Autonomous Multimodal Logistics
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a request to ship an item;
loading the item via a handling mechanism of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
determining an item transfer point based on a delivery point, the item transfer point indicating a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of a docking station and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) based on the delivery point;
calculating a flight path to the item transfer point;
deploying the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path; and
transferring the item from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An example system may comprise a docking station remotely located from a fulfillment center, a fulfillment system, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). The fulfillment system manages the fulfillment center and the docking station, receives a request to ship an item, determines an item transfer point based on a delivery point, and calculates a flight path to the item transfer point. The fulfillment system loads the item at the fulfillment center via a handling mechanism of the UAV and deploys the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path. The AGV is coupled for wireless communication with the fulfillment system, the docking station, and the AGV. The item transfer point indicates a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV based on the delivery point.
79 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a request to ship an item; loading the item via a handling mechanism of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); determining an item transfer point based on a delivery point, the item transfer point indicating a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of a docking station and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) based on the delivery point; calculating a flight path to the item transfer point; deploying the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path; and transferring the item from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a docking station remotely located from a fulfillment center; a fulfillment system that manages the fulfillment center and the docking station, receives a request to ship an item, determines an item transfer point based on a delivery point, and calculates a flight path to the item transfer point; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coupled for wireless communication with the fulfillment system and the docking station, the fulfillment system loading the item at the fulfillment center via a handling mechanism of the UAV and deploying the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path; and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) coupled for wireless communication with the fulfillment system, the docking station, and the AGV, the item transfer point indicating a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV based on the delivery point. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform operations comprising; receiving a request to ship an item; loading the item via a handling mechanism of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); determining an item transfer point based on a delivery point, the item transfer point indicating a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of a docking station and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) based on the delivery point; calculating a flight path to the item transfer point; deploying the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path; and transferring the item from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification