Connected Fleet and UAV Routing for Energy-Aware Deliveries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supply chain technologies lack efficient coordination between semi-automated fleets and UAVs, particularly in managing electric and hybrid vehicles, leading to inefficiencies in delivery logistics and inventory management.

Innovation Solution

An energy provider system integrates with connected vehicle fleets to optimize routes based on energy capacity, current location, and traffic information, utilizing UAVs for docking and delivery of goods or energy replenishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If semi-automated fleets and UAVs operate in siloed systems, then each system can function independently, but coordination efficiency between delivery systems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent operation capabilityVSAvoiddelivery coordination efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges semi-automated fleet operations with UAV operations into a unified coordinated system. The energy provider system integrates vehicle information from both ground vehicles and UAVs, enabling centralized route optimization and resource allocation that improves overall delivery efficiency while maintaining individual system functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The energy provider system serves multiple functions: it manages energy capacity for ground vehicles, coordinates UAV deliveries, optimizes routes for both systems, and handles inventory management. This multi-functional platform enables seamless coordination between previously siloed systems without requiring separate control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If delivery routes are optimized without considering energy capacity, then route planning is simpler, but vehicle operational continuity deteriorates due to fuel/energy constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute planning complexityVSAvoidvehicle operational continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary energy capacity assessment and route optimization before vehicle deployment. By calculating energy requirements and identifying refueling/charging opportunities in advance, the system ensures continuous operation without requiring complex real-time adjustments during vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The energy provider system continuously monitors vehicle energy capacity and location, providing real-time feedback for dynamic route adjustments. This feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize routes based on actual energy levels while maintaining operational continuity through automated repositioning to energy replenishment locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If UAVs are integrated into the supply chain without coordination system, then delivery flexibility increases, but system integration complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery flexibilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy provider system acts as an intermediary platform that manages UAV integrations with the existing supply chain. It handles communication between UAVs, ground vehicles, and inventory systems, standardizing interfaces and protocols to enable flexible UAV deployments without creating integration chaos.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Speed

If real-time route modifications are made based on traffic information, then delivery speed improves, but computational processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery speedVSAvoidcomputational processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates alternative routes and energy replenishment locations based on historical traffic patterns and vehicle energy consumption data. When real-time traffic changes occur, the system can quickly switch to pre-planned alternatives without requiring extensive computational analysis, thus maintaining delivery speed while minimizing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12459678B2Anticipatory supply chain coordination with connected vehicle fleet and unmanned aerial vehicle integrations

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to anticipatory supply chain coordination with connected vehicle fleet and unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) integrations. According to one aspect disclosed herein, an energy provider system can obtain connected vehicle information from a connected vehicle. The connected vehicle information can include a vehicle identifier that uniquely identifies the connected vehicle, an energy capacity remaining for the connected vehicle, and a current location of the connected vehicle. The energy provider system can obtain order information from an inventory management system. The order information can include a destination location to which a physical order is to be delivered. The energy provider system can determine a route to the destination location based, at least in part, upon the energy capacity remaining and the current location. The energy provider system can then provide the route to the connected vehicle.