Autonomous mobile goods transfer
First Claim
1. A system for autonomous vehicle-to-vehicle item transfers, the system comprising:
- at least one processor;
at least one machine-readable storage medium, comprising instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;
determining a route for a first vehicle that will take the first vehicle to a location that is within a determined distance of a second vehicle, the first vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the second vehicle, and the second vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the first vehicle;
controlling the first vehicle to autonomously drive the determined route;
detecting that the second vehicle is within the determined distance;
controlling the first vehicle, using sensor inputs, to autonomously maneuver the first vehicle into a position to transfer a physical item to the second vehicle, the first vehicle and the second vehicle remain independently controlled and physically uncoupled; and
controlling the transfer of the physical item between the first and second vehicles while both the first and second vehicles are in motion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed in some examples, are devices, methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide for automated goods exchange between autonomous vehicles while the autonomous vehicles are still in motion. This may be used to efficiently ship packages long distances as well as to transfer goods to consumers. This allows shippers to transfer goods from one truck to another without having to stop and unload the truck, decreasing costs by limiting human involvement and improving efficiency. Likewise, mobile merchants, such as food trucks, may sell to consumers in cars without having to stop to perform the exchange, increasing the convenience to consumers.
12 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for autonomous vehicle-to-vehicle item transfers, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one machine-readable storage medium, comprising instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising; determining a route for a first vehicle that will take the first vehicle to a location that is within a determined distance of a second vehicle, the first vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the second vehicle, and the second vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the first vehicle; controlling the first vehicle to autonomously drive the determined route; detecting that the second vehicle is within the determined distance; controlling the first vehicle, using sensor inputs, to autonomously maneuver the first vehicle into a position to transfer a physical item to the second vehicle, the first vehicle and the second vehicle remain independently controlled and physically uncoupled; and controlling the transfer of the physical item between the first and second vehicles while both the first and second vehicles are in motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for autonomous vehicle-to-vehicle item transfers, the method comprising:
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at a first vehicle that is autonomously driven; determining a route for a first vehicle that will take the first vehicle to a location that is within a determined distance of a second vehicle, the first vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the second vehicle, and second vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the first vehicle; controlling the first vehicle to autonomously drive the determined route; detecting that the second vehicle is within the determined distance; controlling the first vehicle, using sensor inputs, to autonomously maneuver the first vehicle into a position to transfer a physical item to the second vehicle, the first vehicle and the second vehicle remain independently controlled and physically uncoupled; and controlling the transfer of the physical item between the first and second vehicles while both the first and second vehicles are in motion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. At least one non-transitory machine readable medium for autonomous vehicle-to-vehicle item transfers, the non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform operations comprising:
at a first vehicle that is controlled autonomously and independent of a second vehicle; determining a route for a first vehicle that will take the first vehicle to a location that is within a determined distance of the second vehicle, the second vehicle is controlled autonomously and independent of the first vehicle; controlling the first vehicle to autonomously drive the determined route; detecting that the second vehicle is within the determined distance; controlling the first vehicle, using sensor inputs, to autonomously maneuver the first vehicle into a position to transfer a physical item to the second vehicle, the first vehicle and the second vehicle remain independently controlled and physically uncoupled; and controlling the transfer of the physical item between the first and second vehicles while both the first and second vehicles are in motion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification