Delivery Robot Tray Loading With Autonomous Elevator Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing delivery robots struggle with efficient vertical movement within multi-story buildings, requiring significant user intervention and lacking automation for elevator integration.

Innovation Solution

A delivery robot system utilizing NFC tags, RFID, and AI models to autonomously load and deliver goods, including elevator navigation, minimizing user interaction and optimizing tray selection and delivery routes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If delivery robots use elevators for vertical movement in multi-story buildings, then delivery efficiency and automation level are improved, but system complexity increases due to elevator integration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an elevator management server as an intermediary between the delivery robot and the elevator system. This server handles complex elevator scheduling, authentication, and coordination tasks, allowing the robot to use elevators efficiently without requiring complex built-in elevator control systems. The server acts as a mediator that simplifies the robot's design while enabling automated multi-story delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the delivery task into separate modules: tray selection by AI model, navigation to elevator by path planning module, elevator operation by control module, and final delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high delivery efficiency through coordinated automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If delivery robots autonomously select trays using AI models and NFC tags, then user intervention is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and communication units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interventionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery robot autonomously performs tray selection by reading NFC tags on trays and using AI models to determine the correct tray for each delivery task. The robot independently completes identification, selection, and loading operations without user assistance. This self-service capability eliminates the need for user intervention while the system manages the added complexity through integrated sensor and communication unit coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If delivery robots navigate to precise delivery locations using RFID and NFC technology, then delivery precision is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery precisionVSAvoiddetection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual location identification and tray selection with automated detection systems using NFC tags and RFID technology. These electromagnetic field-based systems automatically detect and verify tray identities and delivery locations, providing precise positioning and identification without requiring manual measurement or visual detection, thereby improving delivery precision while managing detection complexity through established wireless communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient, automated delivery within multi-story buildings by integrating elevator use, reducing user intervention, and improving delivery precision and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the delivery object information and delivery location information may be obtained using a short-range communication, the short-range communication may include any one of NFC, RFID, WIFI, and Bluetooth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNFC (Near Field Communication):

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification):

Data Source

PatentUS12449823B1Method and system for loading trays in delivery robots within a multi-story building

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 POLARIS3D CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a delivery robot for providing delivery services, wherein the delivery robot includes a communication unit and one or more processors, and the one or more processors are configured to obtain delivery object information and delivery location information of the delivery object, determine a tray on which the delivery object is to be loaded based on the delivery object information, invoke a transportation means to move to the delivery location, and when recognizing that a floor included in the delivery location information has been reached, get off the transportation means and move to a destination corresponding to the delivery location information.