temperature changes may be based upon a temperature control schedule. The locker system may include one or more configurable compartments that may be accessible via a set of set of doors that can be selectively coupled into larger doors. The self-propelled delivery vehicle may have a plurality of thermally insulated compartments that may be used to carry multiple items at different temperatures.

A composite commercial walk-in van body is constructed via lightweight, composite structures. A composite floor structure having integral logistic tracks are joined to composite sidewalls that include integral rub rails that also integrally formed logistic tracks on an interior thereof. Pigment molded lower body panels that extend beyond the sidewalls are fully replaceable to enhance durability and maintenance of the walk-in van body. A one-piece molded roof eliminates leaks. Any necessary rivets are captured so as to prevent any wet-to-dry surface penetration. An easily accessible washer fluid and brake fluid reservoir aid in the maintenance and operability of the walk-in van body. Such elements contribute to substantial weight reduction, and increase in durability, functionality, and fuel economy of walk-in vans utilizing such a composite body.

An exchange station has openings for drones, a passenger check-in / check-out bay for processing passengers, a drone connect / release bay, having apparatus adapted to manage passenger pods mounted on smart chassis, and a computerized control system in wireless communication with control circuitry in the drones and smart chassis, guiding smart chassis with mounted passenger pods and drones, to make the exchange of pods from the smart chassis to drones. A passenger entering the passenger check-in bay is loaded into a pod mounted on a smart chassis, the pod with passenger is transported to the drone-connect / release bay, and the pod is there joined to a bare drone and disconnected from the smart chassis, the drone leaving with the passenger pod to a destination, and the smart chassis traveling away from the drone connect-release bay.

Technologies are generally described for context sensitive display of final delivery information on a consumable delivery vehicle with enroute preparation. A controller may manage fulfillment of orders while the vehicle is enroute by controlling an operation of one or more on-board preparation equipment. The controller may also receive order status information and travel information associated with final delivery destinations. Once the vehicle is at its destination to be used as a hub for final deliveries, one or more displays on the vehicle may display final delivery information to final delivery people based on the status information and the travel information.

A method of enhancing a freezing capacity of a low-temperature delivery vehicle is that cool cold devices by a freezing machine, each of which has an eutectic material therein, to a temperature lower than eutectic temperatures of the cold devices, and then put the cold devices in a chamber of a vehicle, which the vehicle has a refrigerator to provide a cold airflow to the chamber via an outlet on a wall of the chamber. The cold devices have to be taken out after a predetermined period and cooled again to recycle. The low-temperature delivery vehicle of the present invention has a van body having a chamber therein, a refrigerator having an outlet on a wall of the chamber to provide a cold airflow to the chamber, and a plurality of cold devices in the chamber of the van body.

A system and method for delivering food products using an autonomous distribution vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a first distribution vehicle that is configured to carry food products and at least one autonomous distribution vehicle. While the first distribution vehicle delivers food products, the autonomous distribution vehicle may depart the first distribution vehicle and deliver its own set of food products. The autonomous distribution vehicle can then return to the first distribution vehicle.

A system and method for providing an autonomous delivery vehicle (ADV) incorporated with intelligent ramp control is disclosed. The ADV is configured to make decisions to deploy / retract the ramps depending on some conditions around the ADV. The ADV comprising a computing device including a means for executing artificial intelligence (AI) software, a ramp system comprising a plurality of ramps, and a sensor assembly in communication with the computing device to collect environmental data around the ADV. The data is communicated to the AI software, which is configured to analyze the environmental data to detect one or more obstacles proximate to the plurality of ramps of the ADV. Further, AI software determines a decision to deploy / retract at least one ramp based on the analysis and transmits the decision to the computing device. The computing device is configured to manipulate each ramp to deploy / retract based on the received decision.

A motor vehicle for transporting and delivering mail having vehicle controls (steering, brakes and throttle) that interface with the operator be able to be adjustably located in a position that is comfortable to the operator. The operator seat is of a size and shape that it is comfortable to the 5th percentile female through the 95th percentile male. The operator seat is also adjustable and the brake and throttle are adjustable with respect to the operator seat. Moreover, the seat is pivotable from a driving configuration facing ahead of the vehicle to a laterally facing position where mail operations can be comfortably conducted from the drivers seat. In addition, the door into the cargo compartment includes a window that lines up with a window in the left side of the cargo compartment such that visibility to the left of the vehicle is enhanced.

An autonomous tilting three-wheeled vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a mechanical linkage, such that the pair of wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. An electronic controller of the autonomous vehicle controls a tilt actuator to selectively tilt the chassis. Optionally, a steering actuator is coupled to the front wheels and controlled by the electronic controller to selectively steer the wheels. A sensor configured to measure orientation-dependent information may be coupled to the chassis by a gimbal configured to compensate for vehicle tilt. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle comprises an autonomous delivery robot.

A vehicle insert with refrigerated and non refrigerated sections for facilitating product distribution is described which uses a pair of frames defining a vertical member and one or more horizontal members. Several shelves with rollers are attached to the frames. The shelves define a sloped area wherein the lowest point on the shelves is located at a product retrieval point and wherein said insert is wheeled into a vehicle already loaded with product to be delivered.

Vehicles, components, and methods are disclosed for distributing hot or cold food items from a vending kiosk, a locker system, or a self-propelled delivery vehicle. The vending kiosk may have multiple doors, at least one of which is unlocked responsive to confirming a purchase transaction or authenticating the presence of a person or device associated with the purchase transaction. The multiple doors provide access to respective compartments that may be selectively heated and refrigerated. Such temperature changes may be based upon a temperature control schedule. The locker system may include one or more configurable compartments that may be accessible via a set of set of doors that can be selectively coupled into larger doors. The self-propelled delivery vehicle may have a plurality of thermally insulated compartments that may be used to carry multiple items at different temperatures.

A cargo handling device is disclosed for a vehicle. The cargo handling device comprises a base and a lower track. A traveler and a storage unit slidably engage the lower track between a proximal end and a distal end. A linear actuator displaces the traveler between the proximal end and the distal end. A telescoping actuator is pivotably coupled to the traveler and the storage unit. A contracted length in the telescoping actuator maintains the traveler abutting the storage unit during displacement of the traveler between the proximal end and the distal end. An extended length in the telescoping actuator displaces the storage unit from the traveler upon the traveler positioned at the distal end. The extended length defines a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of the storage unit from the traveler for positioning the storage unit adjacent the surface.

The invention relates to a delivery vehicle for delivering consignments at different locations on a delivery route, having at least one receiving device for receiving the consignment, having at least one sensor device for separately capturing delivery information for the consignments received via the receiving device, having at least one storage device for storing the received consignments during the delivery of other consignments, and having at least one conveying device for conveying the received consignments from the receiving device to storage positions in the storage device and from the storage positions in the storage device to a dispensing device for dispensing the consignments at the particular location for delivery of the consignments.

An autonomous mobile object configured to travel with a medicine loaded therein includes a movement controller configured to control the autonomous mobile object such that the autonomous mobile object autonomously travels to a designated place according to a request of a customer, an information provision unit configured to provide information on the medicine to the customer; and a product provision unit configured to provide the medicine to the customer when a predetermined condition is met.