Apparatus, systems, and methods for receiving and temporarily maintaining a delivery item and dynamically initiating a dispatched logistics operation for a storage receptacle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing logistics receptacles face inefficiencies due to inadequate monitoring and reporting systems, leading to issues such as overloading and inappropriate pickup times, which result in costly inefficiencies and customer frustration.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a connected logistics receptacle with a bridge node and wireless accessory sensor nodes that monitor changes in state, record timestamped information, and broadcast updates to a backend server, enabling dynamic initiation of logistics operations based on real-time data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional logistics receptacles are used without advanced monitoring systems, then device complexity is reduced, but monitoring precision and reporting accuracy deteriorate leading to overloading and inappropriate pickup times
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensor nodes distributed throughout the receptacle. Each sensor node independently monitors specific parameters (weight, temperature, humidity) and communicates with a central controller, allowing high monitoring precision without requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor nodes are designed as self-contained units with onboard processing and communication capabilities. Each node autonomously detects changes in its local environment and transmits data without requiring constant central control, reducing the complexity burden on the main system while maintaining high monitoring precision.
2Productivity
If real-time monitoring with multiple sensor nodes is implemented, then logistics operation efficiency is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and communication
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor nodes perform monitoring and communication in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The system activates sensors and data transmission at scheduled intervals, allowing the receptacle to enter low-power states between cycles. This maintains logistics operation efficiency by capturing critical changes while significantly reducing average energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements event-triggered feedback mechanisms where sensor nodes only activate communication and full monitoring when threshold changes are detected. Normal operational states use minimal energy with reduced monitoring frequency, while abnormal states automatically trigger enhanced monitoring and immediate reporting, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy use.
3Loss of time
If dynamic pickup scheduling based on real-time data is implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but device complexity increases due to backend server requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A backend server acts as an intermediary between the distributed sensor nodes and the logistics coordination system. The server aggregates data from multiple receptacles, processes pickup scheduling algorithms, and manages communication protocols, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual receptacle devices while enabling dynamic, real-time pickup scheduling that minimizes time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual pickup scheduling and monitoring with automated electronic data processing. Sensor data is automatically transmitted to the backend server which dynamically generates pickup schedules based on real-time receptacle status, eliminating manual intervention and reducing time loss while distributing computational complexity to the server infrastructure rather than individual devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for receiving and temporarily maintaining a delivery item and dynamically initiating a dispatched logistics operation for a storage receptacle. The storage receptacle has an entrance opening for receiving the delivery item, a temporary storage area for temporarily maintaining the delivery item once deposited with the storage receptacle, and a retrieval door providing selective access to the temporary storage area. The system includes a backend server that maintains a management profile related to the storage receptacle, a bridge node mounted to the storage receptacle, and a wireless accessory sensor node having at least one sensor that monitors for a change in state of the storage receptacle. The wireless accessory sensor node broadcasts an updated advertising signal. The bridge node transmits retrieved event information to the backend server at a reporting time, and the backend server initiates the dispatched logistics operation from comparing the retrieved event information to location information.