Middleware UAV-UGV Logistics System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current logistics systems face challenges in efficiently delivering packages while minimizing environmental impact and reducing human intervention, particularly in city-wide same-day delivery services where traditional methods are inefficient and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous warehouse package delivery communication system that utilizes a real-time data distribution middleware network with a publish/subscribe protocol to facilitate communication among U-shaped conveyor belts, robots, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and warehouse servers, enabling efficient package retrieval and delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional delivery methods (automobiles, trucks) are used to deliver packages, then delivery coverage and flexibility are improved, but environmental harm and traffic congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is segmented into multiple autonomous components: warehouse robots for package retrieval, UGVs for ground transport, and UAVs for aerial delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform specialized functions efficiently, replacing traditional single-vehicle delivery systems and reducing environmental impact through optimized routing and electric propulsion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical delivery systems (gas-powered automobiles and trucks) with automated electric vehicles (UGVs and UAVs). This substitution eliminates harmful emissions while maintaining delivery coverage, as the electric vehicles are controlled by AI systems that optimize routes to minimize energy consumption and travel time.
2Productivity
If more personnel and trucks are deployed to increase delivery speed, then delivery efficiency is improved, but operating costs and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles (UGVs and UAVs) are designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing multiple tasks including package retrieval, transportation, and delivery. The system can dynamically allocate vehicles based on demand, with UGVs serving both as transport units and as mobile charging stations for UAVs, thereby reducing the total number of vehicles needed while maintaining high delivery speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous delivery system operates with minimal human intervention. The AI-controlled vehicles self-navigate, self-coordinate, and self-manage their operations including charging and package handling. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain high productivity with fewer vehicles compared to traditional manned delivery fleets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ground-based delivery is used, then infrastructure compatibility is improved, but traffic congestion and geographic limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional ground-based delivery to three-dimensional delivery by incorporating UAVs for aerial transport. This dimensional change allows packages to bypass traffic congestion and geographic obstacles on the ground, significantly reducing delivery time while maintaining route flexibility through AI-powered navigation that can select between ground and aerial paths.
4Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles (UGVs, UAVs) are deployed to reduce human intervention, then labor costs are reduced, but system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a real-time data distribution middleware as an intermediary layer that manages communication between warehouse servers, robots, UGVs, and UAVs. This middleware simplifies the complex communication requirements by providing standardized protocols and interfaces, allowing autonomous vehicles to coordinate efficiently without requiring direct complex point-to-point communication between all system components.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes an autonomous warehouse package delivery system. The system includes a warehouse, a plurality of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), a plurality of UAVs, and a plurality of servers. The warehouse includes a U-shaped conveyor belt, a plurality of shelving units, a plurality of package stacks, a first plurality of robots, and a second plurality of robots. Each UGV autonomously pick-ups a package from a shelf, navigates to the UAV landing pads, and places the package on the UAV landing pad. The plurality of UAVs travel to the UAV landing pad and pick up a package, autonomously fly to a package delivery address and release the package at the package delivery address. A real-time data distribution middleware network is connected to the U-shaped conveyor belt, the first plurality of robots, the second plurality of robots, the plurality of UGVs, the plurality of UAVs and a plurality of servers.