Autonomous Delivery Vehicle Lockers for Secure Recipient Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery systems face challenges in efficiently and securely delivering packages to recipients, particularly for valuable, secure, or perishable items, as they often require large fleets of vehicles and complex coordination, and fixed-location locker hubs can be inconvenient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Autonomous delivery vehicles equipped with locking storage containers that can drive optimized routes, interact with recipients for locker access, and provide real-time tracking and notifications, allowing for secure and convenient delivery of items to various locations, including direct delivery to recipients' homes or shared access points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed-location locker hubs are used for secure delivery, then delivery security is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fixed locker hub infrastructure into mobile, individual delivery vehicles. Each vehicle becomes a self-contained delivery unit with its own locking mechanisms and access control, eliminating the need for centralized hub infrastructure while maintaining secure delivery capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the secure storage and access control functions from the fixed locker hub environment and relocates them to mobile delivery vehicles. This allows secure delivery to occur without requiring recipients to visit fixed hub locations, reducing infrastructure complexity.
2Reliability
If fixed-location locker hubs are used, then secure storage is provided, but delivery time and convenience worsen due to recipient travel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring recipients to travel to fixed locker hubs to retrieve packages, the patent inverts the approach by bringing the secure storage and package retrieval directly to the recipient's location through mobile delivery vehicles, thereby eliminating travel time and improving convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service delivery where recipients can autonomously access their packages through mobile delivery vehicles using digital credentials, eliminating the need for staffed hub operations and allowing flexible, on-demand access without scheduling constraints.
3Productivity
If traditional delivery fleets with drivers are maintained, then package delivery capability is improved, but operational cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements autonomous delivery vehicles that operate independently without human drivers. The vehicles self-navigate, self-manage delivery routes, and self-coordinate with recipients through digital communication systems, eliminating the need for complex human fleet coordination while maintaining high delivery productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human drivers and manual fleet coordination with automated navigation systems, electronic routing algorithms, and digital communication protocols. This substitution reduces operational complexity while preserving or enhancing delivery capability.
4Speed
If packages are left on doorstep or delivered to non-intended recipients, then delivery speed is improved, but security and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms where delivery vehicles communicate with recipients through mobile devices to confirm identity and authorize package release. This feedback loop ensures that only intended recipients can access packages, maintaining security while enabling rapid, contactless delivery without traditional handoff procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous delivery vehicle including locking storage containers may be used for item deliveries, rejections, returns, and/or third-party fulfillment. A delivery vehicle or robot may include a number of locking storage containers, an authorization interface, and one or more sensors to receive delivery requests, detect and authorize users, and control locker access at various delivery locations to allow users to receive delivered items, and reject or return items. The vehicle may also include a passenger compartment to transport one or more passengers. The vehicle may be reconfigurable to accommodate different combinations of lockers and/or passenger seats. An item delivery system may receive delivery requests and determine routes for delivery vehicles, including centralized delivery locations and/or direct deliveries to recipients.