Depot Dispatch Routing With Order Batching for Congested Last-Mile Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Logistics platforms face inefficiencies and delays in delivering perishable goods from providers located in high congestion commercial areas due to challenges in accurate location, status, and routing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a depot dispatch protocol that aggregates orders using autonomous vehicles and neural networks to optimize delivery routes, scheduling, and order batching, with automated locker systems for secure order transfer and reduced human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional delivery routing is used in high congestion commercial areas, then delivery coverage is maintained, but delivery time and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces autonomous vehicles as intermediary carriers between providers and customers. These autonomous vehicles receive orders from providers, transport them to aggregation depots, and facilitate efficient order batching and consolidation. This intermediary system bypasses congestion issues by using optimized routing and automated operations, thereby improving delivery efficiency while reducing delivery time in high congestion commercial areas.
2Reliability
If manual order handling is used, then flexibility is maintained, but error rate and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated locker systems that enable self-service order retrieval and handoff. Orders are automatically deposited into lockers at aggregation depots, and the system automatically manages order tracking, status updates, and customer notification. This self-service automation eliminates manual handling errors while the integrated software platform manages operational complexity centrally, providing reliability without proportionally increasing operational burden.
3Measurement precision
If direct provider-to-customer delivery is used, then delivery speed is maintained, but routing accuracy and order consolidation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple orders into consolidated batches at aggregation depots. The system groups orders by destination, consolidates them into efficient delivery batches, and routes them together using optimized paths. This merging process improves routing accuracy by planning routes based on consolidated destinations rather than individual orders, and enhances order consolidation efficiency by systematically batching orders before final delivery to customers.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are various systems and processes for improving last-mile delivery of real-time, on-demand orders for perishable goods. In one aspect, a method is provided for aggregating on-demand deliveries using a depot dispatch protocol which may implement automated order transport and retrieval systems. The method comprises dispatching merchant couriers to transport on-demand orders from merchants to a merchant depot where the orders are aggregated and batched based on optimized delivery routes and destination proximities. Batches of orders are then transported to a customer depot corresponding to an area of delivery destinations. Orders are then assigned to delivery couriers for completion of delivery to customers. Such delivery routing systems and processes may be implemented alongside a delivery tracking system for generating estimated time of arrival predictive updates for real-time delivery of perishable goods. The described mechanisms improve courier efficiency, improve delivery tracking, and reduce overall delivery times.