Robotic Vehicle Delivery Using QR-Based Order Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering items using autonomous robotic vehicles do not allow item providers to choose specific vehicles for delivery, leading to inefficiencies in the transfer process and potential privacy concerns regarding user information.
Innovation Solution
A method where robotic vehicles are communicatively connected to a server that transmits order data, including a target QR code, allowing item providers to select any vehicle from a fleet for delivery, with the server ensuring privacy by locally storing destination and navigation information, and only sharing necessary data with the selected vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the item provider waits for a robotic vehicle to arrive at their location to receive items, then the delivery process can proceed, but the item provider cannot choose a specific robotic vehicle and the process becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The item provider actively initiates the vehicle selection process by presenting a QR code to available robotic vehicles, rather than passively waiting for system assignment. This self-service approach enables the provider to choose a specific vehicle from the fleet, resolving the contradiction between operational control and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The item provider prepares the QR code in advance at their location before the robotic vehicle arrives. This preliminary action allows the provider to have control over vehicle selection ready when vehicles approach, eliminating waiting time and improving transfer efficiency while maintaining choice.
2Productivity
If user information such as destination and navigation data is transmitted to the item provider, then the delivery process can be coordinated, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes sensitive user information (destination addresses, navigation routes) from the data transmitted to the item provider. Only essential delivery coordination data is shared, while private user information is kept separate, resolving the contradiction between coordination efficiency and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary mechanism where the robotic vehicle acts as a bridge between the user and item provider. The vehicle receives full navigation data from the user system, then independently executes the delivery without the item provider needing access to user private information, maintaining both efficiency and privacy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a method of delivering an item to a user, the item to be delivered by one of a fleet of robotic vehicles. The method includes transmitting, by a server to an item provider, new order data indicative of (i) the item to be delivered and (ii) a target QR code representative of a target order ID, acquiring a request for order confirmation from a given robotic vehicle, the request for order confirmation including an in-use order ID. In response to the in-use order ID matching the target order ID, the given robotic vehicle is triggered from the fleet to receive the item, the server transmits the destination information to the given robotic vehicle for delivering the item and triggers operation of the given robotic vehicle based on the transmitted destination information.