Secured delivery locker

• US 10,235,651 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Winkle, David C., Taylor, Robert C., Mattingly, Todd D., Atchley, Michael D., Cantrell, Robert L., O'Brien, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/842,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20180174099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for receiving and storing delivered items. In some embodiments, a secured delivery locker is described herein that can communicate with delivery vehicles and/or users. In several embodiments, an autonomous delivery vehicle can communicate with a secured delivery locker to authenticate itself. The secured delivery locker can then grant access to the delivery vehicle, such as by opening a door to an interior thereof, so that the delivery vehicle can deposit a package therein. The locker can then confirm receipt of the package and close the door. Thereafter, the locker and/or the delivery vehicle can update a system to indicate that the package was delivered.

Claims

1. A delivery locker comprising:

a housing having an interior;

a door of the housing configured to be moved between open and closed positions;

a sensor mounted to the housing and configured to output signaling corresponding to a fullness level of the interior of the housing;

a transceiver;

a manipulator mounted to the housing and configured to position packages in the housing;

a control circuit in communication with the sensor and the transceiver, wherein the control circuit is configured to;

determine the fullness level of the interior of the housing based at least on the signaling from the sensor;

cause the manipulator to position packages within the interior of the housing to increase the available space; and

communicate via the transceiver with a delivery vehicle to notify the delivery vehicle whether a package being delivered by the delivery vehicle can fit within the housing interior.

2. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to authenticate the delivery vehicle.

3. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to send a message to an owner of the delivery locker to notify the owner that the housing cannot receive the package.

4. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to send a message to an owner of the delivery locker to notify the owner that the package was delivered.

5. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to move the door to the open position in response to receiving a signal from the delivery vehicle.

6. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a position of one or more packages within the interior of the housing.

7. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the manipulator comprises an arm having one or more joints and/or a vibration mechanism.

8. The delivery locker of claim 1, further comprising a temperature regulation system configured to maintain a temperature within the interior of the housing.

9. The delivery locker of claim 8, further comprising an indicator visible on an exterior of the housing configured to provide a visual indication to the delivery vehicle that the temperature regulation system is malfunctioning.

10. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to analyze media captured by a camera device mounted to the delivery vehicle, along with a reading from the sensor, to determine the fullness level.

11. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit, in response to determining that the package cannot fit within the interior of the housing, is configured to determine a next location to send the package and send a message to the delivery vehicle indicating the next location.

12. A method for receiving a package delivery at a locker, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a delivery vehicle at a transceiver of the locker indicating that the delivery vehicle has a package for delivery to the locker;

receiving signaling from a sensor mounted to the locker at a control circuit, the signaling corresponding to a fullness level of an interior of the locker;

determining the fullness level of the interior of the housing based at least on the signaling from the sensor;

positioning the one or more packages in the interior of the locker with a manipulator mounted to the locker to maximize available space; and

sending a signal with the control circuit via the transceiver to notify the delivery vehicle whether the package can fit within the interior of the locker.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising authenticating the delivery vehicle with the control circuit.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a message to an owner of the locker with the transceiver to notify the owner that the locker cannot receive the package.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a message to an owner of the locker with the transceiver to notify the owner that the package was delivered.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving a door of the locker to an open position with the control circuit in response to receiving a signal from the delivery vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a position of one or more packages within the interior of the locker with the sensor.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the manipulator comprises an arm having one or more joints and/or a vibration mechanism.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising maintaining a temperature within the locker with a temperature regulation system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising visually indicating that the temperature regulation system is malfunctioning with an indicator visible on an exterior of the locker.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving media from the delivery vehicle captured by a camera device thereof; and

analyzing the media with the control circuit to determine the fullness level.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a next location to send the package with the control circuit in response to determining that the package cannot fit within the interior of the locker; and

sending a message to the delivery vehicle indicating the next location.