Autonomous locker delivery

• US 10,227,178 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., Winkle, David C., Atchley, Michael D., McHale, Brian G., Antel, Nicholas Ray, O'Brien, John J., Mattingly, Todd D., Wilkinson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/851,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6481 Specially adapted for carrying different numbers of container or containers of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/007 for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/06 for carrying vehicles B60P3/12 takes precedence; caravans, camping, or like vehicles with vehicle-carrying means B60P3/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods

Abstract

Various systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein that are useful for autonomously delivering lockers. In some embodiments, a system comprises a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising a storage area, a docking station including a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to secure at least one locker, wherein the docking station is located within the storage area, and a retrieval point, a plurality of lockers each configured to house at least one product, a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker, and a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker, and cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.

Claims

1. A system for autonomously delivering lockers, the system comprising:

a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising;

a storage area configured to house a plurality of lockers;

a docking station, wherein the docking station includes a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to releasably secure at least one locker, and wherein the docking station is located within the storage area; and

a retrieval point;

the plurality of lockers, each of the plurality of lockers configured to house at least one product;

a delivery vehicle configured to be transported by the carrier vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising;

a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker; and

a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle from the carrier vehicle to a delivery location; and

a control circuit located on the carrier vehicle, the control circuit configured to;

identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker; and

cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery vehicle travels via one or more of land, water, and air.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include a climate control unit, wherein the climate control units are configured to maintain a climate-controlled environment inside each of the at least some of the plurality of lockers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage area includes a first area and a second area, and wherein the first area is climate controlled.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine, based on a trigger condition, that the selected locker has been delivered.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

in response to the determination that the selected locker has been delivered, cause transmission of an indication that the selected locker has been delivered.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the indication that the selected locker has been delivered includes an indication of products housed within the selected locker.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the trigger condition is one or more of removal of the selected locker from the retrieval point, delivery of the selected by the delivery vehicle, and the identification of the selected locker.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.

10. A method for autonomously delivering lockers, the method comprising:

transporting, via a docking station within a storage area of a carrier vehicle, a plurality of lockers, wherein the storage area includes a retrieval point;

housing, within each of the plurality of lockers, at least one product;

identifying, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker;

causing the selected locker to move from the docking station to the retrieval point;

receiving, via a delivery vehicle at the retrieval point, the selected locker; and

delivering, via the delivery vehicle, the selected locker.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the delivery vehicle travels via one or more of land, water, and air.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include a climate control unit, wherein the climate control units are configured to maintain a climate-controlled environment inside each of the at least some of the plurality of lockers.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the storage area includes a first area and a second area, and wherein the first area is climate controlled.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, based on a trigger condition, that the selected locker has been delivered.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to the determining that the selected locker has been delivered, causing transmission of an indication that the selected locker has been delivered.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication that the selected locker has been delivered includes an indication of products housed within the selected locker.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the trigger condition is one or more of the causing the selected locker to move from the docking station to the retrieval point, delivering the selected locker by the delivery vehicle, and identifying the selected locker.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.