Autonomous Delivery Assembly With Secure Multi-Cubby Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contactless delivery robots are costly and often limited to delivering specific types of items, failing to meet the rising demand for versatile autonomous delivery solutions.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous delivery system that integrates a delivery assembly with an autonomous vehicle (AV), utilizing the AV's localization and navigation capabilities, along with an onboard controller to manage access and a user interface module for authentication and item management, allowing for secure and versatile delivery of various items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If contactless delivery robots are used, then delivery automation is achieved, but cost increases and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery assembly is designed with multiple cubbies of different sizes and configurations that can accommodate various types of items including packages, food, groceries, and other goods. The same assembly can be used across different autonomous vehicles for different delivery types, making the system versatile and adaptable to diverse delivery needs while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery assembly is divided into multiple separate cubbies (first cubby, second cubby, third cubby) that can independently store different items. This segmentation allows flexible configuration for different item types and sizes, enabling the same automated system to handle diverse delivery requirements without requiring custom-designed robots for each item type.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized delivery robots are designed for specific item types, then delivery precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single standardized delivery assembly design with multiple configurable cubbies serves multiple delivery purposes. The assembly can be installed in various autonomous vehicles to deliver different item types (packages, food, groceries) with consistent accuracy, avoiding the need for multiple specialized robot designs and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery assembly features dynamic access control where cubbies can be individually locked or unlocked based on delivery requirements. The system can selectively provide access to specific cubbies for specific item types while maintaining security for others, enabling precise delivery control without complex specialized mechanisms for each item type.
3Reliability
If user authentication systems are implemented, then security is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service authentication where users can independently access their designated cubbies using pre-configured credentials. The autonomous vehicle autonomously navigates to the user location and the system automatically authenticates and unlocks the appropriate cubby without requiring manual intervention from delivery personnel, balancing security with operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The access control system dynamically adjusts cubby accessibility based on authenticated user identity. Once a user is authenticated, the system selectively unlocks only the specific cubby(ies) assigned to that user while keeping other cubbies locked, providing both security and ease of operation through automated, identity-based access management.
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a system and method for facilitating autonomous delivery using a delivery assembly transported by an autonomous vehicle, the system and method can include determining a location of the delivery assembly and in response to determining the location of the delivery assembly, configuring a user interface to facilitate the autonomous delivery. The user interface has at least a point of origination configuration and a user configuration. In addition, the user interface can authenticate a user, allow the user to access one or more cubbies of the delivery assembly, and inform the user through one or more indicators on the user interface that the user can access a specific cubby.