Transportation network utilizing multiple autonomous vehicles to transport items between network locations
First Claim
1. A system to transport items, the system comprising:
- first and second autonomous vehicles configured to transport items between network locations in a transportation network, the first autonomous vehicle comprising;
a propulsion system; and
an autonomous vehicle control system configured to control the propulsion system, the autonomous vehicle control system comprising;
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;
determine a plurality of different possible next network locations that an item may to be transported to as part of a travel path for the item through the transportation network;
determine, for each of the plurality of different possible next network locations, one or more transportation factors;
select a next network location based on the one or more transportation factors, wherein the selected next network location is an intermediate network location along the travel path for the item for which the transport of the item includes transport along a first path segment to the intermediate network location by the first autonomous vehicle and transport along a second path segment from the intermediate location by the second autonomous vehicle; and
control the propulsion system to transport the item along the first path segment to the intermediate network location so that the second autonomous vehicle is able to further transport the item from the intermediate network location along the second path segment as controlled by an autonomous vehicle control system of the second autonomous vehicle.
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Abstract
A transportation network is provided that utilizes autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) for identifying, acquiring, and transporting items between network locations without requiring human interaction. A travel path for an item through the transportation network may include multiple path segments and corresponding intermediate network locations, with a different autonomous vehicle utilized to transport the item along each path segment. Different possible next network locations for a travel path may selected based on transportation factors such as travel time, cost, safety, etc. (e.g., as may be related to distance, network congestion, inclement weather, etc.). Local processing (e.g., by a control system of an autonomous vehicle) may perform the selection of a next network location for a travel path (e.g., allowing multiple autonomous vehicles to simultaneously engage and depart with items or otherwise travel without having to contact and wait for instructions from centralized system components, etc.).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system to transport items, the system comprising:
first and second autonomous vehicles configured to transport items between network locations in a transportation network, the first autonomous vehicle comprising; a propulsion system; and an autonomous vehicle control system configured to control the propulsion system, the autonomous vehicle control system comprising; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; determine a plurality of different possible next network locations that an item may to be transported to as part of a travel path for the item through the transportation network; determine, for each of the plurality of different possible next network locations, one or more transportation factors; select a next network location based on the one or more transportation factors, wherein the selected next network location is an intermediate network location along the travel path for the item for which the transport of the item includes transport along a first path segment to the intermediate network location by the first autonomous vehicle and transport along a second path segment from the intermediate location by the second autonomous vehicle; and control the propulsion system to transport the item along the first path segment to the intermediate network location so that the second autonomous vehicle is able to further transport the item from the intermediate network location along the second path segment as controlled by an autonomous vehicle control system of the second autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 20)
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6. An autonomous vehicle configured to transport an item between network locations in a transportation network, the autonomous vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system; an engagement mechanism to engage an item; and an autonomous vehicle control system configured to control the propulsion system and the engagement mechanism, the autonomous vehicle control system comprising; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; control the engagement mechanism to engage an item; determine a next network location to transport the item to based at least in part on one or more transportation factors, wherein the next network location is an intermediate network location from which the item will be further transported by a second autonomous vehicle; control the propulsion system to transport the item to the intermediate network location; and control the engagement mechanism to disengage the item at the intermediate network location so that the second autonomous vehicle may transport the item from the intermediate network location as controlled by an autonomous vehicle control system of the second autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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7. A computer implemented method to transport items, the computer implemented method comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining a plurality of possible next network locations that an item may be transported to as part of a travel path through a transportation network, the travel path beginning at an origin network location and ending at a destination network location for the item, wherein the travel path includes at least two path segments with a different autonomous vehicle utilized to transport the item along each path segment, each of the autonomous vehicles having an autonomous vehicle control system; receiving transportation information that is related to transport of the item to at least one of the possible next network locations; and selecting a next network location from the plurality of possible next network locations for the item to be transported to based at least in part on the received transportation information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification