Vehicle-to-Vehicle Consignment Transfer via Speed Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern goods transport, shipments often require multiple stages of loading and unloading between different vehicles, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and reduced flexibility, as they are typically transported in stages using various means, resulting in unnecessary trips and storage, which complicates fast and reliable delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method for forwarding shipments from a transfer vehicle to a receiving vehicle that allows for accelerated transportation by approximating their positions and speeds, enabling direct transfer without intermediate storage, using sensors and control units for precise alignment and autonomous operation to minimize unnecessary routes and human errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If shipments are transported directly to destination without intermediate storage, then delivery speed and flexibility are improved, but transport costs increase due to underutilized vehicle loading capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple shipments traveling in similar directions into a single consolidated transport route. The system merges individual shipment requests with compatible destinations and time windows into unified vehicle routes, maximizing loading capacity utilization while maintaining delivery speed. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both fast delivery and cost efficiency through shipment consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic route optimization that adapts to changing shipment demands, vehicle availability, and traffic conditions. The system continuously recalculates optimal routes and consolidation opportunities in real-time, allowing flexible adjustment of delivery schedules and vehicle assignments. This dynamic approach enables fast delivery when needed while optimizing for cost efficiency when consolidations are possible.
2Loss of energy
If shipments are loaded multiple times between different vehicles, then transport cost efficiency is improved through consolidated freight, but delivery time increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary consolidation of shipments at designated transfer points before final delivery. By pre-assembling consolidated freight at intermediate locations and coordinating vehicle arrivals in advance, the system minimizes waiting time and transfer delays. This preliminary action allows cost-efficient consolidation without significantly increasing delivery time, as the consolidation process is planned and executed in parallel with route optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements express transfer mechanisms at consolidation points that enable rapid shipment transfer between vehicles. The system uses automated handling, pre-positioned receiving vehicles, and optimized transfer procedures to minimize the time shipments spend in transit between vehicles. This allows the system to achieve cost-efficient multi-vehicle transport while keeping transfer time losses minimal.
3Reliability
If conventional transshipment methods are used with vehicles stopping at designated points, then reliable shipment transfer is achieved, but transport time increases and route flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coordinated intermediary vehicles that act as mobile transfer stations between origin and destination. These intermediary vehicles pick up consolidated shipments from initial vehicles and deliver them to final destination vehicles in a coordinated sequence. This intermediary approach maintains reliable transfer through systematic coordination while reducing transport duration by eliminating fixed transshipment point stops and enabling continuous movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic coordination of vehicle arrivals and departures at transfer points. The system continuously adjusts vehicle schedules, speeds, and positioning to optimize transfer timing and minimize stops. This dynamic coordination maintains reliable shipment transfer by ensuring vehicles are in the correct position at the correct time, while significantly reducing transport duration through minimized idle time and optimized routing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for transferring at least one consignment (1, 21) from a transfer vehicle (2, 22) to a receiving vehicle (3, 26) is described, in which: - a rough approximation of the transfer vehicle (2, 22) and the receiving vehicle (3, 26) is carried out using position data of the transfer vehicle (2, 22) and/or the receiving vehicle (3, 26); - after a rough approximation, a fine approximation of the transfer vehicle (2, 22) and the receiving vehicle (3, 26) is carried out by aligning their speeds and directions of travel; - while the transfer vehicle (2, 22) and the receiving vehicle (3, 26) are traveling at the same speed and direction of travel, the at least one consignment (1, 21) is transferred from the transfer vehicle (2, 22) to the receiving vehicle (3, 26); and - in which after the delivery of at least one shipment (1,21) Remove the transfer vehicle (2,22) and the takeover vehicle (3,26) from each other.