Delivery Management System

Abstract

To reduce delivery costs. [Solution] The delivery management system comprises a post unit in which sensors are provided in each insertion part to detect information about trays inserted into each insertion part; a delivery robot having sensors to detect objects on trays inserted into the insertion parts of the post unit; a terminal that transmits information about receiving and placing packages by the user; a storage unit that stores post status information indicating the state of the insertion parts of the post unit; an information update unit that updates the post status information in the storage unit based on information about the trays in the insertion parts detected by the sensors of the post unit, information about objects detected by the sensors of the delivery robot, and the receiving and placement information transmitted from the terminal; and an instruction unit that instructs the delivery robot to deliver the trays on which packages are placed and to collect the trays on which packages are placed based on the post status information.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 This disclosure relates to a delivery management system. 【Background Art】 【0002】 There is known a delivery management system in which a delivery box has a camera for photographing the inside of a locker, and detects an empty space in the locker from a photographed image of the camera and transmits it to a delivery management server (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0003】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-142600 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0004】 However, in the above-described delivery management system, since it is necessary to provide a camera for each delivery box, there is a risk that the delivery cost will increase. 【0005】 This disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and a main object thereof is to provide a delivery management system capable of suppressing delivery costs. 【Means for Solving the Problems】 【0006】 One aspect of the present disclosure for achieving the above object is a post portion provided with sensors for detecting information of the tray inserted into each insertion portion, the sensors being capable of detecting information of the tray inserted into each insertion portion, and the luggage and the tray being placed on a tray pre-associated with the luggage and being capable of being inserted and arranged in each insertion portion; A delivery robot having a sensor that delivers the tray on which the package is placed to the insertion part of the post section, or retrieves the tray on which the package is placed from the insertion part, and detects the object on the tray inserted into the insertion part of the post section, A terminal that transmits receipt information indicating that the user has received a package from a tray placed in the insertion part of the post unit, and placement information indicating that the user has placed a package on the tray placed in the insertion part of the post unit, A storage unit that stores post status information indicating the state of the insertion part of the post, An information update unit updates the post status information of the storage unit based on the information of the tray in the insertion section detected by the sensor in the post section, the information of the object detected by the sensor of the delivery robot, and the receipt information and placement information transmitted from the terminal. An instruction unit provides instructions to the delivery robot to deliver the tray containing the package and to retrieve the tray containing the package, based on the post status information updated by the information update unit. Equipped with, Delivery Management System That is the case. On this flight, The information update unit updates the post status information to a normal state, indicating that the insertion part of the post unit corresponding to the received information transmitted from the terminal is functioning correctly, in accordance with the received information transmitted from the terminal. When the delivery robot moves to the insertion section of the post unit, if the information update unit determines, based on the information of an object detected by the delivery robot's sensor, that there is a package on the tray of the insertion section, it may change the normal state to an abnormal state indicating that the insertion section is abnormal and update the post status information. On this flight, The information update unit updates the post status information to a normal state, indicating that the insertion part corresponding to the placement information of the post part is functioning correctly, in accordance with the placement information transmitted from the terminal. When the delivery robot moves to the insertion section of the post unit, if the information update unit determines, based on the information of the object detected by the delivery robot's sensor, that there is no predetermined package on the tray of the insertion section, it may change the normal state to an abnormal state indicating that the insertion section is abnormal and update the post status information. On this flight, When the delivery robot delivers the tray containing the package to the insertion part of the post section, or when it retrieves the tray containing the package from the insertion part, the delivery robot's sensor detects an object in another insertion part of the post section. The information update unit may update the post-state information of the storage unit based on the information of the object detected by the sensor. On this flight, When the delivery robot delivers the tray containing the package to the insertion part of the post section, or when it retrieves the tray containing the package from the insertion part, the delivery robot's sensors detect an object in the insertion part of another post section located along the path it is traveling to the post section. The information update unit may update the post status information of the storage unit based on information about the object detected by the sensor of the delivery robot. On this flight, Multiple delivery robots perform delivery and retrieval to the same post slot, and the sensors of each delivery robot detect objects within the same post slot. The information update unit may update the post-state information of the storage unit by comparing the information of the objects detected by each of the sensors. On this flight, The aforementioned package has a predetermined deadline for the user to receive it. After the delivery robot delivers the package to the insertion part of the post section, it moves to the post section within a predetermined time after the pickup deadline, and the delivery robot's sensors may detect an object inside the insertion part of the post section. [Effects of the Invention] 【0007】 According to the present disclosure, a delivery management system capable of suppressing delivery costs can be provided. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0008】 [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the delivery management system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the configurations of the post section, the delivery robot, and the terminal. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the server device according to the present embodiment. 【Modes for Carrying Out the Invention】 【0009】 Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the delivery management system according to the present embodiment. 【0010】 For example, a user places a package to be delivered in a post section 2 arranged at a predetermined position. The delivery robot 3 takes out the package B placed in the post section 2 and delivers it to the post section 2 arranged at the destination. Alternatively, the delivery robot 3 receives a package addressed to the user from the post section 2 arranged at the origin and delivers the package to the post section 2 at a predetermined position. The user receives the package from the post section 2 at the predetermined position. The delivery management system 1 according to the present embodiment manages the delivery by the above-described delivery robot 3. 【0011】 The delivery management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a post section 2 where packages and the like are delivered, a delivery robot 3 that delivers packages and the like, a terminal 4 held by a user or the like, and a server device 5. 【0012】 These post section 2, delivery robot 3, terminal 4, and server device 5 are interconnected via a network 6. Here, the network 6 may be a wired or wireless communication line, for example, the Internet. 【0013】 The post section 2 is arranged, for example, near the residence of the recipient or sender of the package. The post section 2 includes, for example, a frame body 21 and an insertion section 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The frame body 21 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape as the basic form when viewed from the front, and the front and rear surfaces of the frame body 21 are open. 【0014】 On the inner surface of the frame body 21, a plurality of pairs of insertion sections 22 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the frame body 21. The insertion section 22 is composed of, for example, a pair of rails or the like. The insertion section 22 extends in the front-rear direction of the frame body 21 and supports the tray 24 by placing the flange of the tray 24 thereon. Identification information including the position information of the height of each insertion section 22 is attached to each of the plurality of insertion sections 22. 【0015】 The tray 24 has, for example, a flat plate shape capable of placing the package B as the basic form as shown in FIG. 2, and a flange protrudes from the side of the tray 24. And on the side surface of the tray 24, a tag 241 in which the identification information assigned to each tray 24 is stored is provided. 【0016】 The tag 241 may be an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag 241 or the like that can read the identification information by the NFC sensor 23. The tray 24 is, for example, repeatedly used for delivering the package B and is delivered together with the package B. The package B is placed on the pre-associated tray 24. 【0017】 The NFC sensor 23 is fixed to the frame body 21 for each insertion section 22 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The tray 24 is inserted and arranged in each insertion section 22. When the tray 24 is supported by the insertion section 22, the NFC sensor 23 reads the identification information of the tray 24 from the tag 241 of the tray 24. 【0018】 When the tray 24 is inserted into the insertion section 22, the NFC sensor 23 transmits the identification information of the tray 24, read from the tag 241 on the tray 24, and the identification information of the insertion section 22 to the server device 5. 【0019】 The delivery robot 3 is configured as an autonomous mobile robot capable of moving to any position while holding the tray 24 on which the package B is placed, as shown in Figure 2, for example. 【0020】 The delivery robot 3 delivers the package B to the post section 2 by inserting the tray 24 containing the package B into the insertion section 22 of the post section 2. Alternatively, the delivery robot 3 removes the tray 24 containing the package B from the insertion section 22 of the post section 2, collects it, and delivers it to a designated location. 【0021】 The delivery robot 3 has a detection sensor 31 that detects objects on the tray 24 inserted into the insertion section 22 of the post section 2. The detection sensor 31 is, for example, a camera. The camera can detect objects on the tray 24 by taking a picture of the tray 24 inserted into the insertion section 22. The delivery robot 3 transmits information about the objects on the tray 24 detected by the detection sensor 31 to the server device 5. 【0022】 Terminal 4 is a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet owned by user U. When user U receives package B from tray 24 located in insertion section 22 of post section 2, user U performs a predetermined operation on terminal 4. In response to this predetermined operation, terminal 4 transmits receipt information to server device 5 indicating that user U has received package B from tray 24. The receipt information includes identification information of tray 24. 【0023】 Furthermore, when user U places luggage B on the tray 24 located in the insertion section 22 of the post section 2, user U performs a predetermined operation on terminal 4. In response to this predetermined operation, terminal 4 transmits placement information to server device 5 indicating that user U has placed luggage B on the tray 24. The placement information includes identification information for tray 24. 【0024】 The server device 5 has a typical computer hardware configuration, including, for example, a processor 5a such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), internal memory 5b such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory), storage devices 5c such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), an input / output I / F 5d for connecting peripheral devices such as a display, and a communication I / F 5e for communicating with devices outside the device. 【0025】 Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the server device according to this embodiment. The server device 5 according to this embodiment includes a storage unit 51, an information update unit 52, and an instruction unit 53. 【0026】 The storage unit 51 stores post status information indicating the status of each insertion part 22 of the post unit 2. The status of the insertion part 22 includes information indicating the status of the insertion part 22, such as whether or not a tray 24 is inserted into the insertion part 22, identification information of the tray 24 inserted into the insertion part 22, and whether or not luggage B is placed on the tray 24 inserted into the insertion part 22. The storage unit 51 is composed of the above-mentioned storage device, etc. 【0027】 The information update unit 52 updates the post status information in the storage unit 51. The information update unit 52 updates the post status information in the storage unit 51 based on the information of the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 detected by the NFC sensor 23 of the post unit 2, the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, and the receipt information and placement information transmitted from the terminal 4. 【0028】 The instruction unit 53 issues instructions to the delivery robot 3 based on the post status information stored in the memory unit 51. Based on the post status information updated by the information update unit 52, the instruction unit 53 issues instructions to the delivery robot 3, such as delivering the tray 24 containing package B to the post unit 2, retrieving the tray 24 containing package B from the post unit 2, or retrieving only the tray 24 from the post unit 2. 【0029】 Next, we will explain a specific example of how to update the post-status information mentioned above. 【0030】 The information update unit 52 updates the post status information to indicate a normal state, showing that the insertion unit 22 corresponding to the receipt information of the post unit 2 is in the correct state, in accordance with the receipt information transmitted from the terminal 4. This means that the information update unit 52 updates the post status information as normal information, assuming that user U has successfully received package B from the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 of the post unit 2, based on the receipt information from the terminal 4. In this case, the instruction unit 53 instructs the delivery robot 3 to, for example, collect only the tray 24, based on the updated post status information as normal information. 【0031】 Here, for example, it is conceivable that user U might mistakenly operate terminal 4 and send receipt information even though they have not received package B from tray 24 of insertion section 22 of post section 2. 【0032】 In response to this, when the delivery robot 3 moves to the insertion section 22 of the post section 2 as an incidental operation, the information update unit 52, based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, determines that there is a package B on the tray 24 of the insertion section 22, and updates the post status information by changing the normal state of the post status information to an abnormal state indicating that the state of the insertion section 22 is incorrect and abnormal. 【0033】 In this case, the instruction unit 53 may, based on the updated post status information as abnormal information, instruct the delivery robot 3, for example, not to retrieve the tray 24. 【0034】 In this way, the information update unit 52 updates the post status information as normal information based on the information received from the terminal 4. However, if the information update unit 52 determines, based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, that there is actually a package B on the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 and that package B has not been received, it changes the normal status of the post status information to an abnormal status indicating that the insertion unit 22 is abnormal, and updates the post status information. This makes it possible to appropriately update the post status information, which indicates the internal state of the post unit 2, by utilizing the incidental operations of the delivery robot 3 during delivery. 【0035】 The information update unit 52 may also send a notification to user U's terminal 4 informing them of the abnormal state of the insertion unit 22. This allows user U to realize that they have mistakenly believed they have received package B from the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 of the post unit 2, even though they have not. 【0036】 Furthermore, the information update unit 52 updates the post status information to indicate a normal state, showing that the insertion unit 22 corresponding to the placement information of the post unit 2 is in the correct position, in accordance with the placement information transmitted from the terminal 4. This means that the information update unit 52 updates the post status information as normal information, assuming that user U has placed the specified package B on the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 of the post unit 2, based on the placement information from the terminal 4. 【0037】 In this case, the instruction unit 53 may, based on the updated post status information (reservation information) as normal information, instruct the delivery robot 3 to, for example, remove the tray 24 on which package B is placed from the insertion part 22 of the post unit 2, retrieve it, and deliver it to a predetermined location. 【0038】 Here, for example, it is conceivable that user U may have not placed luggage B on the tray 24 of the insertion section 22 of post section 2, or may have placed a different luggage B than the designated luggage B, but mistakenly operates terminal 4 and transmits placement information. 【0039】 In response to this, when the delivery robot 3 moves to the insertion section 22 of the post section 2 as an incidental operation, the information update unit 52, based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, determines that there is no predetermined package B on the tray 24 of the insertion section 22, and changes the status from normal to abnormal, indicating that the status of the insertion section 22 is incorrect and abnormal, and updates the post status information. 【0040】 In this case, the instruction unit 53 may, based on the updated post status information as abnormal information, instruct, for example, not to retrieve the tray 24 on which package B is placed from the insertion part 22 of the post unit 2. 【0041】 In this way, the information update unit 52 updates the post status information as normal information based on the placement information from the terminal 4. However, if the information update unit 52 determines, based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, that the predetermined package B is not actually on the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22, it changes the normal status of the post status information to an abnormal status indicating that the state of the insertion unit 22 is incorrect and an unknown object is placed there, and updates the post status information. This makes it possible to appropriately update the post status information indicating the internal state of the post unit 2 by utilizing the incidental operations of the delivery robot 3 during delivery. 【0042】 The information update unit 52 may also send a notification to user U's terminal 4 informing them of the abnormal state of the insertion unit 22. This allows user U to realize that they have mistakenly believed that the designated package B is placed on the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 of the post unit 2, even though it is not. 【0043】 In the delivery management system 1 according to this embodiment, the information update unit 52 more accurately updates the post status information in the storage unit 51 based on the information of the tray 24 of the insertion unit 22 detected by the NFC sensor 23 of the post unit 2, the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3, and the receipt information and placement information transmitted from the terminal 4. Then, the instruction unit 53 gives instructions to the delivery robot 3 based on the accurately updated post status information. 【0044】 Here, when the delivery robot 3 delivers or collects from the post unit 2, it uses its detection sensor 31 to detect information about the object. The information update unit 52 then updates the post status information in the storage unit 51 more accurately based on the information about the object detected by the delivery robot 3's detection sensor 31. 【0045】 Therefore, by utilizing the ancillary operations of the delivery robot 3, such as delivery and collection, to appropriately update the post state information indicating the internal state of the post unit 2, the delivery robot 3 can perform more efficient deliveries and reduce delivery costs. 【0046】 Embodiment 2 【0047】 In this embodiment, when the delivery robot 3 delivers the tray 24 containing the package B to the insertion section 22 of the post section 2, or when it retrieves the tray 24 containing the package B from the insertion section 22, the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3 may detect an object in another insertion section 22 of the post section 2. At this time, the information update unit 52 may update the post state information in the storage unit 51 based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31. This makes it possible to appropriately update the post state information, which indicates the internal state of the post section 2, by utilizing the incidental operations of the delivery robot 3 during delivery. 【0048】 Furthermore, when the delivery robot 3 delivers the tray 24 containing package B to the insertion section 22 of the post section 2, or when it retrieves the tray 24 containing package B from the insertion section 22, the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3 may detect an object in the insertion section 22 of another post section 2 that is located along the path to the post section 2. At this time, the information update unit 52 may update the post state information in the storage unit 51 based on the information of the object detected by the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3. This makes it possible to appropriately update the post state information, which indicates the internal state of the post section 2, by utilizing the incidental operations of the delivery robot 3 during delivery. 【0049】 Furthermore, multiple delivery robots 3 may perform delivery and retrieval to the same insertion section 22 of the post section 2, and each delivery robot 3's detection sensor 31 may detect an object inside the same insertion section 22 of the post section 2. The information update unit 52 may compare the information of the objects detected by each detection sensor 31 and update the post state information in the storage unit 51. This makes it possible to more accurately update the post state information, which indicates the internal state of the post section 2, by utilizing the incidental operations of delivery by multiple delivery robots 3. 【0050】 At this time, the information update unit 52 may take a majority vote based on the information of the objects detected by each detection sensor 31 and designate the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3 that outputs a different result as abnormal. For example, an abnormal detection sensor 31 can be quickly replaced with a normal detection sensor 31. 【0051】 Furthermore, if the detection result of the delivery robot 3's detection sensor 31 differs from the detection result of the NFC sensor 23 of the post unit 2, the information update unit 52 may indicate that the delivery robot 3's detection sensor 31 is abnormal. This is because the NFC sensor 23 of the post unit 22 has a higher reliability. 【0052】 Furthermore, package B may have a predetermined deadline for user U to receive package B. Package B may be, for example, a frozen or refrigerated product. After delivering package B to the insertion section 22 of post section 2, the delivery robot 3 may move to post section 2 within a predetermined time after the receipt deadline. At this time, the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3 detects an object inside the insertion section 22 of post section 2. 【0053】 If the delivery robot 3 determines, based on information about the object in the insertion section 22 detected by the detection sensor 31, that package B, which has a set pickup deadline, has not been picked up, it may retrieve package B. After a certain period of time has passed since the pickup deadline for package B, the quality of package B, such as frozen or refrigerated goods, may deteriorate. For this reason, if the delivery robot 3 determines that package B, which has a set pickup deadline, has not been picked up, it will retrieve package B. 【0054】 Furthermore, if the detection sensor 31 of the delivery robot 3 detects one object within the post unit 2, and the NFC sensor 23 of the post unit 2 detects that a tray 24 is inserted into that area, the information update unit 52 may update the post state information to indicate that there are two objects with the detected tray 24 as the boundary. This is because it is not possible to insert a tray 24 into an area where an object already exists. 【0055】 While several embodiments of this disclosure have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. 【0056】 This disclosure also allows each of the processes performed by the delivery management system 1 described above to be implemented by having a processor execute a computer program. 【0057】 Programs can be stored and supplied to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / Ws, and semiconductor memory (e.g., mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, RAMs (random access memory)). 【0058】 Programs may be supplied to a computer by various types of transient computer-readable medium. Examples of transient computer-readable medium include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer-readable medium can be supplied to a computer via wired communication channels such as electric wires and optical fibers, or via wireless communication channels. 【0059】 Each component of the delivery management system 1 according to this embodiment can be implemented not only by program, but also partially or entirely by dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). [Explanation of symbols] 【0060】 1 Delivery management system, 2 Post box, 3 Delivery robot, 4 Terminal, 5 Server device, 5a Processor, 5b Internal memory, 5c Storage device, 6 Network, 21 Frame, 22 Insertion section, 23 NFC sensor, 24 Tray, 31 Detection sensor, 51 Storage unit, 52 Information update unit, 53 Instruction unit, 241 Tag

Claims

[Claim 1] The luggage is placed on a pre-assigned tray, and the luggage and tray can be inserted into each insertion part, and a sensor is provided in each insertion part to detect information about the tray inserted into each insertion part, A delivery robot having a sensor that delivers the tray on which the package is placed to the insertion part of the post section, or retrieves the tray on which the package is placed from the insertion part, and detects the object on the tray inserted into the insertion part of the post section, A terminal that transmits receipt information indicating that the user has received a package from a tray placed in the insertion part of the post unit, and placement information indicating that the user has placed a package on the tray placed in the insertion part of the post unit, A storage unit that stores post status information indicating the state of the insertion part of the post, An information update unit updates the post status information of the storage unit based on the information of the tray in the insertion section detected by the sensor in the post section, the information of the object detected by the sensor of the delivery robot, and the receipt information and placement information transmitted from the terminal. An instruction unit provides instructions to the delivery robot to deliver the tray containing the package and to retrieve the tray containing the package, based on the post status information updated by the information update unit. Equipped with, Delivery management system. [Claim 2] A delivery management system according to claim 1, The information update unit updates the post status information to a normal state, indicating that the insertion part of the post unit corresponding to the received information transmitted from the terminal is functioning correctly, in accordance with the received information transmitted from the terminal. When the delivery robot moves to the insertion section of the post unit, if the information update unit determines, based on the information of the object detected by the delivery robot's sensor, that there is a package on the tray of the insertion section, it changes the normal state to an abnormal state indicating that the insertion section is abnormal and updates the post status information. Delivery management system. [Claim 3] A delivery management system according to claim 1, The information update unit updates the post status information to a normal state, indicating that the insertion part corresponding to the placement information of the post part is functioning correctly, in accordance with the placement information transmitted from the terminal. When the delivery robot moves to the insertion section of the post unit, if the information update unit determines, based on the information of the object detected by the delivery robot's sensor, that there is no predetermined package on the tray of the insertion section, it changes the normal state to an abnormal state indicating that the insertion section is abnormal and updates the post status information. Delivery management system. [Claim 4] A delivery management system according to claim 1, When the delivery robot delivers the tray containing the package to the insertion part of the post section, or when it retrieves the tray containing the package from the insertion part, the delivery robot's sensor detects an object in another insertion part of the post section. The information update unit updates the post-state information of the storage unit based on the information of the object detected by the sensor. Delivery management system. [Claim 5] A delivery management system according to claim 1, When the delivery robot delivers the tray containing the package to the insertion part of the post section, or when it retrieves the tray containing the package from the insertion part, the delivery robot's sensors detect an object in the insertion part of another post section located along the path it is traveling to the post section. The information update unit updates the post state information of the storage unit based on the information of the object detected by the sensor of the delivery robot. Delivery management system.

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