Delivery Robot Battery Swapping via Route-Side Depositories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printed-matter delivery systems face inefficiencies due to the need for delivery robots to return to a home position for charging when their battery levels are insufficient, resulting in increased delivery time, traveling distance, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A robot pickup or delivery system equipped with a detachable battery and a notification system that alerts a depositary to replace the battery when its charge level falls below a predetermined value, allowing the robot to change its route to a depository with a higher charge level and avoid returning to a specific charger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the delivery device returns to the home position to charge the battery when the remaining battery level becomes insufficient, then the battery can be recharged, but the delivery time and traveling distance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the charging function from the central home position to multiple distributed depositories along the delivery route. Each depository can independently charge the battery, segmenting the charging task across multiple locations rather than requiring a single return to home.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-positions charged batteries at multiple depositories along potential delivery routes before delivery operations begin. When the robot's battery becomes insufficient, it can immediately exchange for a pre-charged battery at the nearest depository without returning home, performing the charging action in advance at strategic locations.
2Reliability
If the delivery device returns to the home position to charge the battery, then the battery charge level is restored, but the traveling distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local charging capabilities at multiple depositories distributed throughout the delivery area. Each depository becomes a local charging station, allowing the robot to recharge at the nearest location rather than traveling the full distance back to the central home position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces depositories as intermediary charging points between the home position and delivery destinations. These intermediaries handle the charging function locally, reducing the need for long trips to the central home position and enabling shorter, more efficient routing.
3Reliability
If the delivery device returns to the home position to charge the battery, then the battery can be recharged, but the delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging infrastructure into multiple distributed depositories, allowing parallel charging operations and enabling the robot to maintain continuous operation by exchanging batteries at nearby depositories rather than returning to a single home position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous delivery operations by allowing the robot to exchange batteries at depositories along the route without interrupting the delivery flow. The robot can pick up a charged battery and continue its delivery tasks immediately, maintaining continuous useful action without returning to home.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot pickup or delivery system includes: a pickup or delivery robot; a storage device; and a notification section. The pickup or delivery robot includes a detachable battery and a carrier. The pickup or delivery robot is configured to pick up or deliver a package. The detachable battery is a power source. The carrier is configured to be loaded with a package. The storage device is configured to store information related to a depository of the detachable battery. The notification section is configured to issue a notification to a depositary with whom the detachable battery is deposited in the depository when a remaining charge level of the detachable battery attached to the pickup or delivery robot is lower than or equal to a predetermined value. The notification is for requesting the attached detachable battery to be replaced.