Delivery Locker Size-Based Allocation to Improve Operating Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery locker systems often allocate parcels to inappropriate locker sizes, leading to inefficiencies and the inability to store larger parcels due to smaller lockers being filled with items that fit in larger lockers, resulting in reduced operating rates and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A delivery locker management system that determines parcel size and allocates suitable lockers based on size, ensuring parcels are stored in the smallest available lockers, and notifies users and recipients of locker information and pickup reminders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If delivery lockers are allocated without considering parcel size, then any available locker can be used, but smaller lockers become filled with large parcels, reducing the availability of appropriately sized lockers and decreasing overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by matching specific parcel sizes to specific locker sizes. Each locker is designated for particular size categories (small, medium, large), and the allocation system ensures parcels are placed in lockers with appropriate local characteristics (size dimensions), preventing mismatched allocations and optimizing space utilization throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of locker allocation from random or first-come-first-served to size-based matching. By introducing size as a critical allocation parameter, the system transforms the allocation process to consider parcel dimensions and match them with corresponding locker dimensions, thereby improving overall productivity and resource utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all delivery lockers are made available for reservation, then users have more options, but large lockers fill up quickly when small parcels are deposited in them, preventing large parcels from being stored
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-categorizing lockers into size groups (small, medium, large) and pre-matching parcel sizes to appropriate locker categories before actual deposition. This advance classification and matching ensures that when users reserve lockers, they receive appropriately sized options, preventing the reliability issue where large parcels cannot be stored due to improper allocation.
3Loss of information
If the system notifies users of locker allocation, then users can locate their parcels, but the notification system must track and manage multiple locker stations and individual locker assignments
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary notification mechanism that acts as a mediator between the locker allocation system and users. This intermediary component receives allocation decisions from the backend system and delivers location information to users through appropriate channels, thereby managing the complexity of tracking multiple lockers across different stations while ensuring reliable information delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery locker management system includes a delivery locker station including multiple delivery lockers having two or more different sizes, and a server that communicates with the delivery locker station. The server obtains information on a size of a parcel to be deposited. The server extracts delivery lockers having sizes suitable for the parcel from available delivery lockers among the multiple delivery lockers. The server allocates one of the extracted delivery lockers to the parcel. The server notifies a depositor of the parcel of information identifying the delivery locker allocated to the parcel.