Portal system for enabling container movement in a delivery vehicle

Abstract

A delivery vehicle is disclosed, comprising a base and a container engagement unit. The base can be configured to secure a multitude of containers. Each container can have multiple side walls, and each side wall can have an inner and an outer surface. The container engagement unit can be configured to move in a two-dimensional (2D) space near the base. The container engagement unit can be configured to engage the inner surface of a container from among the multiple containers and move the container on the base when the unit engages the inner surface.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a delivery vehicle and, more particularly, to a gantry system for enabling container movement within the delivery vehicle. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] With the continued growth of internet-based commerce, parcel delivery is increasingly being used to deliver goods to customers. E-commerce is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, particularly in the United States.

[0003] This unprecedented growth is being welcomed by e-commerce companies; however, this rapid growth is also leading to operational challenges in the supply chain. E-commerce companies and their delivery partners are delivering an ever-increasing number of packages per day while trying to limit resource expenditures (e.g., personnel costs, etc.) and reduce delivery times.

[0004] Currently, various approaches are being used to optimize the process of loading / unloading delivery packages into / from a delivery vehicle and the process of delivering packages to respective delivery locations. For example, e-commerce companies load packages with similar delivery addresses close together in a delivery vehicle to achieve efficiency in unloading packages.

[0005] Despite the efforts of e-commerce companies, the process of loading / unloading packages is still time-consuming and requires significant manual effort. For example, moving a package from its storage location in the delivery vehicle to a package unloading area within the vehicle is still a manual process and therefore requires significant time and effort. Therefore, there is a need for a system that enables autonomous package movement within the delivery vehicle during the loading / unloading process.

[0006] The revelation in this writing is presented with regard to these and other considerations. BRIEF PRESENTATION

[0007] The present disclosure describes a delivery vehicle having a gantry system disposed within a vehicle interior portion. The delivery vehicle may include a base configured to secure a plurality of containers in which a plurality of delivery packages may be stored. The base may be a vehicle bed or one or more trays disposed within the vehicle interior portion. The system may include a container engagement unit ("unit") configured to engage a container of the plurality of containers and translate the container on the base.For example, when the delivery vehicle reaches a delivery location associated with a package stored in the container, the system may cause the unit to engage the container and move the container based on its storage location to a container / package pickup zone within the vehicle interior compartment, from which a vehicle operator or drone may pick up the container / package for last-mile delivery.

[0008] In some aspects, the container may include one or more container sidewalls, and each container sidewall may include an inner surface and an outer surface. Further, the unit may include telescoping arms that may be configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. In an example aspect, to engage the unit with the container, the system may move the telescoping arms from the retracted position to the extended position when the unit may be disposed proximate the container (particularly proximate the container sidewall inner surface). In response to the telescoping arms being moved to the extended position, proximal ends of the telescoping arms may "press" against the container sidewall inner surface, enabling a lock or engagement between the unit and the container.The unit can move the container on the base when the telescopic arms are locked against the container side wall inner surface.

[0009] In further aspects, each container sidewall may include a cutout disposed at an upper sidewall portion. When the unit may be required to move in a 2-dimensional (2D) space close to the base without interfering with or displacing containers, the system may cause the telescoping arms to move to the retracted position and cause the unit to move in the 2D space over the cutouts included in the container sidewalls. In some aspects, the unit may move comfortably over the cutouts in the 2D space without interfering with containers when the telescoping arms can be in the retracted position.

[0010] In additional aspects, the unit may include a plate having protruding pins, and each container may include cavities located at a container upper portion / rim or container upper edges. The unit may engage the container by inserting the protruding pins into the cavities. In further aspects, the plate may include a first gripping surface and the container upper portion / rim may include a second gripping surface. The unit may engage the container by the first gripping surface "meshing" or engaging the second gripping surface. In yet another aspect, the unit may include an electromagnet, and the container may include a magnet or a ferrous material. The unit may engage the container by magnetically coupling the electromagnet to the ferrous material / magnet associated with the container.

[0011] The present disclosure discloses a gantry system that enables autonomous container movement within a vehicle interior, eliminating or minimizing manual effort required to load / unload containers or delivery packages into / from a delivery vehicle. Furthermore, because the gantry system translates the containers on the base, no hardware associated with moving wheels, actuators, etc., associated with conventional container movement systems is required in the gantry system disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0012] These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail in this document. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The detailed description is presented with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical elements. Different elements and / or components than those illustrated in the drawings may be used for different embodiments, and some elements and / or components may not be present in different embodiments. The elements and / or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout the disclosure, the singular and plural terms may be used interchangeably depending on the context. Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary delivery vehicle in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. Fig. 2 depicts an exemplary first portal system according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3 depicts a top view of a container and a first container engagement unit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 depicts an isometric view of a container according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 depicts an exemplary second portal system according to the present disclosure. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B depict a second exemplary container engagement unit in different engagement positions according to the present disclosure. Fig. 7A depicts a third exemplary container engagement unit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 7B depicts a fourth exemplary container engagement unit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 8A depicts a plan view of a base securing a plurality of containers in a first arrangement, in accordance with the present disclosure. Fig. 8B depicts a plan view of a base securing a plurality of containers in a second arrangement, in accordance with the present disclosure. Fig. 9 depicts a side view of a container secured to a base in accordance with the present disclosure. Fig. 10A depicts a first exemplary arrangement of a portal system in a delivery vehicle according to the present disclosure. Fig. 10B depicts a second exemplary arrangement of a portal system in a delivery vehicle according to the present disclosure. Fig. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a method for enabling container movement in a delivery vehicle according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The disclosure is described in more detail below in this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated and is not intended to be limiting.

[0015] Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary delivery vehicle 100 (or vehicle 100) in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. The vehicle 100 may be a truck, a van (including walk-in vans), a truck trailer, and / or the like. In some aspects, the vehicle 100 may be an autonomous vehicle. In other aspects, a driver (not shown) may operate the vehicle 100. Further, the vehicle 100 may include any powertrain, such as a gasoline engine, one or more electrically actuated motors, a hybrid system, etc.

[0016] The vehicle 100 may include a base 102 that may be configured to secure a plurality of containers 104. The base 102 may be, for example, a vehicle bed and / or one or more shelves arranged in a vehicle cargo area and upon which the plurality of containers 104 may be placed. Fig. 1, the vehicle 100 includes three shelves (or three "base sections") disposed at different heights from the vehicle bed within the vehicle cargo area. For example, as shown, a first base is disposed on an upper cargo layer (upper base "A"), a second base is disposed on a middle cargo layer (middle layer "B"), and a third base is disposed on a lower cargo layer (lower layer "C"). The present disclosure is not limited to the Fig. 1, and the vehicle 100 may include a greater or lesser number of base sections.

[0017] In some aspects, an upper base surface (upon which the plurality of containers 104 may be placed) may be made of a material with a low to medium coefficient of friction, which may allow the containers 104 to move or "slide" comfortably on the upper base surface. In this case, a lower container surface (which may contact the upper base surface) may also be made of a material with a low to medium coefficient of friction to enable efficient and "frictionless" container sliding movement on the base 102. Structural details regarding the container 104 will be discussed later below in connection with Fig. 4 described.

[0018] Each bin 104 may be configured to hold one or more delivery packages 106 that the vehicle 100 may need to deliver to respective delivery addresses. In some aspects, the position of each bin within the vehicle 100 and the assignment of each package within each bin may be optimally pre-planned or preset so that unloading each package from the vehicle 100 may be convenient (e.g., when the vehicle 100 reaches a package delivery location). In some aspects, information associated with the assignment of each package within each bin and the position of each bin within the vehicle 100 may be received by the vehicle 100 from a server (not shown) over one or more networks.

[0019] The network(s) described above may be and / or include the Internet, a private network, a public network, or any other configuration operating using any one or more of any known communication protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), Bluetooth ® , BLE ® , WLAN based on the 802.11 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), ultra-wideband (UWB) and cellular technologies such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Fifth Generation (5G), to name just a few examples.

[0020] In an exemplary aspect, the server described above may be associated with an e-commerce company or a delivery partner that can remotely monitor and / or control the movement of a plurality of vehicles operating as part of a vehicle fleet (including vehicle 100), a loading / unloading process for each vehicle at a warehouse or while in transit, and / or the like. The server may transmit the information described above to vehicle 100 at a predefined frequency during vehicle travel on a delivery route or when vehicle 100 begins the delivery route from the warehouse.

[0021] The vehicle 100 may further include a gantry system 108, which may be disposed within a vehicle interior compartment. The gantry system 108 may facilitate container movement within the vehicle interior compartment during a container loading / unloading operation. In particular, the gantry system 108 may move a container (e.g., the container 104) on the base 102 in response to receiving command signals from an on-board vehicle computer (not shown) and / or the server described above. In one example aspect, the server and / or the on-board vehicle computer may transmit the command signals to the gantry system 108 to move the container 104 from its storage location on the base 102 to a container unloading area / package pickup zone (not shown) within the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 reaches, for example, a delivery location associated with a package stored in the container 104.In response to the container 104 reaching the container unloading area / package pickup zone, a vehicle operator or drone may pick up the container / package for last mile delivery or unloading.

[0022] The portal system 108 may include or be associated with a portal management system 110, which may be part of the vehicle 100 and communicatively coupled to the vehicle's onboard computer. The portal management system 110 may include a transceiver 112, a processor 114, and a memory 116. The transceiver 112 may be configured to receive the information (described above) associated with the containers 104 and the packages 106 from the server and / or the command signals from the vehicle's onboard computer and / or the server. The transceiver 112 may transmit the received information and the command signals to the processor 114 and the memory 116 for storage purposes.

[0023] In response to obtaining the information and command signals from the transceiver 112, the processor 114 may cause the gantry system 108 to move or relocate the container 104 on the base 102 from a first location (e.g., from the container's storage location in the vehicle 100) to a second location (e.g., the container unloading area / package pickup zone).

[0024] The processor 114, as described above, may be arranged in communication with one or more storage devices arranged in communication with the respective computing systems (e.g., the memory 116 and / or one or more external databases located in Fig. 1). The processor 114 may utilize the memory 116 to store programs as code and / or to store data for performing aspects of the disclosure. The memory 116 may be a persistent computer-readable storage medium or a memory storing program code or instructions for a portal management system. The memory 116 may include any one or a combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), etc.) and may include one or more non-volatile memory elements (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), etc.).

[0025] Structural details of the portal system 108 are described in more detail below in connection with the following figures.

[0026] The vehicle 100, the vehicle operator, and the portal system 108 may implement and / or perform operations as described herein in the present disclosure in accordance with the user manual and safety guidelines.

[0027] Fig. 2 depicts an exemplary first portal system 200 according to the present disclosure. The portal system 200 (System 200) may be the same as that described above in connection with Fig. 1 described portal system 108. During the description of Fig. 2 is on the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 referred to.

[0028] The system 200 can be based on 102 (in Fig. 2 not shown) or the base 102 may be part of the system 200 (e.g., if the base 102 is a shelf). As previously described in connection with Fig. 1, the base 102 may be configured to secure a plurality of containers 202 on an upper base surface. In some aspects, the system 200 may include a structure that may include one or more rails and / or a support structure. In one example aspect, the system 200 may include a plurality of rails, including, but not limited to, a first rail 204a, a second rail 204b, a third rail 204c, a fourth rail 204d, a fifth rail 204e, a sixth rail 204f, a seventh rail 204g, and an eighth rail 204h (collectively, a plurality of rails 204). In another example aspect, 204a and 204c may be referred to as Fig. 2 may be rails of the system 200, and the structures shown as 204b, 204d-h may be support structures. An exemplary arrangement of rails and / or support structures shown in Fig. 2 should not be construed as limiting. In a preferred aspect, 204a and 204c are rails, and 204b, 204d-h are support structures of system 200.

[0029] The plurality of rails 204 may be made of any material, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, iron, and / or the like. The dimensions of each rail 204 may depend on dimensions of the vehicle 100, the base 102, the containers 202, and / or the like. The first and third rails 204a, 204c may be arranged parallel to each other at a first predefined distance "W." Furthermore, the first and third rails 204a, 204c may be arranged above the base 102 at a second predefined distance "H" from the base 102. In one exemplary aspect, a length of each of the first and third rails 204a, 204c may be "L," as shown in Fig. 2 shown.

[0030] The second and fourth rails 204b, 204d may be arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and third rails 204a, 204c. The second and fourth rails 204b, 204d may be spaced apart by a distance "L" and may be positioned above the base 102 by a second predefined distance "H." In some aspects, the first, second, third, and fourth rails 204a-d may form a rectangular frame.

[0031] The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rails 204e-h may be arranged perpendicular to the rectangular frame described above, and each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rails 204e-h may have a length corresponding to "H." In some aspects, the first through eighth rails 204a-h may define a bezel above the base 102 in which the plurality of containers 202 may be placed.

[0032] The system 200 may further include a ninth rail 206, which may be arranged perpendicular to the first and third rails 204a, 204c and parallel to the second and fourth rails 204b, 204d. The ninth rail 206 may be configured to translate along the lengths of the first and third rails 204a, 204c via a motor system 208. In some aspects, the processor 114 may activate and control motor system movement to control sliding movement of the ninth rail on the first and third rails 204a, 204c based on command signals obtained from the on-board vehicle computer, the server, or a user device associated with a vehicle operator.

[0033] The system 200 may further include a bin engagement unit 210 (or unit 210) disposed on the ninth rail 206 and configured to translate along a ninth rail length via actuation / movement of cables 212 and the motor system 208. In some aspects, the unit 210 and the motor system 208 may be communicatively coupled to the processor 114. Further, in some aspects, the motor system 208 may enable sliding movement of the bin engagement unit on the ninth rail 206 using the cables 212 based on command signals obtained from the processor 114 (and thus from the on-board vehicle computer, server, or user device).

[0034] Those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate from the foregoing description that since the ninth rail 206 is configured to translate on the first and third rails 204a, 204c, and the unit 210 is configured to translate on the ninth rail 206, the unit 210 may be configured to move in a 2-dimensional (2D) space (e.g., in the XY plane) to near the enclosure or base 102. In further aspects, the unit 210 may include a plurality of telescoping arms 214 and an attachment mechanism 216. The distal end of each telescoping arm 214 may be attached to the attachment mechanism 216, and the attachment mechanism 216 may be attached to the unit 210 that translates on the ninth rail 206. In some aspects, the attachment mechanism 216 may further allow the telescoping arms 214 to move relative to a plane of the ninth rail, iein the Z direction, move up and down.

[0035] In one exemplary aspect, the unit 210 may include four telescopic arms 214, although the present disclosure is not limited to this number of telescopic arms. In other aspects, the unit 210 may include a greater or lesser number of telescopic arms 214. Each telescopic arm 214 may be configured to extend between a retracted position (in Fig. 3 shown as position “A”) and an extended position (in Fig. 3 as position "B") to allow the telescopic arm 214 to engage the container 202 and move the container 202 from one location to another on the base 102, as described below.

[0036] In some aspects, each container 202 may have a plurality of side walls (e.g., four side walls), and each side wall may include an outer surface 402 and an inner surface 404, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Each side wall may further include a cutout 406 disposed at an upper side wall portion, as shown in Fig. 4. The unit 210 may be configured to engage the inner surface 404 and move / translate the container 202 from one location to another on the base 102 in response to the engagement of the inner surface 404.

[0037] In operation, processor 114 may obtain a trigger or command signal from the on-board vehicle computer, server, and / or user device associated with the vehicle operator. In one example aspect, the trigger signal may be obtained when vehicle 100 may have reached a delivery location associated with a package stored in receptacle 202. In some aspects, the trigger signal may include a receptacle origin location (i.e., a location on base 102 where receptacle 202 may currently be located) and a receptacle destination location (e.g., a location on base 102 to which receptacle 202 may need to move, e.g., a receptacle / package pickup zone). In response to acquiring the trigger signal, the processor 114 may send command signals to the motor system 208 and the unit 210 to cause the unit 210 to move near the container 202 (particularly near the inner surface 404).

[0038] In some aspects, in order to move the unit 210 into proximity with the container 202, the unit 210 may be required to pass one or more other containers that may be placed on the base 102. To ensure that the movement of the unit 210 does not interfere with the placement of other containers, the unit 210 may, in response to receiving command signals from the processor 114, move the telescoping arms 214 to respective retracted positions (as position "A" in Fig. 3). When the telescoping arms 214 may be in the retracted positions, the unit 210 may conveniently move over the cutouts 406 of respective containers in the 2D space to near the enclosure or base 102 without interfering with the placement of the containers. An exemplary unit movement through the cutouts 406 (when the telescoping arms 214 may be in the retracted positions) is shown in Fig. 3 as movements 302a-d.

[0039] In response to determining that the unit 210 may have reached the vicinity of the container 202 (in particular, the vicinity of the inner surface 404), the processor 114 may transmit another command signal to the unit 210 to cause the unit 210 to move the telescopic arms 214 from the retracted positions to the extended positions (in Fig. 3 as position "B") and thus engage the container 202 / inner surface 404. In some aspects, as the telescoping arms 214 move to the extended positions, proximal ends of the telescoping arms 214 may press against the inner surface 404 to lock / engage the unit 210 with the container 202.

[0040] In an exemplary aspect, each proximal telescoping arm end may include a compression plate or bracket 304 and a pivot connector 306 (as shown in Fig. 3). The holder 304 and the swivel connector 306 can allow the proximal end to press against different types / shapes of surfaces or structures of the container's inner surface. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 304 and pivot connector 306 allow the proximal ends to press against container corners 308 disposed in the inner surface 404. In some aspects, the shape and dimensions of the bracket may correspond to the shape and dimensions of the container corners.

[0041] In response to the telescoping arms 214 engaging or locking the container 202 in the extended positions, the processor 114 may transmit another command signal to the unit 210 and the motor system 208 to initiate unit movement (and thus container movement) from the container origin to the container destination. Specifically, in response to receiving the command signal from the processor 114, the unit 210 may translate the container 202 on the base 102 to move the container 202 from the container origin to the container destination.

[0042] In some aspects, the system 200 may include one or more additional units or components that are Fig. 2 are not shown. For example, the system 200 may include a power source (e.g., a 24-volt direct current (DC) power source) that may be configured to provide power / energy to the motor system 208 and the unit 210 to enable their respective movements / operations. In some aspects, the power source may be a vehicle battery or a separate power source disposed within the vehicle 100. In further aspects, the power source may provide power to the unit 210 and / or the motor system 208 via at least one of the plurality of rails 204 and the ninth rail 206.

[0043] In further aspects, the unit 210 may include one or more components (not shown), including, but not limited to, one or more rechargeable batteries, a transceiver (configured to receive command signals from the processor 114), a unit camera, and / or the like. In some aspects, the unit camera may include a fisheye lens to enable the camera to capture images associated with a large field of view (FOV). In other aspects, the unit camera may include an array of multiple cameras. The processor 114 may be configured to acquire images captured by the unit camera and cause movement of the unit 210 based on the acquired images.For example, if the processor 114 detects that a container may be incorrectly placed on the base 102 (based on the acquired images), the processor 114 may command the unit 210 to move / relocate the incorrectly placed container to a correct position on the base 102. The present disclosure is not limited to the processor 114 using the images acquired from the unit camera to detect incorrectly placed containers. In other aspects, the processor 114 may detect incorrectly placed containers using images acquired from vehicle interior cameras and / or one or more vehicle sensors.

[0044] In some aspects, the upper portion or upper edges of the container 202 may be color-coded so that the processor 114 can conveniently identify the container 202 from the images acquired from the unit camera and / or the vehicle camera and detect if the container 202 may be incorrectly placed on the base 102. In additional aspects, a lower container portion (or container bottom) may include an attachment mechanism 407 (as in Fig. 4) that can secure the container 202 to the base 102, e.g., when the container 202 may need to be moved / shifted by the unit 210 on the base 102. In the Fig. 4, the attachment mechanism 407 may be a recess or hole into which a pin 408 may be inserted.

[0045] The pin 408 may be a solenoid-operated pin that may be disposed within an interior portion of the base 102 when the pin 408 may not need to be inserted into the attachment mechanism 407. When the container 202 may need to be secured to the base 102 to prevent unwanted container movement (e.g., during vehicle travel), an on-board vehicle computer or the processor 114 may transmit a command signal to the pin 408 to protrude from the base 102 and be inserted into the attachment mechanism 407. In response to the pin 408 being inserted into the attachment mechanism 407, the container 202 may be secured to the base 102.In addition, if the container 202 may need to move on the base 102, the on-board vehicle computer or processor 114 may command the pin 408 to retract back into the base interior portion, thereby allowing the unit 210 to conveniently move the container 202 on the base 102.

[0046] In some aspects, multiple gantry systems (e.g., systems similar to system 200 described above) may be mounted at different layers within the vehicle interior. Furthermore, each base associated with each gantry system may be configured to secure containers of different sizes, thereby enabling a single vehicle (e.g., vehicle 100) to secure containers (and thus packages) of different sizes.

[0047] Fig. 5 depicts an exemplary second portal system 500 (or system 500) according to the present disclosure. The system 500 may be the same as that described above in connection with Fig. 1 described portal system 108. During the description of Fig. 5 is on the Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B, Fig. 7A, Fig. 7B, Fig. 8A, Fig. 8B and Fig. 9 is referred to.

[0048] The system 500 may comprise a plurality of rails (similar to that described above in connection with Fig. 2, including, but not limited to, a first rail 502a, a second rail 502b, a third rail 502c, and / or the like. The first and second rails 502a, 502b may be arranged parallel to each other, and the third rail 502c may be arranged perpendicular to the first and second rails 502a, 502b, as shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the third rail 502c may be configured to move / translate along the lengths of the first and second rails 502a, 502b via a motor system (not shown) based on the command signals obtained from the processor 114, as described above.

[0049] The system 500 may further include a container engagement unit 504 (or unit 504) that may be configured to engage a container 506 (similar to that described above in connection with Fig. 1) and translate the container 506 on the base 102 to move the container 506 from one location to another. The unit 504 may be disposed on the third rail 502c and configured to translate along a third rail length based on the command signals obtained from the processor 114. The unit 504 may be configured to move in 2D space (i.e., the XY plane) proximate the base 102 by translating on the third rail 502c and via the sliding movement of the first and second rails 502a, 502b.

[0050] In some aspects, the unit 504 may include a plate 602 (as shown in the Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B) that can move vertically up and down in the Z-plane between a retracted position and an extended position. In some aspects, a plane of the plate 602 can be parallel to a plane of the third rail 502c. Further, the plate 602 can be disposed near (i.e., in the vicinity of) the third rail 502c in the retracted position and can be disposed farther away from the third rail 502c in the extended position. In some aspects, the plate 602 can include a top surface 602a and a bottom surface 602b. The top surface 602a can face the third rail 502c, and the bottom surface 602b can face an upper portion of the container 506 (as shown in Fig. 6A) or the base 102 (as shown in Fig. 6B).

[0051] In some aspects, the plate 602 may be shaped like a rectangle or a square, and the plate dimensions / shape may correspond to dimensions / shape of an upper portion (e.g., the upper edges) of the container 506. Furthermore, the plate 602 may include protruding pins 604 that may be disposed on the bottom surface 602b, and the container 506 may include cavities / recesses 606 formed on the upper container portion, as shown in Fig. 6A. In some aspects, the protruding pins 604 may be located at the four corners of the plate 602, and the cavities 606 may be located at corresponding four corners of the upper container portion. In other aspects, the dimensions / shape of the protruding pins may correspond to the dimensions / shape of the cavities so that the protruding pins 604 can be easily inserted into the cavities 606. Furthermore, the protruding pins 604 may be chamfered, tapered, filleted, or rounded to allow the protruding pins 604 to be easily inserted into the cavities 606.

[0052] In operation, when the bin 506 may be required to be moved / slid on the base 102 from the first position (e.g., the bin storage location on the base 102) to the second position (e.g., the bin / package pickup zone), the processor 114 may transmit a command signal to the unit 504 (and the motor system described above) to cause the unit 504 to move into proximity with the bin 506, as described above. In response to receiving the command signal from the processor 114, the unit 504 may first move the plate 602 to the retracted position and then move into proximity with the bin 506. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the unit 504 may move the plate 602 to the retracted position to ensure that the protruding pins 604 do not interfere with containers placed on the base 102 as the unit 504 moves.

[0053] In response to the unit 504 coming into proximity with (e.g., over) the container 506, the processor 114 may send another command signal to the unit 504 to cause the plate 602 to move from the retracted position to the extended position. When the plate 602 moves to the extended position, the protruding pins 604 may be inserted into the cavities 606, thereby locking or engaging the unit 504 with the container 506. In response to the unit 504 engaging the container 506, the processor 114 may transmit another command signal to the unit 504 to move the unit 504 from the first position to the second position (and thereby translate the container 506 on the base 102 from the first position to the second position).

[0054] Although the above description describes an aspect in which the container 506 includes the cavities 606, the present disclosure is not limited to the container 506 having the cavities 606. In some aspects, the container 506 may not include the cavities 606. In this case, the protruding pins 604 may penetrate into the interior portion of the container when the plate 602 may be in the extended position, and the protruding pins 604 may then push or press against interior surfaces of the container side walls to lock the unit 504 to the container 506.

[0055] In alternative aspects, instead of including the protruding pins 604, the plate 602 may include hollow extrusions (not shown) that can penetrate into the interior portion of the container when the plate 602 is in the extended position, and the extrusions may then press against interior surfaces of the container side walls to lock the unit 504 to the container 506. In this case, the extrusions may be beveled, conical, filleted, or radiused to allow the extrusions to be easily inserted into the container interior portion.

[0056] In further aspects, when the unit 504 may have moved the container 506 from the first location to the second location, or when the vehicle 100 may be in motion and it may be desirable to prevent undesired container movement on the base 102, the processor 114 may transmit a command signal to the unit 504 to move to a location on the base 102 where no container may be placed and to move the plate 602 to an enhanced extended position, as shown in Fig. 6B. In the improved extended position, the plate 602 may extend downward in the Z-plane to a space between two adjacent containers (e.g., containers 608 and 610, as in Fig. 6B) such that opposite edges of the plate 602 can contact the upper portions of the bins 608 and 610. When the opposite edges of the plate contact the upper portions of the bins 608 and 610, the plate 602 can "lock" the movement of the bins 608 and 610 on the base 102 (e.g., an undesired sliding movement of the bin caused by vehicle movement). Further, in this case, if it may be necessary to move / slide one or more bins on the base 102, the processor 114 can cause the plate 602 to move back to the retracted position and then cause bin movement in a similar manner as described above.

[0057] In some aspects, when the protruding pins 604 on the bottom surface 602b are substantially spaced apart from each other, the protruding pins 604 may be used to prevent unwanted container movement, as opposed to using the plate 602 to block the space between the containers 608 and 610 as described above.

[0058] Although the above description describes one aspect of locking / engaging the unit 504 with the container 506 using the protruding pins 604, the extruded profiles, the cavities 606, and / or the like, the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement of the unit and container lock. In some aspects, the plate 602 may not include the protruding pins 604 or the extruded profiles, but may instead include a sheet of first gripping surface / material 702 disposed on the bottom surface 602b, as shown in Fig. 7A. In one exemplary aspect, the first gripping surface 702 may be disposed at the four edges of the bottom surface 602b. In this case, the upper container portion (e.g., the container edges on the upper container portion) may include a second gripping surface 704, which may be similar to the first gripping surface 702. The first and second gripping surfaces 702, 704 may, for example, be surfaces with high roughness (e.g., a granular rubber or a surface with a high coefficient of friction) that may "interlock" or engage with each other to enable a lock between the unit 504 and the container 506.

[0059] In the case described above and in Fig. 7A, in operation, when the unit 504 may be proximate (e.g., above) the container 506, the processor 114 may transmit command signals to the unit 504 to move the plate 602 to the extended position. In response to the plate 602 moving to the extended position, the first gripping surface 702 may engage the second gripping surface 704, thereby locking the unit 504 to the container 506. When the unit 504 and the container 506 may be locked, the processor 114 may cause the unit 504 to translate the container 506 on the base 102, as described above.

[0060] In some aspects, the locking between the unit 504 and the container 506 in the aspect described above may be enabled due to a frictional force generated between the first and second gripping surfaces 702 and 704 and a "downward force" generated by the unit 504 to push against the container 506. In further aspects, the unit 504 and / or the container 506 may include or may utilize springs to enhance the downward force, thereby enabling a secure and robust locking between the unit 504 and the container 506.

[0061] In another aspect, the unit 504 may not be disposed above the container 506 (as in the Fig. 5, Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B and Fig. 7A and as described above), but may instead be disposed beneath the container 506 (e.g., beneath the base 102), as shown in Fig. 7B. In this case, the unit 504 may include an electromagnet 706, and a lower container portion may include a magnet 708 or other suitable ferrous material.

[0062] During operation, in this case, if the unit 504 is possibly located near the magnet 708, the processor 114 may actuate or energize the electromagnet 706 to cause the electromagnet 706 to magnetically couple with the magnet 708. In response to the magnetic coupling being established between the electromagnet 706 and the magnet 708, the unit 504 and the container 506 may be locked together. The processor 114 may then cause the unit 504 to move or translate the container 506 on the base 102, as described above. In response to the container 506 reaching the destination, the processor 114 may deactivate or turn off the electromagnet 706 to “release” the container 506 or cause the magnetic coupling between the electromagnet 706 and the magnet 708 to end.

[0063] In the exemplary aspect described above, the magnetic coupling between the electromagnet 706 and the magnet 708 may be attractive. In other aspects, the magnetic coupling may be repulsive without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0064] In some aspects, to enable seamless and frictionless container movement on the base 102, the containers 506 may include bevels, fillets, or rollers around the edge of the container to prevent snagging. In other aspects, the edge of the container may be coated with a low-friction material to enable smooth container movement on the base 102 and minimize interference with adjacent containers.

[0065] Furthermore, as above in connection with Fig. 1, the lower bin portion and the upper base portion may be formed from materials with a low to medium coefficient of friction to allow the unit 504 to easily slide the bin 506 on the base 102. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that materials with a low to medium coefficient of friction may also result in undesirable bin movement (or slippage), e.g., when the vehicle 100 may be in motion. To ensure that undesirable bin movement on the base 102 is minimized, the bins 506 may be placed in an optimal manner / arrangement on the base 102.

[0066] A top view of an exemplary first container assembly on the base 102 is shown in Fig. 8A. As shown in Fig. 8A, a container space 802 on the base 102 may be left empty to allow the unit 504 to move the containers 506 on the base 102. When it may not be necessary to move the containers 506, and when it may be necessary to prevent unwanted container movement, the unit 504 may lock the container space 802, as shown in Fig. 6B and described above. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that by locking the container space 802, the entire grid of containers 506 on the base 102 can be locked. In this way, unwanted container movement can be prevented.

[0067] A top view of an exemplary second container assembly on the base 102 is shown in Fig. 8B. As shown in Fig. 8B, a barrier bin 804 (which may be any one of the plurality of bins 506) may be partially placed and locked within the bin space 802. In this case, the bins 506 in a grid "G1" (which includes the bin space 802) may shift slightly as the vehicle 100 moves; however, the bins 506 in a grid "G2" (which may be adjacent to the grid "G1") may not move / shift. In this way, unwanted bin movement may be prevented for a significant number of bins by using the second bin arrangement described above.Furthermore, in the second container arrangement, when it may be necessary for one or more containers on the base 102 to be moved using the unit 504, the barrier container 804 may be moved away from the container space 802 by the unit 504 to enable container movement, as described above.

[0068] Another way to prevent unwanted container movement on the base 102 is in Fig. 9. In the Fig. 9, the base 102 may include a retention pin 902, and the bin bottom / lower bin portion may include a cavity 904 (i.e., a mechanical attachment mechanism) having a shape and dimensions corresponding to the retention pin 902. When the bin 506 may need to be moved / slid on the base 102, the processor 114 or the on-board vehicle computer may actuate or energize the retention pin 902 to cause the retention pin 902 to retract into the base interior portion. Conversely, when the bin 506 may need to be secured to the base 102 to prevent unwanted bin movement, the processor 114 or the on-board vehicle computer may deactivate the retention pin 902 to cause the retention pin 902 to be inserted into the cavity 904 (i.e.,, the retaining pin 902 is moved to its "standard state"), thereby locking the container 506 to the base 102.

[0069] In some aspects, the lower container portion may include a cavity 904 and thus may require a retention pin 902 to secure the container 506 to the base 102. In other aspects, the lower container portion may include more than one cavity and thus may require more than one retention pin to secure the container 506 to the base 102. In some aspects, the retention pin 902 and / or the cavity 904 may be chamfered, conical, filleted, or rounded to facilitate convenient insertion of the retention pin into the cavity 904.

[0070] Another way to prevent unwanted bin movement is to incorporate one or more electromagnets into the base 102 and one or more magnets / ferrous materials (e.g., an electromagnetic attachment mechanism) into the bin bottom / lower portion of each bin 506. In this case, the processor 114 or the on-board vehicle computer can energize the electromagnets in the base 102 so that they magnetically couple with the magnets / ferrous materials in the bins 506 to lock the bins 506 to the base 102, thereby preventing unwanted bin movement. Yet another way to prevent unwanted bin movement is to predict an obstruction to the system 500 (e.g., if the vehicle 100 is expected to travel on bumpy or downhill roads) and secure the bins 506 to the base 102 based on the prediction.

[0071] Fig. 10A depicts a first exemplary arrangement of a portal system 1000 (or system 1000) in the vehicle 100 according to the present disclosure. The system 1000 may include one or more “subsystems” 1002a, 1002b, 1002c, and / or the like. Each subsystem 1002a, 1002b, 1002c may be similar to the system 200 or system 500 described above and may be installed on different layers / levels within the vehicle interior. Each subsystem 1002a, 1002b, 1002c may “serve” or be configured to move containers with their respective layers / levels. Furthermore, in the Fig. 10A, the system 1000 may be encapsulated by a support structure 1004, which may be part of the vehicle 100 or the system 1000.

[0072] Fig. 10B depicts a second exemplary arrangement of the system 1000 in the vehicle 100 according to the present disclosure. In the Fig. In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIG. 10B, subsystems 1002a, 1002b, 1002c may be interconnected to form a single gantry system. This single gantry system may serve containers in all three layers / levels within the vehicle interior section. In this case, system 1000 may not be encapsulated by support structure 1004 to allow convenient movement of container engagement unit(s) of the single gantry system across layers / levels.

[0073] Fig. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a method 1100 for enabling container movement in the vehicle 100 according to the present disclosure. Fig.11 may be described with continued reference to previous figures. The following process is exemplary and not limited to the steps described below. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include more or fewer steps than illustrated or described herein, and may include these steps in an order that differs from the order described in the following embodiments.

[0074] The method 1100 begins at step 1102. At step 1104, the method 1100 may include obtaining, by the processor 114, the trigger signal or the command signal from the on-board vehicle computer, the server, and / or the user device associated with the vehicle operator. At step 1106, the method 1100 may include causing, by the processor 114, the unit 210 to move proximate the interior surface 404 in response to obtaining the trigger signal.

[0075] At step 1108, the method 1100 may include causing, by the processor 114, the unit 210 to engage the inner surface 404 in response to moving proximate the inner surface 404. At step 1110, the method 1100 may include causing, by the processor 114, the unit 210 to translate the container 202 on the base 102 in response to engaging the inner surface 404.

[0076] The method 1100 ends at step 1112.

[0077] In the foregoing disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," etc., indicate that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, such phrases are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.Furthermore, if a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with one embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize such a feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

[0078] Furthermore, the functions described in this document may be performed in one or more of hardware, software, firmware, digital components, or analog components, as appropriate. For example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) may be programmed to perform one or more of the systems and procedures described in this document. Certain terms used throughout the specification and claims refer to specific system components. As one skilled in the art will recognize, components may be referred to by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function.

[0079] It is also understood that the word "example," as used in this document, is intended to be non-exclusive and non-limiting. In particular, the word "example," as used in this document, indicates one of several examples, and it is understood that no undue emphasis or preference is placed on the specific example described.

[0080] A computer-readable medium (also referred to as a processor-readable medium) includes any non-transitory (e.g., physical) medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer (e.g., by a processor of a computer). Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-transitory media and volatile media. Computing devices may include computer-executable instructions, where the instructions may be executable by one or more computing devices, such as those listed above, and may be stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0081] With respect to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described in this specification, it is to be understood that although the steps of such processes, etc., have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be implemented in practice such that the described steps are performed in an order that differs from the order described in this specification. Further, it is to be understood that certain steps could be performed concurrently, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described in this specification could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes in this specification are for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed to limit the claims.

[0082] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples listed will become apparent from a reading of the foregoing description. The scope should be determined not by reference to the foregoing description, but instead by reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that there will be future developments in the art discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. Overall, it is understood that the application is susceptible of modification and variation.

[0083] All terms used in the claims are intended to have their general meaning as known to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the technologies described in this specification apply, unless expressly stated otherwise herein. In particular, the use of the singular articles, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," etc., is intended to refer to one or more of the specified elements, unless a claim expressly limits otherwise.Conditional language, such as "may," "could," "may," or "may possibly," is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments may include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments may not include them, unless specifically stated otherwise or clear from the particular context used. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the container engagement unit further comprises a plate configured to engage an upper portion of the container and to translate the container on the base when the container engagement unit engages the upper portion of the container.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the plate comprises at least one of the following: a protruding pin and a gripping surface configured to engage the upper portion of the container.

[0086] According to the present invention, a method for enabling container movement on a base configured to secure a plurality of containers includes: acquiring, by a processor, a trigger signal; causing, by the processor, a container engagement unit to move proximate an inner surface of a container of the plurality of containers in response to acquiring the trigger signal, wherein: each container includes a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall includes the inner surface and an outer surface, the container engagement unit is configured to move proximate the base in a two-dimensional (2D) space, and the container engagement unit is configured to engage the inner surface of the container and translate the container on the base when the container engagement unit engages the inner surface;Causing, by the processor, the container engagement unit to engage the inner surface in response to moving into proximity with the inner surface; and causing, by the processor, the container engagement unit to translate the container on the base in response to engaging the inner surface.

[0087] In one aspect of the invention, the container engaging unit comprises a plurality of telescopic arms, and wherein each telescopic arm is configured to move between a retracted arm position and an extended arm position.

[0088] According to the present invention, there is provided a persistent computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: acquire a trigger signal; cause a container engaging unit to move proximate an inner surface of a container of the plurality of containers secured on a base in response to acquiring the trigger signal, wherein: each container includes a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall includes the inner surface and an outer surface, the container engaging unit is configured to move in a two-dimensional (2D) space proximate the base, and the container engaging unit is configured to engage the inner surface of the container and translate the container on the base when the container engaging unit engages the inner surface;Causing the container engagement unit to engage the inner surface in response to moving into proximity with the inner surface; and causing the container engagement unit to move the container on the base in response to engaging the inner surface.

Claims

[1] Vehicle comprising: a base configured to secure a plurality of containers, wherein: each container comprises a plurality of side walls and each side wall comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; and a container engagement unit configured to move in a two-dimensional (2D) space proximate the base, wherein the container engagement unit is configured to engage the inner surface of one of the plurality of containers and to translate the container on the base when the container engagement unit engages the inner surface. [2] The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a first rail and a second rail arranged parallel to each other at a first predefined distance, the first rail and the second rail being arranged at a second predefined distance above the base; and a third rail disposed perpendicularly between the first rail and the second rail, the third rail being configured to be translated along a first rail length and a second rail length. [3] The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the container engagement unit is disposed on the third rail, and wherein the container engagement unit is configured to be translated along a third rail length. [4] The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source is configured to provide power to the bin engagement unit via the third rail and at least one of the first rail and the second rail. [5] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the container engagement unit comprises a plurality of telescopic arms, and wherein each telescopic arm is configured to move between a retracted arm position and an extended arm position. [6] The vehicle of claim 5, wherein each telescopic arm presses against the inner surface when each telescopic arm is in the arm-extended position to enable the container engagement unit to engage the inner surface. [7] A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein each side wall includes a cutout disposed at an upper side wall portion. [8] The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the container engagement unit is configured to move in the 2D space proximate the base via cutouts disposed on the plurality of side walls of the plurality of containers when each telescopic arm is in the arm-retracted position. [9] The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the container engagement unit, the processor configured to: Obtaining a trigger signal; Causing the container intervention unit to: Moving near the inner surface in response to receiving the trigger signal; Engaging the inner surface in response to moving near the inner surface; and Moving the container on the base in response to engagement of the inner surface. [10] The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the trigger signal comprises a bin origin location and a bin destination location on the base, and wherein the bin engagement unit translates the bin from the bin origin location to the bin destination location in response to the inner surface engaging. [11] The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor obtains the trigger signal from a user device or a server. [12] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the container engagement unit comprises at least one of: a rechargeable battery, a transceiver, and a camera. [13] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the base is disposed in a vehicle interior portion. [14] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each container further comprises a container base, and wherein the container base comprises an attachment mechanism configured to secure the container to the base. [15] The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one of a mechanical attachment mechanism and an electromagnetic attachment mechanism.

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