Drone Delivery System with Anonymous Host Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional package delivery methods are inefficient and lack convenience, as recipients may not be present to receive packages, and they often require revealing their identity, which can be embarrassing or unsafe, especially for confidential items.
Innovation Solution
A networked system that allows recipients to choose a host location for package delivery, maintaining anonymity through a unique anonymous identifier, and utilizing unmanned aerial drones or ground vehicles for delivery, enabling recipients to retrieve packages at a preferred location without revealing their identity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional delivery methods are used, then packages can be delivered to recipient's home or workplace, but the recipient may not be present to receive the package, causing delivery delays and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party host location as an intermediary between the recipient and the delivery service. The host location serves as a neutral intermediary that can receive packages on behalf of the recipient without requiring the recipient's physical presence, thereby resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and delivery time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows recipients to pre-select host locations and provide authorization in advance. This preliminary action enables the host location to be ready to receive packages before they are delivered, eliminating waiting time and improving delivery efficiency without requiring the recipient to be present.
2Reliability
If recipient identity is displayed for package retrieval, then package security is maintained, but recipients may feel embarrassed or unsafe, especially for confidential items
Solution Approach 1:
The host location acts as an intermediary that shields the recipient's identity from public view. The recipient can retrieve packages through the host without their identity being displayed, maintaining package security through the host's verification processes while protecting the recipient from embarrassment or safety risks associated with identity disclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses authorization codes or digital verification methods as copies of the recipient's identity rather than displaying the actual identity. This allows package retrieval verification without exposing the recipient's personal information, resolving the contradiction between security and privacy.
3Productivity
If packages are left at the door or porch, then delivery speed is improved, but the package may be stolen or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The host location serves as a secure intermediary receiving point that combines the speed of immediate delivery with the security of controlled access. Packages are delivered directly to the host location without being left exposed at the recipient's door, maintaining delivery speed while preventing theft or damage through the host's secure receipt and handover processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A networked system for facilitating package delivery services includes a recipient module executing on a recipient computing device for recording recipient delivery preference and electronic payment information for package delivery services, a host module executing on a host computing device for recording host location, host delivery ability, an email address and/or telephone number, and electronic payment information for receiving payment, and a web server for processing the electronic payment information for package delivery services with a payment gateway, searching the database among the plurality of host records for the particular host record having data that best matches the data transmitted by the recipient module, transmitting a unique anonymous identifier to the recipient and host, wherein the unique anonymous identifier corresponds to the delivery process, and delivering the package to the host location of the host, wherein the recipient must display the unique anonymous identifier to retrieve the package.