Delivery Route Optimization for Driver-Assistant Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing package delivery methods face challenges in optimizing delivery routes and tasks between delivery vehicle drivers and assistants, which can impact delivery efficiency, timing, and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A delivery optimization model that generates routes for delivery vehicles and assistants, optimizing departure and rendezvous locations, driving and walking routes, and package distribution between drivers and assistants to maximize delivery efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a delivery assistant separates from the delivery vehicle to make separate deliveries, then the number of deliveries made during a shift increases, but the complexity of coordinating routes and rendezvous times increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of deliveries made during a shiftVSAvoidcomplexity of coordinating routes and rendezvous times

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery route is segmented into multiple portions with different delivery modes. The system divides the delivery route into a first portion where the assistant delivers from the vehicle and a second portion where the assistant separates to deliver independently. This segmentation allows the system to optimize each portion separately, increasing overall productivity while managing coordination complexity through structured route division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system dynamically adjusts the assistant's role and routing based on real-time conditions. The assistant transitions between working inside the vehicle and separating for independent deliveries, with rendezvous points and times dynamically determined by the optimization model. This dynamic approach enables flexible adaptation to varying delivery demands and conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the delivery assistant makes separate deliveries independently, then delivery speed increases, but the difficulty of optimizing routes and timing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery speedVSAvoiddifficulty of optimizing routes and timing

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery optimization model incorporates feedback mechanisms to continuously refine route and timing decisions. The system determines optimal rendezvous points and times based on expected delivery completions, then adjusts subsequent routing decisions based on actual delivery outcomes. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain high delivery speeds while systematically optimizing routes and timing coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary optimization calculations to determine delivery routes, rendezvous points, and timing before actual deliveries commence. By pre-calculating optimal paths and coordination points based on historical data and current conditions, the system reduces the real-time complexity of route optimization while maintaining high delivery speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If more delivery vehicles are deployed to handle high delivery volume, then delivery capacity increases, but the cost and resource utilization efficiency worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery capacityVSAvoidnumber of vehicles needed

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery assistant serves multiple functions: working inside the vehicle during the first route portion and separating for independent deliveries during the second portion. This multi-functionality allows a single assistant to contribute to both vehicle-based and independent delivery modes, maximizing the utilization of existing vehicles and reducing the need for additional vehicle deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery assistant performs self-service by independently making deliveries during the second route portion without requiring the vehicle's presence. This self-service capability allows the vehicle to focus on other deliveries while the assistant handles separate deliveries, effectively increasing delivery capacity without proportionally increasing vehicle numbers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12236374B1Enhanced dynamic last-mile modeling for delivery assistants

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A method of optimizing a delivery route for a delivery vehicle driver and a delivery assistant includes: identifying a delivery route for a delivery vehicle; determining, for each of the packages to be delivered using the delivery route, a first delivery time for a delivery vehicle driver of the delivery vehicle to deliver the respective package without the delivery assistant, a second delivery time for a delivery assistant of the delivery vehicle to deliver the respective package without the delivery vehicle driver, and a third delivery time for both the delivery assistant and the delivery vehicle driver to deliver the respective package; determining minimum times needed by the delivery vehicle driver and the delivery assistant to deliver the packages using the delivery route; and determining that a minimum of the estimated total delivery times corresponds to a first subset and a second subset of the packages.