In-Transit Robotic Order Picking in Automated Delivery Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grocery delivery services are inefficient and costly, requiring minimum order quantities, expensive fees, and limiting the ability to modify orders after processing, making it difficult for consumers to impulsively purchase items.
Innovation Solution
An automated delivery vehicle equipped with a robotic system that can process and fulfill orders while en route, allowing for real-time modifications and efficient delivery of additional items without significantly increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If orders are fulfilled in a warehouse before delivery, then order accuracy is improved, but delivery time increases and additional delivery costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the warehouse fulfillment function and delivery transport function into a single integrated system. The robotic vehicle performs both order picking/assembly and delivery simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate warehouse processing and transport steps. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate order fulfillment while reducing delivery time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static warehouse fulfillment model to a dynamic in-transit fulfillment model. Orders are picked and assembled while the vehicle is moving along its delivery route, allowing fulfillment operations to occur dynamically during transport rather than requiring completion before departure.
2Loss of energy
If minimum order quantities are required, then delivery cost efficiency is improved, but consumer flexibility and impulse purchasing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system enables the vehicle to autonomously pick, assemble, and accommodate order modifications without requiring minimum quantity thresholds. The system can efficiently handle small, impulsive orders by autonomously retrieving items from storage containers and assembling them during transit, making the vehicle self-sufficient for any order size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of order fulfillment by removing minimum quantity constraints. The robotic picking system maintains cost efficiency across variable order sizes through automated operations, allowing consumers to place small or modified orders without penalty while the vehicle adapts its picking process accordingly.
3Productivity
If orders are processed and sealed before delivery, then order processing efficiency is improved, but the ability to modify or add items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains dynamic order processing capability throughout the delivery journey. Rather than sealing orders statically before departure, the robotic system continues to monitor and process order modifications in real-time during transit, allowing flexible adjustments while maintaining efficient automated operations until the final delivery moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic picking and assembly operations continue uninterrupted during the delivery route, rather than stopping before departure. This continuous operation allows the system to process orders efficiently while simultaneously accommodating modifications, eliminating the need to close the order processing window before delivery begins.
4Device complexity
If traditional delivery services are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but additional delivery fees and subscription costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple delivery trips into a single consolidated route. The vehicle picks up multiple orders from different locations and delivers them sequentially along its route, combining what would traditionally require separate deliveries into one efficient journey. This reduces total delivery costs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated routing and fulfillment.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic vehicle performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both a warehouse fulfillment center and a delivery vehicle. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent eliminates the need for separate warehouse operations and delivery trips, reducing overall costs while maintaining operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An order fulfillment and delivery system for autonomously fulfilling orders while en route to a delivery location. The system includes a delivery vehicle having a storage area, a robotic system at least partially disposed within the storage area and one or more processors. The one or more processors being configured to receive an order of one or more inventory items, generate container retrieval instructions for the robotic system to perform based on the received order and transmit to the robotic system the container retrieval instructions to perform. The robot system includes a container retrieval device movable in at least two dimensions to engage and move a container, based upon the container retrieval instructions, from a first location within the delivery vehicle to a second location within the delivery vehicle.