Unmanned Delivery Source Selection for Quality and Battery Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery systems using unmanned vehicles face challenges in efficiently delivering articles while maintaining quality and managing energy consumption, particularly when delivery times are prolonged, leading to potential quality deterioration and increased battery consumption.
Innovation Solution
A delivery control system that selects between two delivery methods based on attribute information of the article, such as lead time and weight, to optimize delivery efficiency and quality preservation by using either a same-base or different-base unmanned vehicle delivery approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an article is delivered by an unmanned vehicle from a delivery source where the unmanned vehicle is deployed, then delivery efficiency is improved, but the article quality may deteriorate due to long holding time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a delivery control device as an intermediary that selects between different delivery methods based on article attributes. It acts as a mediator between the delivery request and the execution, choosing whether to use the unmanned vehicle at the first delivery source or transfer the article to a unmanned vehicle at a second delivery source that is closer to the destination, thereby balancing delivery efficiency and article quality preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delivery method parameter based on article attributes such as lead time and weight. When the article has a short lead time or is heavy, the system switches from the first delivery method (unmanned vehicle from first delivery source) to the second delivery method (transfer to second delivery source), dynamically adjusting the delivery approach to optimize both efficiency and quality
2Adaptability or versatility
If an article is held by an unmanned vehicle for a long time before delivery, then delivery flexibility is improved, but battery consumption increases due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery control device serves as an intermediary that evaluates delivery requests and selects the optimal delivery method. It prevents unnecessary long-distance holding by unmanned vehicles by choosing to transfer articles to closer delivery sources when appropriate, thereby reducing battery consumption while maintaining delivery flexibility through multiple available methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by not always deploying the unmanned vehicle from the first delivery source. Instead, it selectively transfers articles to the second delivery source for cases where the article attributes indicate that long holding would be inefficient, thereby avoiding excessive battery consumption while preserving flexibility for cases where full deployment is beneficial
Data Source
AI summary
A center server manages first position information of a first delivery source where an article to be delivered is handled and an unmanned vehicle is deployed, and second position information of a second delivery source where the article is handled and no unmanned vehicle is deployed, and acquires attribute information of an article which is designated as a delivery target by a user and third position information of a delivery destination of the article. The center server selects, on the basis of attribute information of the article, a delivery method of a first delivery method for delivering the article handled at the first delivery source to the delivery destination by the unmanned vehicle or a second delivery method for delivering the article handled at the second delivery source to the delivery destination by an unmanned vehicle deployed at a base located at a place different from the second delivery source.