Autonomous Workhorse Vehicle for Store-to-Home Delivery and Returns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for delivering and returning large or bulky items from home improvement stores are inefficient, requiring multiple trips and manual loading/unloading, which is time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous workhorse vehicle equipped with a platform for supporting objects, tracking sensors, input/output ports, power sources, and electronic control units to autonomously follow leading vehicles, navigate to delivery addresses, and facilitate loading/unloading of items, reducing the need for manual handling and multiple trips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user rents a vehicle to transport purchased goods, then the user can transport large or bulky items, but the user experiences wasted time driving the rented vehicle to their house, unloading goods, returning the vehicle, and driving their personal vehicle back home

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transporting goodsVSAvoidtime spent on multiple trips

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs delivery services independently without requiring the user to manually drive, unload, or return the vehicle. The vehicle autonomously navigates to the user's location, delivers goods, and returns to the store automatically, eliminating all manual operations from the user's side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-positions the autonomous vehicle at the store and pre-lloads purchased goods onto the vehicle before the user arrives. When the user completes their shopping, the vehicle is already ready for immediate departure, eliminating waiting time and multiple trips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a user purchases incorrect goods or needs to return old goods, then the user can make exchanges, but the user must return to the store with old goods and make additional trips

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility for returns and exchangesVSAvoidtime for additional trips to store

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle serves as a mobile return center by accepting old goods for return at the user's location. The vehicle autonomously collects the returned items, processes the exchange, and delivers new goods without requiring the user to travel back to the store.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous vehicle performs multiple functions: delivering new goods, collecting returned items, and processing exchanges all in a single interaction. This multi-functional capability eliminates the need for separate trips for different tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a user replaces a large appliance, then the user can upgrade to new equipment, but the user must make plans to have the old appliance removed and taken to a return site, recycle site, or dump site

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to replace appliancesVSAvoidcomplexity of removal and disposal process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines the delivery of new appliances and the removal of old appliances into a single integrated service performed by one autonomous vehicle. The vehicle simultaneously delivers new goods and collects old appliances for disposal or recycling, merging two separate processes into one unified operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous vehicle acts as an intermediary that handles the entire appliance replacement process between the user and the store/disposal facilities. The vehicle autonomously manages the complex logistics of picking up old appliances and delivering new ones, shielding the user from the complexity of coordination and disposal arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a user purchases a large appliance they cannot load and unload themselves, then the user can acquire the appliance, but the user must hire help to load and unload

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to large appliancesVSAvoidcost of hiring help

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle independently performs all loading and unloading operations without requiring human assistance. The vehicle's automated loading mechanisms handle heavy appliances by themselves, eliminating the need to hire help while maintaining full accessibility for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11487300B2Home improvement store autonomous workhorse

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

An autonomous workhorse vehicle includes a main body including a platform to support a plurality of objects, a tracking sensor to detect a location of the main body relative to a leading vehicle, and an input/output port to receive an identifier of the leading vehicle. The autonomous workhorse vehicle further includes a power source to provide power to propel the main body, a steering actuator designed to adjust an orientation of the main body, and an ECU. The ECU is designed to receive the identifier of the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to determine a following time to begin following the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to control the power source and the steering actuator to move the main body to follow the leading vehicle at the following time based on the detected location of the main body relative to the leading vehicle.