Multi-Tier Delivery Routing With Agent Rendezvous Handoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing delivery systems face inefficiencies due to delivery vehicles often being left idle during the final segment of the delivery route, leading to increased fuel consumption, emissions, and traffic congestion, especially in urban areas where parking may be unavailable or costly.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-tier delivery system where a delivery agent handles the final segment of the delivery route, receiving shipments from a delivery vehicle at designated rendezvous points, allowing the vehicle to quickly drop off batches of shipments and move on, thereby reducing idle time and improving vehicle utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a delivery vehicle travels through urban areas to make deliveries, then deliveries can be made to customers, but the vehicle must idle or park during deliveries, causing fuel waste, emissions, and traffic congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery process is segmented into two distinct roles: the delivery vehicle driver who transports batches of shipments to rendezvous points, and delivery agents who handle the actual final delivery to customers. This segmentation allows the vehicle to avoid idle time during deliveries, as it can immediately depart after dropping off shipments at rendezvous points, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Delivery agents serve as intermediaries between the delivery vehicle and the final customer. The vehicle drops off shipments at rendezvous points where agents are stationed, and the agents complete the delivery process. This intermediary system eliminates the need for the vehicle to remain idle during the actual delivery process, reducing energy loss while maintaining delivery functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a delivery vehicle waits at delivery locations during the final segment, then individual deliveries can be made, but the vehicle sits idle, reducing utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery operation is divided into two phases: the vehicle's batch transport phase to rendezvous points, and the agent's individual delivery phase to customers. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain high utilization by continuously moving between rendezvous points without idle waiting time, while agents handle the time-consuming individual delivery tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Delivery agents act as intermediaries who take over the delivery task at rendezvous points, allowing the vehicle to immediately proceed to the next destination. This intermediary arrangement enables the vehicle to maintain high productivity and utilization rates while deliveries are still completed through the agent mediation process.
3Ease of operation
If delivery vehicles park at delivery locations, then drivers can make deliveries, but parking may be unavailable or costly in urban areas
Solution Approach 1:
Delivery agents stationed at predetermined rendezvous points serve as intermediaries who receive shipments from vehicles and complete the final delivery to customers. This intermediary system eliminates the need for vehicles to park at delivery locations, avoiding urban parking availability and cost issues while maintaining the delivery operation's functionality.
4Productivity
If multiple shipments are delivered in sequence by a single vehicle, then all deliveries can be completed, but the vehicle must stop and idle at each location, increasing total delivery time
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery process is segmented so that the vehicle handles batch transport to multiple rendezvous points in sequence without stopping for deliveries, while agents handle the actual delivery tasks at each location. This segmentation eliminates vehicle idle time at each delivery location, significantly reducing total delivery time while maintaining high delivery throughput through parallel agent operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a system and method for generating a delivery plan for multi-tier delivery schemes are described. Embodiments may include generating a delivery plan for a region including multiple delivery locations. The delivery plan may specify at least one agent delivery route within the region. The delivery route may include at least one shipment acquisition location coinciding with an expected travel route of a vehicle conveying shipments. The agent delivery route may be traversed by an agent that is to deliver a specific group of shipments acquired from the vehicle at the shipment acquisition location. Embodiments may include selecting the specific group of shipments for delivery on the delivery route. The selecting is based on a time constraint for delivering the group of shipments to respective delivery locations along the delivery route, and historical delivery time information for previous deliveries to the delivery locations along the delivery route.