Robotic Delivery Dispatch With Cost-Transparent Option Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs) are underutilized due to perceived expense, and users lack transparent and comprehensive delivery options that include true total costs.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to select delivery options through a mobile application, which communicates with a database server to present multiple delivery options, including UAV/AGV services, traditional delivery services, and user self-help costs, using past user behavior and product data to suggest additional items for combined delivery, and dispatches appropriate robotic mechanisms for delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional delivery services are used, then delivery cost is reduced, but delivery speed and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts delivery options and pricing based on real-time factors such as order weight, dimensions, distance, and user preferences. The cost model dynamically calculates pricing for different delivery methods (UAV, AGV, traditional) and presents optimized combinations to users, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize both cost and speed based on current parameters.
2Speed
If UAV delivery is used, then delivery speed is improved, but perceived expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple delivery options and consolidates orders to optimize cost-effectiveness. By combining items that can be delivered together via UAV and presenting bundled pricing, the system reduces the perceived expense while maintaining fast delivery speed. The consolidation of multiple items into single UAV deliveries amortizes the fixed cost across multiple products.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes pricing parameters dynamically based on order characteristics such as weight, volume, and distance. By adjusting the cost parameters according to these variables, UAV delivery becomes more cost-effective for smaller, lighter items while traditional methods remain competitive for heavier loads, optimizing the perceived expense across different delivery scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple delivery options are presented, then user choice is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery decision-making process into distinct modules: cost calculation module, option generation module, optimization module, and presentation module. Each module handles a specific aspect of the complexity, processing delivery options independently and passing results through the pipeline. This segmentation manages system complexity by dividing the overall function into manageable, independent components.
4Loss of information
If opportunity costs are calculated and presented, then cost transparency is improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and presents opportunity costs without requiring manual intervention. The cost model self-service computes the difference between chosen and alternative delivery options, presenting this information directly to users. This automation handles the information processing complexity internally while providing transparent cost information to users, eliminating the need for manual cost analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed robotic delivery system includes a mobile application, a server, a dispatch module, and a plurality of robotic delivery vehicles. The mobile application receives suggested items for purchase, the suggested items selected by having a set of properties suitable for delivery by a selected one of the plurality of robotic delivery vehicles, where the set of properties includes product dimensions and weight; receives item costs to be provided to a user for the suggested items; displays the item costs; and transmits a message directing the dispatch module to deploy the selected one of the plurality of robotic delivery vehicles to deliver one or more items of the suggested items selected by the user.