Autonomous Package Delivery Verification via Substitute Recipients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some houses lack delivery boxes, leading to a high likelihood of re-deliveries when autonomous vehicles attempt to deliver packages.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system and method that uses a vehicle equipped with an image capturing device to determine if a recipient is not present, allowing a substitute person at a different residence to receive the package, with captured data transmitted to the recipient's user terminal for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles deliver packages to delivery boxes, then delivery automation is improved, but re-deliveries increase when houses lack delivery boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a substitute person as an intermediary to receive packages on behalf of the recipient when the recipient is absent or no delivery box is available. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling successful delivery without requiring either the recipient's presence or a delivery box infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service delivery completion through multiple mechanisms: the substitute person autonomously receives the package, the image capturing device automatically documents the delivery, and the system automatically notifies the recipient. This self-service approach maintains high automation while ensuring reliable delivery completion.
2Reliability
If substitute persons receive packages at different residences, then re-deliveries are reduced, but verification of delivery becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual verification processes with automated image recognition and capture technology. The image capturing device automatically documents the substitute person receiving the package, and this visual evidence is transmitted to the recipient, eliminating the need for complex interpersonal verification while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy (image or video) of the delivery process that serves as evidence of successful delivery. This copy is transmitted to the recipient, providing verification without requiring the recipient's physical presence or complex verification procedures.
3Loss of information
If captured data is transmitted to recipient's user terminal, then recipient verification and reassurance are improved, but data transmission and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits only the essential information needed for verification - the captured image or video data showing the delivery - rather than transmitting all possible data. This partial action approach provides sufficient verification information to the recipient while minimizing data transmission volume and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes a vehicle and an information processing apparatus. The vehicle that includes an image capturing device and that delivers a package. The information processing apparatus that includes a processor configured to determine, in a case where a recipient is not present at a delivery destination of the package, reception of the package by a substitute person present at a residence different from that of the recipient. The vehicle captures the substitute person receiving the package, with the image capturing device. The processor is configured to transmit, in a case where reception of the package by the substitute person is completed, captured data of the image capturing device to a user terminal associated with the recipient. The vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.