Autonomous Vehicle Preorder Pickup With Onboard Locker Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous vehicle systems lack the capability to efficiently manage preorder deliveries by picking up products before picking up users, which can result in inconvenient timing and temperature issues for sensitive items.

Innovation Solution

The system plans a route for the autonomous vehicle to travel from its initial location to a product pickup location, then to the user's location, and finally to the user's destination, allowing for the secure storage and temperature control of products within a locker system on the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle picks up the user first and then picks up products, then the user can be transported immediately, but the products may not be available in time and temperature control may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct availability and temperature controlVSAvoiddelivery timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs preliminary actions by picking up products before picking up the user. The system receives a first user request for a ride and a second user request for product pickup, then determines a route that visits the product pickup location before the user pickup location. This ensures products are ready and maintain proper temperature before the user arrives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the autonomous vehicle follows a simple user pickup route, then the operation is straightforward, but it cannot accommodate preorder product deliveries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder delivery capabilityVSAvoidroute planning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The route determination is dynamic and adapts based on received requests. The system receives different types of user requests (ride requests and product pickup requests) and dynamically determines an optimized route that accommodates both requirements, making the system versatile while managing complexity through adaptive routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the vehicle picks up products at a separate location after dropping off the user, then the route is simple, but the products are not delivered in a timely manner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidroute complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of picking up products after dropping off the user, the system performs preliminary product pickup before user pickup. The determined route explicitly visits the product pickup location before the user pickup location, ensuring products are ready and delivered efficiently when the user arrives at the destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12223791B2Preorder pickup of an autonomous vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Systems and techniques are provided for providing a preorder delivery in an autonomous vehicle (AV). An example method includes receiving, from a computing device associated with a user, a first user request for a ride in an AV from a user location to a user destination; receiving, from the computing device associated with the user, a second user request for the AV to pick up a product at a pick up location associated with the product, prior to picking up the user; determining, based on the first and second user requests, a route for the AV to navigate; and sending, from a computer associated with the AV to a locker of the AV, an instruction to open the locker where the product is placed.