Smart unattended home delivery box
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Solution Overview
Problem
The last meter of delivery in e-commerce logistics is inefficient, often requiring the recipient's physical presence, leading to missed deliveries, prolonged delivery times, additional costs, and poor user experience due to preset schedules not aligning with end-customer daily life.
Innovation Solution
A Smart Unattended Home Delivery Box system that uses a lockable bin with advanced technologies like blockchain, proximity communication, and energy harvesting, allowing secure and convenient delivery and pickup without physical presence, utilizing smart mobile devices for authorization and notifications, and optionally connecting to a cloud-based back-end facility for enhanced reliability and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recipient must be physically present at home for delivery, then the delivery can be completed securely, but the delivery time is prolonged and additional costs are incurred due to missed deliveries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smart delivery box as an intermediary device between the courier and the recipient. The box receives packages on behalf of the recipient and releases them through automated authorization mechanisms (NFC, QR codes, biometric authentication), eliminating the need for the recipient to be physically present while maintaining secure delivery completion
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery box enables self-service functionality where the system automatically manages package reception, storage, and release without requiring continuous human intervention. The recipient can authorize package release remotely through their mobile device, and the box autonomously completes the delivery transaction
2Productivity
If preset delivery schedules are used, then the logistics process is efficient, but the user experience deteriorates due to misalignment with end-customer daily life
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static preset schedules to dynamic on-demand access. The delivery box can be accessed at any time through authorized devices, allowing recipients to retrieve packages according to their actual availability rather than being constrained by fixed delivery windows, thus adapting to varying user schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time notification and authorization feedback mechanisms. The recipient receives notifications about package arrival and can authorize release at their convenience, creating a responsive system that adapts to user needs rather than forcing users to adapt to system constraints
3Reliability
If a lockable delivery bin with advanced technologies is used, then security and tracking are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery box integrates multiple functions into a single device: secure storage, automated locking/unlocking, mobile device communication (NFC, QR codes), biometric authentication, and cloud connectivity. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into one unified solution
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical key-based locking with electronic and cryptographic mechanisms including NFC communication, QR code verification, and biometric authentication. These digital systems provide enhanced security while enabling remote authorization capabilities that mechanical systems cannot achieve
Data Source
AI summary
A secure locker box is provided including a basic box (100) with a door enclosing a storage area, and a lock system for locking the door, the lock system including a processing unit (201), an electro mechanical door lock (202), and a wireless communication module (300). The processing unit (201) is adapted to receive a wakeup signal via the wireless communication module (300); send a request for unlocking the electro mechanical door lock (202) and opening the door; in response to receiving an unlock confirmation message, actuate the electro mechanical door lock (202) such that it opens the door; recognize closing of the door and locking the electro mechanical door lock (202) and in response sending a door closed and door lock locked confirmation message. A method for handling the secure locker box comprises receiving the confirmation message by a remote locker center (400) and writing a confirmation to a blockchain to ensure authenticity.