Autonomous Ground Vehicle Fleet Coordination for Urban Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing frequency and volume of e-commerce deliveries have created a need for faster and more efficient delivery methods, as traditional human-dependent delivery systems struggle to keep pace with the demand for timely and convenient item delivery.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) that can transport items from materials handling facilities to specified locations, utilizing transportation vehicles for transportation and a management system for coordination, enabling efficient navigation, recharging, and item delivery without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional human-controlled delivery systems are used, then delivery can be completed with simple technology, but delivery speed and efficiency are insufficient to meet increasing e-commerce demand
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system employs autonomous ground vehicles that perform delivery tasks independently without human intervention. The AGVs navigate, transport items, and complete deliveries autonomously, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminating dependency on human operators for routine delivery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical human-controlled delivery systems with autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors, processors, and automated navigation systems. This substitution transitions from manual mechanical operation to automated electro-mechanical systems, significantly improving delivery speed and efficiency.
2Productivity
If autonomous ground vehicles are deployed to deliver items during peak hours, then delivery speed improves, but energy consumption increases due to crowded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous ground vehicles perform periodic actions by alternating between delivering items during peak hours and recharging during off-peak hours. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to maintain high productivity during demand periods while managing energy consumption through strategic recharging when traffic is lighter and energy usage is more efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the management system monitors energy levels, traffic conditions, and delivery schedules of AGVs. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts delivery schedules and routes to optimize the balance between delivery speed and energy consumption, directing vehicles to recharge when energy levels indicate the need for replenishment.
3Productivity
If autonomous ground vehicles operate continuously to meet high delivery demand, then productivity increases, but energy depletion occurs requiring frequent recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively managing AGV recharging schedules before energy depletion occurs. The management system monitors energy levels and schedules recharging during off-peak hours in advance, ensuring vehicles are recharged before their energy is fully depleted, thus maintaining continuous operational capability without interrupting peak-hour deliveries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by coordinating multiple AGVs in a fleet where some vehicles are delivering items while others are recharging. This overlapping operation pattern maintains continuous delivery capability across the fleet, ensuring that as one vehicle becomes unavailable for recharging, others continue to fulfill delivery demands.
4Productivity
If multiple autonomous ground vehicles are deployed to handle increased delivery volume, then delivery capacity increases, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management system performs multiple functions through a single centralized platform: it coordinates AGV deployment, monitors energy levels, schedules recharging, optimizes routes, and manages delivery assignments. This multi-functional approach consolidates coordination complexity into a universal system that handles all aspects of fleet management, simplifying the overall coordination architecture despite the large number of vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) may be deployed from facilities (e.g., materials handling facilities, etc.) to deliver items to specified locations (e.g., user residences). In various implementations, AGVs may utilize various techniques for long-range travel between materials handling facilities and delivery locations (e.g., solar charging, strategically placed charging stations, energy efficient travel paths, etc.). In various implementations, AGV facilities (e.g., smaller types of materials handling facilities) may be sized to be more easily located in compressed urban areas (e.g., to be closer to various delivery locations, etc.) and may function as home base locations where AGVs are stationed and/or where items are received (e.g., from transportation vehicles) for delivery to local delivery locations.