Aerial Host Unit for Contactless Drive-Through Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive-through facilities inadequately isolate customers from staff and each other, violating pandemic safety protocols due to close interactions during order placement, payment, and item retrieval.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced service system featuring a wiring system with aerial host units that move along wires to facilitate contactless order placement, payment, and item delivery, using electric stepper motors and host wires to maintain social distancing by allowing customers to interact minimally with staff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional drive-through facilities use fixed service windows and counters, then service operations can be performed, but customers and staff must interact at close distances violating pandemic safety protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the service counter and display board movable along overhead wires. The counter can be positioned at different locations including extending toward customer vehicles, allowing service operations to occur at varying distances from customers while maintaining operational capability. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling close interaction only when necessary while maintaining social distancing for routine transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary wireless communication system between staff and customers. Staff members use mobile devices to communicate with customers, take orders, and coordinate transactions without direct face-to-face interaction. The overhead wiring system and display boards also serve as intermediaries to transmit information and commands. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for close physical interaction while maintaining full service operation capability.
2Productivity
If staff members directly assist customers at fixed service windows, then orders can be taken and items delivered, but social distancing requirements are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through autonomous mobile robots that deliver items from the kitchen to customers' vehicles without staff intervention. The system also enables customers to place orders through wireless communication interfaces and display boards, reducing the need for staff-customer interactions. This self-service approach maintains high productivity while eliminating direct interaction between staff and customers throughout the ordering and delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of direct staff-customer interaction with wireless communication and automated delivery mechanisms. Mobile devices, wireless networks, and autonomous robots substitute for human-to-human communication and item transfer. This substitution maintains order processing efficiency while completely eliminating the need for direct staff-customer contact.
3Loss of time
If service counters are positioned close to customers for efficient service, then transaction speed increases, but pandemic safety protocols are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the service counter mobile rather than fixed. The counter can rapidly reposition itself along overhead wires to optimize distance from customer vehicles based on transaction type. For routine transactions, the counter maintains distance for safety. For complex transactions requiring explanation, the counter can extend closer temporarily. This dynamic adjustment minimizes transaction time while maintaining safety protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication and digital display boards as intermediaries that enable transactions to occur without close proximity. Customers receive order confirmations, menu information, and payment instructions through wireless interfaces and display boards, eliminating the need for staff to be physically close for explanation or communication. This intermediary system maintains fast transaction speeds while keeping staff and customers at safe distances.
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced service system comprises a pair of first wires between a first position proximal to an entry point of a drive through facility and a second position proximal to a receiving window in the drive through facility, and an aerial host unit coupled to the pair of first wires using a pair of first and second host wires. The aerial host unit is longitudinally movable between the first position and the second position and includes an aerial host member moveably supported by the first and second host wires to move laterally between the pair of first wires to approach an incoming customer vehicle, facilitate the customer to place an order, receive payment from the customer, and direct the customer to the receiving window where the aerial host member retrieves the items corresponding to the placed order from the receiving window and transfers the retrieved items to the customer.