Autonomous Vehicle Item Handoffs for Obstacle-Aware Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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-controlled delivery systems face challenges in navigating obstacles and optimizing routes.
Innovation Solution
The use of cooperative autonomous vehicles, including autonomous ground-based and aerial vehicles, that communicate and work together to transport items from a source location to a destination, overcoming obstacles by transferring the item between vehicles at strategic locations along the navigation path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional human-controlled delivery systems are used, then delivery operations are simple to manage, but delivery speed and efficiency are insufficient to meet increasing e-commerce demands
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system employs autonomous vehicles that perform delivery operations independently without human intervention. The autonomous ground-based vehicle and autonomous aerial vehicle autonomously navigate, transfer items, and complete deliveries, enabling the system to serve itself and dramatically increasing delivery speed and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is divided into specialized autonomous vehicle components with specific functions. The autonomous ground-based vehicle handles ground transportation, while the autonomous aerial vehicle handles aerial transport and obstacle overcoming. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific task, improving overall productivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If single-type autonomous vehicles are used, then the system is simpler to operate, but the ability to overcome obstacles and navigate complex environments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple types of autonomous vehicles (ground-based and aerial) that can perform different functions. The ground-based vehicle operates on surfaces while the aerial vehicle operates in three-dimensional space, providing multi-functional capability to handle diverse delivery scenarios and obstacles
Solution Approach 2:
The item transfer mechanism serves as an intermediary between the autonomous ground-based vehicle and autonomous aerial vehicle. This intermediary enables seamless coordination and item exchange between different vehicle types, allowing the system to overcome obstacles that would be impassable for a single vehicle type
3Loss of time
If manual item transfer between vehicles is used, then the system is simpler to implement, but delivery time increases due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles are equipped with automated item transfer mechanisms that enable them to exchange items with each other without human intervention. The autonomous ground-based vehicle and autonomous aerial vehicle can autonomously transfer items at transfer locations, eliminating manual handling and reducing delivery time
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes transfer locations along the delivery route where autonomous vehicles can exchange items. These transfer locations are determined in advance, allowing the vehicles to efficiently coordinate item transfers without delays, thereby reducing overall delivery time
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed toward the use of two or more autonomous vehicles, working in cooperation, to deliver an item between a source location and a destination location. For example, an autonomous ground based vehicle may transport an item from a source location to a transfer location and an autonomous aerial vehicle will transport the item from the transfer location to the destination location. The transfer location may be at any location along a navigation path between the source location and the destination location. In some examples, the transfer location may be adjacent the destination location such that the autonomous aerial vehicle is only transporting the item a short distance.