UAV Fleet Integration Layer for Third-Party Delivery Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing a fleet of UAVs for autonomous delivery is a difficult technical problem, especially for parties that do not themselves manage fleets, necessitating new infrastructures for integrating their systems with those that do to provide package delivery services.
Innovation Solution
A fleet management computing system that receives orders, assigns UAVs, determines navigation routes, and manages autonomous deliveries from retail fulfillment locations to delivery locations, integrating with retailer systems to facilitate seamless package delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fleet management computing system is used to manage autonomous UAV deliveries, then delivery efficiency and automation are improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase for parties that do not manage fleets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an intermediary integration layer between the fleet management computing system and third-party systems. This integration layer includes standardized APIs and communication protocols that mediate between the complex fleet management functions and the simpler third-party ordering systems, allowing efficient UAV delivery management while shielding third-party users from system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fleet management computing system is designed with universal interfaces that can serve multiple functions: managing autonomous UAV deliveries, integrating with various retailer ordering systems, and providing navigation services. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle diverse delivery scenarios without requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
2Extent of automation
If autonomous navigation routes are transmitted to UAVs for self-delivery, then operational automation is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring delivery status increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms where UAVs continuously transmit telemetry data, location information, and delivery status back to the fleet management computing system. The system processes this feedback information and provides real-time tracking updates, allowing automated navigation while maintaining easy observability of delivery status through standardized data streams and confirmation protocols.
3Measurement precision
If package identifiers are transmitted and associated with packages, then delivery accuracy is improved, but information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the package identification system into distinct components: unique package identifiers assigned by the fleet management system, retailer order references, and delivery location data. Each segment serves a specific function and can be independently managed and tracked, improving identification accuracy while reducing overall information management complexity through modular organization.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a method of managing deliveries of orders by a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from retail fulfillment locations to delivery locations is provided. A fleet management computing system receives a request for delivery of an order from a retailer ordering computing system. The fleet management computing system transmits one or more package identifiers to be associated with one or more packages for the order. The fleet management computing system receives a notification that a package of the one or more packages for the order is ready for pickup at a retail fulfillment location. The fleet management computing system determines a navigation route for a UAV to the delivery location via the retail fulfillment location. The fleet management computing system transmits the navigation route to the UAV for autonomous navigation of the navigation route to the delivery location via the retail fulfillment location to deliver the package.