Autonomous Vehicle Sanitizing Compartments for Contactless Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During crises like pandemics, individuals face challenges in safely receiving deliveries without exposing themselves to biological threats, as existing solutions do not adequately ensure the disinfection of goods and vehicles, risking contamination and disease transmission.
Innovation Solution
Autonomous delivery vehicles equipped with sanitizing systems, including UV light sources, heat sources, and chemical disinfectants, that can disinfect items and compartments onboard, allowing for contactless delivery and ensuring the safety of both customers and delivery personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional delivery methods are used during pandemics, then delivery personnel can physically deliver items, but individuals are exposed to biological threats and contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the delivery personnel from the direct contact with recipients by using autonomous vehicles to perform the final delivery segment. The autonomous vehicle transports items from a staging area to the recipient without human personnel entering the recipient's location, thereby eliminating exposure to biological threats while maintaining delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle serves as an intermediary between the delivery personnel and the recipient. It transports items from areas controlled by delivery personnel to locations where recipients are sheltering in place, acting as a safe mediator that eliminates direct human-to-human contact while ensuring items reach their destination.
2Productivity
If items are delivered without sanitization, then delivery speed is maintained, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sanitization of items using UV-C lights and other disinfection methods before items are loaded into autonomous vehicles for final delivery. This advance cleaning ensures items are sanitized prior to contact with recipients, eliminating the need to slow down delivery for on-site sanitization while still reducing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual sanitization processes with automated UV-C lighting systems and chemical dispensing systems that can sanitize items and vehicle compartments without human intervention. This automation maintains delivery speed while ensuring consistent sanitization effectiveness.
3Reliability
If autonomous vehicles with sanitizing systems are used, then contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle is designed with multi-functional capabilities, serving both as a transport platform and a mobile sanitization station. The same vehicle that delivers items also performs sanitization of its compartment and can sanitize items, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sanitization equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the delivery function and sanitization function into a single integrated autonomous vehicle system. The UV-C lights, chemical dispensing systems, and heating elements are integrated into the vehicle's existing structure, merging transport and sanitization operations into one unified platform rather than requiring separate systems.
4Reliability
If contactless delivery is implemented, then safety of recipients is improved, but ease of operation for item transfer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle is equipped with automated item dispensing capabilities that allow recipients to retrieve items without physical contact. The vehicle can automatically open compartments, dispense items, or provide access through contactless interfaces, enabling recipients to serve themselves while maintaining safety protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle acts as an intermediary that facilitates contactless item transfer through automated mechanisms. It can use robotic arms, automated opening systems, or contactless handoff protocols to transfer items from the vehicle to the recipient without direct human contact, maintaining both safety and operational convenience.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The autonomous vehicles effectively disinfect goods and compartments, reducing the risk of contamination and enabling safe, contactless delivery, thereby protecting individuals and slowing the spread of illness by ensuring delivered items are sanitized before receipt.
Implementation Method 1
The first sanitizing arrangement includes at least a first sanitizing component, the at least first sanitizing component being included in the first compartment, wherein the first sanitizing arrangement is configured to be activated to sanitize the plurality of walls and the space
Implementation Method 2
Autonomous delivery vehicles equipped with sanitizing systems, including UV light sources, heat sources, and chemical disinfectants
Implementation Method 3
Autonomous delivery vehicles equipped with sanitizing systems, including UV light sources, heat sources, and chemical disinfectants
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a vehicle includes a first compartment, a system, and a first sanitizing arrangement. The first compartment has a plurality of walls that define a space, and the system is configured to enable the vehicle to travel autonomously. The system includes a power system configured to provide power to the first compartment. The first sanitizing arrangement includes at least a first sanitizing component, the at least first sanitizing component being included in the first compartment, wherein the first sanitizing arrangement is configured to be activated to sanitize the plurality of walls and the space.