Height-Adjustable Fork Transport Vehicle for Last-Mile Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency and costliness of last-mile delivery operations, particularly in urban areas, due to increased delivery volumes causing traffic disruptions and high delivery costs, with existing solutions not adequately addressing the need for flexible and efficient delivery methods.
Innovation Solution
A transport vehicle equipped with electric drive, steerable wheels, a height-adjustable loading fork, and longitudinal outriggers, allowing for self-propelled operation and seamless multimodal delivery, enabling couriers to pick up and deliver packages without unloading from vans, and accommodating various transport unit sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional delivery vehicles are used for last-mile delivery, then delivery capacity is maintained, but traffic congestion increases and delivery costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is segmented into two parts: a stationary warehouse vehicle that stores goods, and a mobile transport vehicle that delivers them. This segmentation allows the warehouse vehicle to remain parked (avoiding traffic congestion) while the smaller transport vehicle handles last-mile delivery efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile transport vehicle acts as an intermediary between the stationary warehouse vehicle and the final delivery location. It picks up transport units from the warehouse vehicle and delivers them to customers, separating the storage function from the delivery function to reduce traffic impact
2Quantity of substance
If delivery vehicles increase to meet rising delivery volumes, then delivery capacity improves, but delivery costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The warehouse vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as a stationary storage facility, a charging station for electric transport vehicles, and a hub for consolidating deliveries. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated vehicles, maintaining cost efficiency while handling increased delivery volumes
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service delivery where customers can receive packages at automated lockers or designated points without requiring a delivery person to be present, reducing labor costs and allowing the system to handle higher volumes with the same fleet size
3Device complexity
If the transport vehicle is designed for fixed transport unit sizes, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in accommodating different delivery needs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading fork is designed with height-adjustable capability, allowing it to adapt to different transport unit positions and sizes. This dynamic adjustment feature provides versatility in accommodating various delivery needs without requiring multiple specialized vehicles or complex structural configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of fork height position to accommodate different transport unit configurations. By adjusting the fork height rather than changing the entire vehicle structure, the system achieves adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a transport vehicle for transporting at least one transport unit. The transport vehicle including at least one drive unit having at least one electric drive, at least one steerable vehicle wheel, at least one standing platform, at least one control unit (6), and at least one loading fork, and at least two longitudinal outriggers, which are arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another and extend in a longitudinal direction of the transport vehicle and between which the loading fork is arranged so as to be height-adjustable and which are in each case connected to the drive unit by one end section and at the respective other end section of which in each case at least one non-steerable vehicle wheel is arranged.