Autonomous Mobile Inventory for Try-Before-Buy Mail Order
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mail-order systems, users cannot physically confirm commodities before purchase, leading to reduced purchasing enthusiasm and satisfaction due to the lack of immediacy in supply, exacerbated by driver shortages and complications in returning items.
Innovation Solution
A mail-order system utilizing autonomous moving objects that can load commodities, allowing users to confirm actual items before purchase by moving them to desired delivery destinations, incorporating features like GPS, inventory management, and secure settlement options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mail-order delivery is used to allow purchase without store visit, then convenience of purchase is improved, but immediacy of supply deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the moving object travel to the user's location with the commodity before the actual purchase is finalized. This allows the user to confirm the actual commodity at their doorstep, combining the convenience of mail-order with immediate confirmation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A moving object (autonomous vehicle) is introduced as an intermediary between the storage facility and the user. This intermediary transports the actual commodity to the user's location, enabling both convenient remote ordering and immediate physical confirmation without requiring traditional delivery company involvement for every transaction.
2Productivity
If traditional delivery company is used for commodity delivery, then delivery capability is improved, but driver shortage problem worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The moving object is equipped with autonomous moving capability, allowing it to transport commodities without requiring human drivers. The vehicle independently navigates from the storage facility to the user's location, eliminating the need for drivers while maintaining delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual driver-operated delivery system is replaced with an autonomous moving object system. The mechanical and computational systems of the autonomous vehicle substitute for human drivers, enabling continuous operation without being constrained by driver availability or working hours.
3Ease of operation
If virtual trial fitting is used to allow trial fitting, then user satisfaction is improved, but ability to confirm actual object deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by delivering the actual commodity to the user before purchase completion. This allows the user to physically examine the real object's texture, quality, and fit, obtaining authentic sensory information that virtual trial fitting cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using virtual copies or images for trial fitting, the system transports the actual physical commodity to the user. The real object serves as the ultimate copy of itself, allowing direct sensory confirmation of texture, material quality, and wearing characteristics.
4Ease of operation
If return service is provided to allow free returns, then user satisfaction is improved, but procedure complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by allowing users to confirm actual commodities before purchase completion. This prevents unwanted purchases at the source, eliminating the need for return procedures entirely and simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by preventing the need for returns through advance confirmation. By allowing users to examine actual commodities before buying, the system counteracts the potential problem of returns before it occurs, eliminating the complex return infrastructure needed in traditional mail-order systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A mail-order system has a server apparatus and a moving object. The server apparatus includes a purchase likelihood information acquisition unit configured to acquire at least information regarding a commodity considered to be purchased by a user and information regarding a desired delivery destination of the commodity, and a moving object management unit configured to give an instruction relating to at least movement to the moving object. The moving object is able to load commodities. The moving object includes a movement controller configured to make the moving object move in an autonomous moving mode. At least one of the server apparatus and the moving object includes a positional information acquisition unit configured to acquire positional information of the moving object, and an inventory management unit configured to manage an inventory of commodities loaded in the moving object.