Delivery Vehicle Door Control Against Wind-Induced Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unintentional closing of doors on unmanned vehicles due to wind interference prevents recipients from receiving articles.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned vehicle equipped with a door closing suppression system that identifies wind direction and strength, adjusting its orientation to prevent door closure using vehicle direction control and torque generation to maintain the door open.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door is opened for the recipient to receive the article, then the recipient can access the article, but the door may unintentionally close due to wind influence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of article retrievalVSAvoiddoor remaining open

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting wind direction and strength before the door closes, then preemptively adjusting the vehicle orientation or applying counter-torque to the door mechanism to prevent wind-induced closure. This anticipatory measure ensures the door remains open throughout the article retrieval process even in windy conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring wind conditions and door position, then dynamically adjusting the vehicle direction or door holding torque based on real-time sensor data. This closed-loop control ensures the door remains stable and open while the recipient retrieves the article.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the vehicle direction is adjusted to suppress door closing, then the door remains open, but the receiving surface may not face the recipient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor remaining openVSAvoidrecipient access to article

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the vehicle orientation adjustable and adaptable based on real-time conditions. The vehicle can dynamically change its direction to simultaneously achieve two goals: positioning the receiving surface toward the recipient and orienting the door away from wind direction. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between door stability and recipient access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the door closing suppression system is activated, then door closure due to wind is suppressed, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor remaining openVSAvoidwind identification and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies universality by making the vehicle's direction control mechanism serve multiple functions: it controls the vehicle's movement during delivery and simultaneously adjusts the vehicle orientation to suppress door closing in windy conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12509120B2Unmanned vehicle and delivery system

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

The unmanned vehicle for delivering an article, includes a housing portion for housing the article, the housing portion being provided with an openable and closable door, the door being closeable on a receiving surface of the article. Then, the unmanned vehicle identifies a direction of wind blown onto the unmanned vehicle; and on the basis of the identified direction of the wind, suppresses closing of the door, opened when the unmanned vehicle is stopped, due to an influence of the wind.