Electronic Mailbox
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current parcel delivery systems using autonomous aerial vehicles face challenges in efficient parcel collection, as they often require user interaction during specific hours, leading to wasted time and inefficiencies, especially in accessing hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
An electronic mailbox with a rigid structure, visual recognition, internal cavity for storage, automatic door operation, communication module for wireless signal reception and emission, and geolocation capabilities, allowing autonomous interaction with aerial vehicles and user-friendly parcel collection without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous aerial vehicles deliver parcels to specific locations, then delivery efficiency and accessibility to hard-to-reach places is improved, but parcel collection requires user interaction during specific hours causing wasted delivery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an autonomous mailbox as an intermediary device between the aerial vehicle and the user. The mailbox autonomously receives parcels from aerial vehicles, stores them in its internal cavity, and makes them available for user collection at any time. This eliminates the need for synchronized user availability during delivery hours, resolving the time loss contradiction while maintaining high delivery efficiency.
2Extent of automation
If the mailbox autonomously opens the door upon receiving activation signal, then automation level is improved, but the system requires communication modules and control processors increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mailbox is equipped with autonomous capabilities including visual recognition to identify aerial vehicles, automatic door opening upon detecting activation signals, and self-management of parcel storage and retrieval. The control processor coordinates these self-service functions autonomously without requiring external intervention, achieving high automation while keeping the added complexity manageable through integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention consists of an electronic mailbox specially adapted for receiving parcels transported or delivered by an aerial vehicle. Said mailbox includes a rigid structure as well as an internal cavity wherein the parcel can be housed, which is accessible through a first door. For the appropriate delivery of said parcel from the aerial vehicle to the internal cavity, the mailbox includes a visual recognition and identification code, which enables the vehicle to identify it, as well as electronic opening and closing means of the first door.The operation of the electronic mailbox is determined by an electronic control processor, comprised in said mailbox, connected to a communication module including a wireless signal receiver, and a geolocation device configured to detect the location of the mailbox.