Method for delivering a plurality of packages transported on a commercial vehicle

Abstract

Method for managing a plurality of packages (P) to be delivered, transported on a commercial vehicle (1) including a cargo cabin (2) for storing packages (P) to be delivered, wherein the cargo cabin (2) comprises a plurality of horizontal support planes (3), occupied by a plurality of containers (4) placed side by side along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y), each shaped like a box to respectively contain one or more packages (P) to be delivered, wherein each support plane (3) and the related containers (4) comprise support and sliding means for supporting the containers (4) on the support plane (3) and allowing the sliding of the containers (4) towards to an exit door (5), wherein the support planes (3) comprise a gripping system (7) provided for gripping the containers (4) and moving one gripped container towards the respective exit door (5), wherein each support plane (3) comprises at least one empty compartment (17) sized to receive one container (4), for enabling the movement of the containers (4) adjacent to the empty compartment (17) along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y).

Description

[0001] “Method for delivering a plurality of packages transported on a commercial vehicle”

[0002] ****

[0003] TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0004] Field of the invention

[0005] This invention relates to a method for delivering a plurality of packages transported on a commercial vehicle comprising a cargo cabin for storing packages, or the like, to be delivered to respective delivery addresses, wherein the cargo cabin includes item placing means adapted for carrying out an ordered arrangement of packages to be delivered, so as to achieve precise and defined positions for each package inside the cargo cabin.

[0006] This invention finds particular application, although not limiting, in the field of self-driving commercial vehicles.

[0007] Prior art

[0008] As it is known, commercial vehicles of the type indicated above are widely used to perform home delivery services of the transported items.

[0009] Conventionally, the vehicles are driven manually by an operator, who, upon reaching a delivery destination, must appropriately park the vehicle, get out of the driving cabin, access to the cargo cabin, search, inside the cabin, for the correct package to be delivered and manually pick up the package for delivery.

[0010] Conventionally, the cargo cabin can be equipped with a free central corridor that allows the operator to enter the cabin to search for the correct package to deliver, and two lateral shelves in which the various packages to be delivered are stored.

[0011] The set of manual operations indicated above, relating to the selection and pick-up of a specific package, is not fully satisfactory from various points of view.

[0012] First of all, the time required by the operator to access to the cargo cabin, to find the package to be delivered and pick it up, added up for a significant number of daily deliveries, constitutes a particularly significant downtime in the execution of a complex delivery route. Furthermore, although during the loading phase the packages can be positioned according to an advantageous arrangement based on the delivery that the operator will take, the phase of selection and pick-up of the packages can be particularly complicated, also considering the possible change of the delivery route compared to what was originally planned. In this situation, in fact, some packages specifically positioned in certain positions at the back of the cabin may be difficult to pick up in the event of a change of the scheduled delivery route. Furthermore, once the vehicle reaches its destination, the phases of selection and pick-up of the correct package to be delivered are entirely assigned to the good judgment of the operator, thus being susceptible to delivery errors.

[0013] Currently, even the general organization of the items transported in the cargo cabin is not fully satisfactory, as a significant part of the cabin space is left free to allow the operator to enter the cabin to search for and pick up the correct package, thus reducing the transport capacity of the vehicle.

[0014] Document EP 3157781 B1 illustrates a commercial vehicle solution of the type indicated above, including support means to facilitate the loading phase of the packages inside the cabin, allowing the operator to easily load the items into the cabin using all the available space.

[0015] In the context outlined above, this invention starts from the desire to provide a commercial vehicle and a related method for delivering packages designed to maximize the efficiency of the unloading and delivery phases of the transported packages, fully exploiting the vehicle’s loading capacity and eliminating possible errors in the evaluation of the correct package by the operator.

[0016] Object of the invention

[0017] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a commercial vehicle and a related method that meet the above-mentioned needs.

[0018] More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of the type indicated at the beginning of this disclosure, designed to perform automated management of the packages transported in the cargo cabin of the vehicle.

[0019] A further aim of the invention is to achieve the aforementioned objects by eliminating delivery errors that could be made by the operator driving the commercial vehicle.

[0020] A further object of the invention is to provide a method that can be implemented on commercial manual driving or self-driving vehicles with different sizes.

[0021] Summary of the invention

[0022] The above-listed purposes are achieved by a method having the features indicated in the attached claim 1 .

[0023] The further attached claims define additional features of the invention.

[0024] Brief description of the figures

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0026] - figure 1 is a schematic side view of a commercial vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a loading phase of the items to be delivered is shown,

[0027] - figure 2A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a plurality of horizontal support planes spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction of the vehicle, inside the cargo cabin, arranged to accommodate a plurality of containers containing one or more packages to be delivered,

[0028] - figure 2B is a schematic perspective view of one of the containers containing a package to be delivered, positioned on one of the support planes,

[0029] - figure 2C is a further schematic side view of a commercial vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0030] - figure 2D is a schematic plan view highlighting one of the horizontal support planes positioned within the cargo cabin,

[0031] - figure 3 is a schematic side view of a commercial vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a delivery phase of the transported items is shown,

[0032] - figures 4, 5 are further perspective views of a container arranged to contain one or more packages to be delivered, - figures 6, 7 are respectively a side view and an elevation view illustrating a support plane for positioning a plurality of containers,

[0033] - figure 7 is an elevation view of a support plane and of the related containers movable along the longitudinal and transversal direction of the vehicle,

[0034] - figures 8, 9 are schematic views of a gripping system spaced above the containers and the related support plane, provided for gripping the containers and moving the containers along the support plane,

[0035] - figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating further features of a container, according to a preferred embodiment,

[0036] - figure 11 is a schematic side view of the containers positioned on the support plane and the gripping system spaced above the containers,

[0037] - figures 12A, 12B are schematic side views of a gripping unit, according to different embodiments,

[0038] - figures 13, 14 are schematic elevation views of a support plane comprising an empty compartment without a container, so as to allow the movement of several containers to a position adjacent to an exit door for unloading the selected container, and

[0039] - figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating an unloading phase of a package positioned within a determined container.

[0040] Detailed description of various embodiments

[0041] In the following description, various specific details are illustrated to provide a thorough understanding of examples of one or more embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc.

[0042] In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments. Reference to “an / one embodiment” in this disclosure means that a particular configuration, structure, or feature described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment.

[0043] Thus, phrases such as “in an / one embodiment,” which may appear in several places in this disclosure, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0044] Furthermore, particular conformations, structures or features may be combined in an appropriate way in one or more embodiments and / or associated with the embodiments in a way other than as illustrated herein, so that for example a feature exemplified herein in relation to one figure may be applied to one or more embodiments exemplified in a different figure.

[0045] The references illustrated herein are for convenience only and therefore do not delimit the extent of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0046] In figures 1 , 2C, 3, reference 1 indicates, as a whole, a commercial vehicle comprising a cargo cabin 2 for storing packages P, or the like, to be delivered to respective delivery addresses, and a driver’s cabin for controlling the vehicle, separated from the cargo cabin 2 by at least one substantially vertical partition. In a way known per se, the vehicle 1 may comprise a rear or side door for accessing to the cargo cabin 2.

[0047] It should be noted that this invention finds advantageous application, although not limitative, for a self-driving commercial vehicle 1 , in which the operator seated inside the driving cabin is assigned to supervise the route taken by the vehicle 1 and to deliver the items once the vehicle 1 has reached its destination.

[0048] As will be detailed below, the commercial vehicle 1 implements an automated method for managing the packages to be delivered to respective delivery addresses, which allows to optimize a delivery service performed with the commercial vehicle, in particular the related phases of selecting and unloading the packages from the cargo cabin 2.

[0049] According to a first feature, the cargo cabin 2 comprises item placing means adapted for carrying out an ordered arrangement of packages to be delivered, thus defining precise positions inside the cargo cabin 2 for each package to be delivered.

[0050] In accordance with what is illustrated in figures 1 -3, 6-8, the placing means comprise a plurality of horizontal support planes 3 extending along the longitudinal and transversal direction X, Y of the vehicle 1 , spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction Z of the vehicle 1 .

[0051] With particular reference to figures 2A, 2B, 2D, 8, each horizontal support plane 3 comprises a plurality of available spaces sized to accommodate a plurality of containers 4 placed side by side along the longitudinal transversal direction X, Y. In accordance with what is highlighted in figure 2B, the containers 4 are for example shaped like a box, each containing one or more packages P to be delivered to a respective delivery address. As discussed in detail below, in the case in which a single container 4 contains more than one package P, they are to be delivered in the same urban area or in different neighboring urban areas, in such a way as to optimize the transport of the packages P and the delivery method.

[0052] According to a further feature, the support planes 3 have the same sizes and substantially correspond, along the longitudinal and transversal direction X, Y of the vehicle, to the sizes of the cargo cabin 2 of the vehicle 1 . The containers 4 are also identical to each other, in order to allow, as detailed below, automatic movement of the containers 4, to change the arrangement of the containers 4 on the related support plane 3. In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in figures 4, 5, each container 4 comprises an overall shape substantially cubic or rectangular parallelepiped, having a lower wall 8 cooperating with the support plane 3, and four side walls 9 orthogonal to the lower wall 8. As illustrated in figure 15, at least one wall of the container 4, preferably all the side walls 9, comprise quick release means to open the container 4 and access to the package P contained therein.

[0053] By way of non-limiting example, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 1 -3, the cargo cabin 2 may comprise a lower support plane, an upper support plane, and an intermediate support plane spaced between the lower support plane and the upper support plane. It will therefore be appreciated that in the case of the invention, the cargo cabin 2 is completely dedicated to loading the items, without having to sacrifice part of the loading capacity to allow the operator to enter the cabin to pick up the packages to be delivered. The methods of selecting and unloading the transported packages are detailed in the following description.

[0054] As illustrated in figure 1 , in order to carry out a loading phase of the containers 4 on the compartments of each support plane 3, each support plane 3 is slidably mounted inside the cargo cabin 2, so that it can be moved from a loading position inside the cabin (figures 2, 3) to a temporary position protruding outside the cabin (figure 1 ). In this way, as illustrated in figure 1 , the operator will be able to easily position the containers 4 on the base surface of the plane 3 even in areas opposite to the one adjacent to the access door to the cabin 2, and / or fill the containers 4 already positioned on the plane 3 with one or more packages P. To allow the planes 3 to slide outside the cabin 2, each support plane 3 can have a pair of opposite lateral guides mounted sliding within respective sliding counterparts integrated inside the cabin.

[0055] According to a further feature illustrated in figures 1 , 2A, 2C, 3, 13- 15, the cargo cabin 2 comprises, for each support surface 3, at least one exit door 5 for unloading one specific container 4 positioned onto the respective support surface 3. Advantageously, the exit doors 5 can be positioned along one of the side walls of the cargo cabin 2, so that the operator, once he has left the driving cabin, can access to a container 4 immediately adjacent to a door 5 possibly equipped with signalling means 6 to promptly signal to the operator the correct door to open and the corresponding container 4 to be removed.

[0056] In accordance with what is illustrated in figures 4-11 , the vehicle 1 according to the invention also comprises, for each support plane 3:

[0057] - support and sliding means for supporting the containers 4 on the support plane 3 and allow sliding of the containers 3 on the support plane 3 along the longitudinal and transversal direction X, Y of the vehicle, possibly approaching the exit door 5,

[0058] - a gripping system 7, preferably spaced above the containers 4 of the related support plane 3, provided for gripping the containers 4 and moving one gripped container on the support plane 3, possibly approaching the exit door 5.

[0059] Some preferred embodiments of the support and sliding means for supporting the containers 4 on the support plane 3 and allow sliding of the containers 3 on the support plane 3 along the longitudinal and transversal direction X, Y of the vehicle 1 are described below.

[0060] In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in figures 6-8, the support plane 3 comprises a perimeter structure 10 including two longitudinal guide tracks 10’ and two transversal guide tracks 10”, to allow the containers 4 to slide on the support plane 3 along the longitudinal and transversal directions X, Y. Each container 4 may include a base structure extending along all its sides, comprising a plurality of sliding guides 11 arranged for interacting with the guide tracks 10’, 10” and with sliding guides 11 of an adjacent container 4, to allow sliding along the horizontal directions X, Y. More specifically, as illustrated in figures 4-7, the sliding guides 11 of each container 4 may comprise protruding sliding elements 11’ and corresponding sliding receptacles 11 ”. The protruding sliding elements 1 T of a container 4 are arranged to cooperate with the sliding receptacles 11 ” of the other containers 4 and with the perimeter structure 10. Similarly, the sliding receptacles 11 ” of a container 4 are arranged to cooperate with the protruding sliding elements 1 T of the other containers 4 and with the perimeter structure 10.

[0061] According to the embodiment illustrated in the elevation view of figure 7, note that each container 4 comprises on its four sides a pair of sliding receptacles 11 ” and a pair of protruding sliding elements 1 T; the perimeter structure 10 of the support plane 3 is formed by a longitudinal track 10’ with a protruding profile, a longitudinal track 10’ with a receptacle profile, a transversal track 10” with a protruding profile and a transversal track 10” with a receptacle profile. In this way, all the containers 4 can slide along the longitudinal and transversal directions X, Y towards all sides of the cabin 2.

[0062] According to a further preferred feature illustrated in figure 5, the lower wall 8 of each container 4 is equipped with rolling means 12 cooperating with the support surface of the support plane 3, so as to facilitate the sliding of the containers 4 along the longitudinal and transversal direction X, Y of the vehicle 1 , above the support plane 3. In other embodiments, the support plane 3 is devoid of a support base surface, since the containers 4 are supported by the perimeter structure 10 of the support plane and by the interaction between the sliding receptacles 11 ” and the protruding sliding elements 1 T of the containers 4.

[0063] As indicated above, each support plane 3 comprises a gripping system 7 provided for gripping the containers 4 and moving one gripped container 4 towards the respective exit door 5. Preferably, the gripping systems 7 are respectively spaced above a support plane 3, so as to interact with the upper parts of the containers 4 of the related support plane 3. In the case in which the support planes 3 do not have a support base surface, the gripping systems 7 can be respectively spaced below a support plane. In the latter case, a single gripping system 7 can interact with the lower parts of the containers of a first support plane and with the upper parts of the containers of a second support plane.

[0064] Some preferred embodiments of the gripping system 7 are described below.

[0065] In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in figures 8, 9, each gripping system 7 comprises a support and guide frame 13, at least one gripping unit 14 supported by the frame 13, configured to grip a determined container 4, and drive means 15 for moving the gripping unit 14 on the support frame 13 along at least the longitudinal and transversal horizontal directions X, Y of the vehicle 1 .

[0066] In one or more embodiments, the support and guide frame 13 comprises a pair of longitudinal members 13’ spaced along the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle at opposite sides of the cargo cabin 2, and a transversal member 13” having opposite ends slidably engaged on one respective longitudinal member 13’. The gripping unit 14 is slidably mounted along the transversal member 13”. It will therefore be appreciated that the gripping unit 14 is movable along at least two mutually orthogonal axes (X and Y), according to a configuration substantially similar to that of a Cartesian robot, so as to be able to reach any container 4 positioned on the related support plane 3.

[0067] With reference to the embodiment illustrated in figure 9, the drive means 15 may comprise a screw-nut screw system 15’ to control the movement of the transversal element 13” and a motorized belt 15” to actuate the movement of the gripping unit 14 along the transversal element 13”. The actuation of said systems 15’, 15” is controlled by respective actuators of any known type (not illustrated in the attached drawings). Of course, for the implementation of the invention other types of drive means

[0068] 15 may be provided, as long as they are functional to achieve the intended purposes.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, the gripping unit 14 comprises a gripping element having an overall shape designed for gripping the containers 4, at an upper portion thereof. In this perspective, with reference to figure 10, each container 4 can comprise a gripping structure 16 spaced along its upper wall opposite the lower wall 8. The upper wall can be simply defined solely by the gripping structure 16. Preferably, the gripping structure

[0070] 16 comprises a receiving seat 16’ arranged to cooperate with the gripping unit 14. Advantageously, the receiving seat 16’ is arranged in a substantially central position of the upper wall of the container 4. In the case in which the gripping systems 7 are respectively spaced below a support plane 3, said gripping structure 16 can be provided on the lower walls 8 of the containers 4.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, the gripping system 7 is configured to carry out a movement of the gripping unit 14 also along a vertical direction Z perpendicular to said horizontal longitudinal and transversal directions X, Y. In this case, once the correct position has been reached along the horizontal directions X, Y, aligned with a determined container 4 to be gripped, the gripping unit 14 is vertically moved towards the container to attach the receiving seat 16’. In accordance with the embodiment of figure 12A, the system 7 can comprise a rack and pinion mechanism associated with the gripping element, in which a rack 14’ is integral with the gripping element movable along the vertical direction Z, to attach a determined container 4 to be moved along the support plane 3. In any case, the gripping element and the receiving seat 16’ can be designed to provide a ready attachment even without the vertical movement of the gripping element (for example made with locking / unlocking means, such as a lock, magnetic means, or quick coupling and release means).

[0072] In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in figure 12B, the gripping unit 14 comprises magnetic or electromagnetic coupling means, in particular a first magnetic element 18 associated with the gripping element, and a second magnetic element 19 associated with the gripping structure 16 of each container 4. After the gripping unit 14 has moved along the horizontal directions X, Y, to be vertically aligned with a determined container 4 to be gripped, the first magnetic element 18 can be advantageously activated to come in contact with the second magnetic element 19. The latter, following the activation of the first magnetic element 18, is arranged to move vertically and make the coupling with the first magnetic element 18. This vertical movement is made possible because the second magnetic element 19 (for example made as a plate) is connected to the container 4 be means of a flexible structure in the vertical direction.

[0073] As previously indicated, the gripping system 7 is provided for gripping the containers in order to move one determined gripped container towards the respective exit door 5.

[0074] With reference to the schematic views of figures 13, 14, note that each support plane 3 comprises at least one empty compartment 17 without container 4, so as to allow the movement of the containers 4 along the horizontal directions X, Y, to get closer one determined container 4 to the exit door 5, until it is positioned in a position adjacent to the door 5. By exploiting said empty compartment 17, the gripping unit 14 can be controlled to grip and move a plurality of containers 4 that are interposed between the exit door 5 and a determined container 4 to be delivered. It will therefore be appreciated that in order to allow the movement of the containers 5 by means of the gripping unit 14, according to predetermined movement combinations, all the containers 4 have the same size, so that it is possible to plan the movements of the gripping unit 14 according to predetermined paths to reach all the containers 4 accommodated on one determined support plane 3.

[0075] According to a further relevant feature, the commercial vehicle 1 comprises an electronic controller E (illustrated schematically in figure 1 ) configured and programmed to manage the movement of the containers 4 positioned on the support planes 3.

[0076] In one or more embodiments, the electronic controller E is configured and programmed to:

[0077] - storing a plurality of information relating to each container 4 containing one or more package P to be delivered, including the position of each container 4 in the cargo cabin 2 and the delivery address of each package P,

[0078] - for each support plane 3, controlling the movement of the gripping unit 14 for relocating the different containers 4 according to different movement combinations, in order to get closer one determined container 4 to be delivered to the exit door 5, until it is positioned in a position adjacent to the door 5 for unloading by an operator.

[0079] According to a further feature, the commercial vehicle may comprise in the driver’s cabin at least one human-machine interface device, capable of allowing the operator to monitor and / or set and / or change one or more phases of the delivery process. According to a further feature, the humanmachine interface device is configured and programmed to display information relating to the packages P, for example the position of the packages P inside the containers 4. Such information can also be reproduced on a portable device such as a tablet or smartphone held by the operator.

[0080] According to a further feature, the containers 4 can be kept in place by a locking device (not illustrated) managed by the electronic controller E, in order to avoid unwanted sliding (along the horizontal directions X, Y) of the containers 4 during the route of the vehicle. Preferably, the locking device is a pin interfaced to the lower base wall of the containers. All the containers 4 are therefore locked in position with the locking device in the active position, only the container 4 that must be moved (one of the containers adjacent to the empty compartment 17) will have the locking device in the deactivated position.

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the electronic controller E is configured and programmed to uniquely store the position of the containers 4 in the cargo cabin 2. In the loading phase of the containers 2 on the support planes 3, the electronic controller E establishes an identification code suitable for identifying a specific container 4 placed at a specific compartment of the support plane 3. In one or more embodiments, the electronic controller E is also configured and programmed to store a respective delivery address, for each package P loaded into each container 4. The delivery addresses can be manually entered by the vehicle occupant on a control panel of a satellite navigator in communication with the vehicle or on a human-machine interface device (for example a tablet or a smartphone), or downloaded automatically by the electronic controller E from a remote server. According to a further feature, the packages P loaded in the containers 4 are monitored by the operator on board the vehicle and / or remotely via identification devices such as radio frequency identification (RFID).

[0082] According to a further feature, knowing all the delivery addresses of the packages P and the position of the packages P inside the cargo cabin 2, the electronic controller E is configured and programmed to communicate with the vehicle’s satellite navigation device, to plan and / or implement a delivery route to deliver the transported packages in a predetermined order based on the position of the commercial vehicle 1 and the delivery addresses. In the case of a self-driving vehicle, the occupant validates the proposed destination and the vehicle autonomously reaches the delivery addresses in the previously established order.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the electronic controller E is configured and programmed to determine the position on each support plane 3 of at least one empty compartment 17, processing this position on the basis of the positions of the containers 4 on each support plane 3.

[0084] The electronic controller E is then configured and programmed to control the movement of the gripping unit 14 of each support plane 3, for relocating the different containers 4 according to different movement combinations, in order to get closer one determined container 4 to be delivered to the exit door 5, until it is positioned in a position adjacent to the door 5 for unloading by an operator.

[0085] In one or more embodiments, the movement of the gripping unit 14 is carried out during the route of the commercial vehicle towards one determined destination, so that when the vehicle reaches its destination, the container relating to that destination is already in a position ready for the pick-up.

[0086] During the route to the delivery address and / or once the delivery address has been reached to deliver one of the transported packages, the electronic controller E is programmed to determine the package that must be delivered first and to carry out the related movements of the containers 4 within the support plane 3 to get closer the package P to be delivered to the exit door 5.

[0087] The electronic controller E can be configured and programmed to identify a specific package to be delivered among the plurality of containers 4 positioned within the cargo cabin 2, based on a delivery address reached by the vehicle to deliver said package.

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the gripping unit 14 controls the movement of the containers 4 according to a pre-established delivery order previously determined.

[0089] In one or more embodiments, the gripping unit 14 controls the movement of the containers 4 according to a variable delivery order based on the route taken by the vehicle in real time or on a modification implemented on a satellite navigation device associated with the vehicle.

[0090] In one or more embodiments, the electronic controller E is in communication with a remote control unit designed to supervise the delivery process of the vehicle. A remote operator can therefore view and monitor the delivery process of the vehicle, displaying its position, the planned delivery route, and possibly send to the vehicle operator, or directly to the vehicle if it is a self-driving vehicle, requests for route variations as a function of road blocks, heavy traffic, and / or delays in the delivery plan compared to an original planification.

[0091] According to a feature illustrated in figure 13, the commercial vehicle 1 can provide, for each support plane 3, a plurality of exit doors 5, so as to reduce the number of movements necessary to move a specific container 4 to the unloading position. In this perspective, the electronic controller E will be configured to automatically select the exit door 5 closest to the package to be delivered, positioned in a specific container 4 on one of the support surfaces 3.

[0092] By way of a non-limiting example, the vehicle 1 may comprise one or more exit doors 5 on one or more sides of the cargo cabin 2, and / or a door 5 positioned on the partition between the driver’s cabin and the cargo cabin.

[0093] In one or more embodiments, in which several exit doors 5 are provided, the electronic controller E may be configured to automatically select the exit door considered safest for the operator based on information relating to the road and / or the parking area in which the vehicle is located, made available to the vehicle by means of one or more on-board video cameras designed to monitor the external perimeter of the vehicle and identify potential dangers and critical issues, which may be displayed on the interface device and / or signaled with acoustic warnings.

[0094] Once the destination has been reached, when the occupant gets out of the driver’s cabin to deliver a specific package, the container 4 containing the items to be delivered will be positioned adjacent to the exit door 5, possibly signalled to the operator with the signalling means 6.

[0095] Figure 15 illustrates an embodiment of the exit door and dynamics for unloading the previously selected and moved container. In one or more embodiments, the container comprises at least one opening wall, equipped with quick release means, to access to the package contained inside the container.

[0096] According to a further feature, the commercial vehicle 1 may comprise a plurality of warning devices suitable for signalling to the operator a mismatch between the package to be delivered and the delivery address reached, in the event that the correct package to be delivered is not inside the cargo cabin 2.

[0097] According to the features of the vehicle 1 described above, method for managing a plurality of packages to be delivered, implemented on the vehicle 1 , may comprise one or more of the following phases:

[0098] - loading the packages P into the containers 4 and possibly positioning the containers 4 on the support planes 3, possibly sliding the support planes 3, along the longitudinal direction X, from a loading position inside the cabin to a temporary position protruding outside the cabin,

[0099] - grouping a plurality of packages P that must be delivered in the same delivery area, inside a single container 4 or inside a plurality of adjacent containers 4 on the same support plane 3 and arranged on it,

[0100] - positioning the containers 4 and the related packages 4 in a position optimal for a subsequent delivery sequence, so as to minimize the number of movements of the containers 4 carried out by the gripping system 7,

[0101] - automatically establishing a first hypothesis of the vehicle delivery route, based on the information on the destinations of the packages P and their positions in the cabin,

[0102] - during a delivery route carried out by the vehicle 1 , moving the containers 4 by means of the gripping system 7,

[0103] - optimizing a previously set delivery route, as a function of road blocks, heavy traffic, and / or delays in the delivery plan compared to an original planification, and varying the position of the containers 4 with the gripping system 7 according to the new delivery route,

[0104] - monitoring by means of the human-machine interface device whether a package to be delivered has been moved to a delivery position adjacent to an exit door 5,

[0105] - enabling the opening of one or more exit doors (5) by means of a confirmation device, such as a wireless key.

[0106] Of course, notwithstanding the principle of the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method for delivering a plurality of packages (P) transported on a commercial vehicle (1 ), comprising the following phases:- providing a vehicle (1 ) including a cargo cabin (2) for storing packages (P), or the like, to be delivered to respective delivery addresses, wherein the cargo cabin (2) comprises a plurality of horizontal support planes (3), extending along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y) of the vehicle (1 ), and spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction (Z) of the vehicle (1 ), wherein each horizontal support plane (3) comprises a plurality of available spaces occupied by a plurality of containers (4) placed side by side along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y), each shaped like a box for containing respectively one or more packages (P) to be delivered, wherein said cargo cabin (2) comprises, for each support plane (3), at least one exit door (5) for unloading one specific container (4) positioned onto the respective support plane (3), wherein each support plane (3) and the related containers (4) comprise support and sliding means for supporting the containers (4) on the support plane (3) and allowing the sliding of the containers (4) along the longitudinal and transversal direction (X, Y) toward the exit door (5), wherein the support planes (3) comprise a gripping system (7) provided for gripping the containers (4) and moving one gripped container towards the respective exit door (5),- providing on each support plane (3) at least one empty compartment (17) sized to receive one container (4), for enabling the movement of the containers (4) adjacent to the empty compartment (17) along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y),- storing a plurality of information relative to each container (4) containing one or more packages (P) to be delivered, including the position of each container (4) in the cargo cabin (2), and the delivery address of each package (P),- automatically establishing a first hypothesis of the vehicle delivery route (1 ), based on said information,- for each support plane (3), moving the containers (4) according to different movement combinations, in order to get closer to the exit door (5)one determined container (4) to be delivered, until it is positioned in a position adjacent to the door (5) for unloading by an operator,- connecting the vehicle (1 ) to a remote control unit provided for monitoring the delivery process of the vehicle (1 ), and for sending requests of route variations to the operator on board the vehicle, or directly to the vehicle (1 ), as a function of road blocks, heavy traffic, and / or delays compared to an original planification,- varying the position of the containers (4) with the gripping system (7) according to the new delivery route.

2. Method according to claim 1 , comprising providing on the vehicle (1 ) at least one human-machine interface device to enable an operator to view said information.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising providing a locking member for each container (4) arranged for locking the container (4) in position on the support plane (3), and avoiding unwanted sliding along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y) during the movement of the vehicle (1 ), and controlling the locking member between an activated position and a deactivated position according to the need to move the containers (4) on the support planes (3).

4. A method according to any one of the previous claims, comprising moving the containers (4) during the vehicle route (1 ) towards a determined destination, in such a way that when the vehicle (1 ) reaches said destination, the container (4) relative to said destination is already at a position ready for the pick-up.

5. Method according to any one of the previous claims, comprising arranging a plurality of exit doors (5), so as to reduce the number of movements necessary to move one determined container (4) to the unloading position, and automatically selecting the exit door (5) closest to one determined package (P) to be delivered.

6. Method according to any one of the previous claims, comprising providing a plurality of warning devices adapted for signaling to an operator a mismatch between the package (P) to be delivered and the delivery address reached.

7. Method according to any one of the previous claims, comprising loading the packages (P) into the containers (4) by sliding the supportplanes (3) along the longitudinal direction (X), from a loading position inside the cargo cabin (2) to a temporary position protruding outside the cargo cabin (2).

8. Method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said gripping system (7) comprises a support and guide frame (13), at least one gripping unit (14) supported by the frame (13), configured to grip a determined container (4), and drive means (15) for moving the gripping unit (14) on the frame (13) along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y).

9. Method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said support and sliding means comprise:- a perimeter structure (10) of the support plane (3), including two longitudinal guide tracks (10’) and two transversal guide tracks (10”), to allow sliding of the containers (4) on the support plane (3) along the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y),- wherein each container (4) comprises a base structure having a plurality of sliding guides (11 ) arranged for interacting with the guide tracks (10’, 10”) and with sliding guides (11 ) of an adjacent container (4).

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein each container (4) comprises a gripping structure (16) having a receiving seat (16’) arranged to cooperate with the gripping unit (14).

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