Systems and methods for delivering perishable items

• US 10,240,846 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Winkle, David C., Wilkinson, Bruce W., Mattingly, Todd D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nouketcha, Lionel
• Application Number:
  US15/660,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20180031296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/107 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/125 Movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/14 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering and maintaining perishable items within a certain temperature range during delivery. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for transporting merchandise including: a container for transporting merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in a delivery vehicle along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location, the container including: a merchandise storage area receiving merchandise and a coolant; an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area; a temperature sensor measuring the temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport; and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature measurements from the temperature sensor during transport and to modify the insulation characteristics of the container during transport in response to the temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range.

Claims

1. A system for transporting merchandise using aerial drones comprising:

an aerial drone configured to fly along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location and to transport a container therewith;

a container configured to store and maintain merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in the aerial drone as the drone flies along the delivery route, the container comprising;

a merchandise storage area configured to receive merchandise and a coolant;

an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area;

a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;

a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside of the container at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;

at least one valve operable during transport between an open position allowing air to flow from outside the container to inside the insulation compartment of the container and a closed position in which air flow from outside the container through the at least one valve is blocked; and

a control circuit configured to;

receive the temperature measurements from the first temperature sensor during transport and to modify insulation characteristics of the container during transport in response to the temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within the predetermined temperature range;

receive temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor during transport;

compare temperature measurements of the first sensor with temperature measurements of the second temperature sensor; and

modify insulation characteristics of the container during transport by allowing outside air into the container through the at least one valve if temperature measurements of the second sensor exceed temperature measurements of the first sensor taken over a predetermined number of time intervals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises:

an outer bag with an interior divided into the merchandise storage area and the insulation compartment;

an inner bag disposed within the interior of the outer bag and defining the merchandise storage area; and

wherein the outer bag and the inner bag define the insulation compartment therebetween.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises dry ice.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulation compartment is configured to retain a variable amount of insulation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulation compartment is partially evacuated to create a partial vacuum.

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

monitor the temperature in the merchandise storage area; and

actuate the vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the insulation compartment during transport in response to the monitored temperature.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure environmental conditions outside the container during transport;

the control circuit configured to receive sensor measurements from the at least one sensor and to modify the insulation characteristics based on the sensor measurements.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of wind chill, heat index, amount of sunlight, elevation of route, humidity, and wind speed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve comprises:

a uni-directional intake valve that is arranged to permit air flow into the container; and

a uni-directional exhaust valve that is arranged to permit air flow out of the container;

the control circuit configured to actuate the valves to modify the insulation characteristics of the container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the uni-directional intake valve is disposed on a first surface oriented facing a direction of travel to facilitate the intake of air through the intake valve; and

the uni-directional exhaust valve is disposed on a second surface oriented opposite the direction of travel to facilitate the exhaust of air through the exhaust valve.

11. A method for transporting merchandise using aerial drones comprising:

providing an aerial drone configured to fly along a delivery route from a source location to a destination location and to transport a container therewith;

providing a container configured to store and maintain merchandise within a predetermined temperature range in the aerial drone as the drone flies along the delivery route, the container comprising;

a merchandise storage area configured to receive merchandise and a coolant;

an insulation compartment adjacent the merchandise storage area;

the method comprising transporting the container in the aerial drone along the delivery route from the source location to the destination location;

by a first temperature sensor, measuring the temperature in the merchandise storage area at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;

by a second temperature sensor, measuring a temperature outside of the container at predetermined time intervals during transport from the source location to the destination location;

providing at least one valve operable during transport between an open position allowing air to flow from outside the container to inside the insulation compartment of the container and a closed position in which air flow from outside the container through the valve is blocked;

by a control circuit,

receiving the temperature measurements during transport and modifying insulation characteristics of the container during transport in response to the temperature measurements to maintain the merchandise within a predetermined temperature range;

receiving temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor during transport;

comparing temperature measurements of the first sensor with temperature measurements of the second temperature sensor; and

modifying insulation characteristics of the container during transport by allowing outside air into the container through the at least one valve if temperature measurements of the second sensor exceed temperature measurements of the first sensor taken over a predetermined number of time intervals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising partially evacuating the insulation compartment to create a partial vacuum.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, by the control circuit:

monitoring the temperature in the merchandise storage area; and

actuating a vacuum pump to modify the partial vacuum to modify the insulation characteristics of the container during transport in response to the monitored temperature.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

by at least one sensor, measuring environmental conditions outside the container during transport;

by the control circuit, receiving sensor measurements from the at least one sensor and modifying the insulation characteristics based on the sensor measurements.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of wind chill, heat index, amount of sunlight, elevation of route, humidity, and wind speed.