Method and system for autonomous or semi-autonomous delivery

• US 20180232839A1
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starship Technologies Ou (Starship Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starship Technologies Ou (Starship Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinla, Ahti, Mandre, Indrek, Roberts, Lindsay, Macks, Andrew, LIIVIK, Ivo, LIIVIK, Mart, LIIVIK, Tiit, MARTINSON, Allan, VOLKOV, Kalle-Rasmus
• Granted Patent: US 11,164,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41895 using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00
• 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 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes

Abstract

A delivery method operates in a system with at least one server, at least one robot, and at least one delivery terminal. The method includes communicating a request for at least one delivery from the at least one delivery terminal to the at least one server and/or to the at least one robot; providing instructions from the at least one server to the at least one robot about the at least one delivery, the instructions comprising information about a final delivery location; loading the at least one robot with the at least one delivery to be transported; transporting the at least one delivery in the at least one robot to the final delivery location; and providing access to the at least one delivery in the at least one robot, preferably upon arrival at the delivery location. The present invention further relates to a system comprising at least one server adapted for at least: coordinating communication within the system, receiving/storing/sending data and/or performing computations; at least one robot operating autonomously or semi-autonomously and adapted to communicate with the at least one server in order to facilitate transport of a delivery by the robot to at least one recipient; and at least one delivery terminal communicating with the at least one robot and/or the at least one server.

Claims

1. A delivery method, operable in a system comprising at least one server, at least one robot and at least one delivery terminal, the method comprising:

(a) communicating a request for at least one delivery from the at least one delivery terminal to one or more of;

(i) the at least one server, and (ii) the at least one robot, said at least one delivery comprising at least one delivery item;

(b) providing instructions from the at least one server to the at least one robot about the at least one delivery, the instructions comprising information about a final delivery location;

(c) loading the at least one robot with the at least one delivery item;

(d) transporting the at least one delivery item in the at least one robot to the final delivery location; and

(e) providing access to the at least one delivery item in the at least one robot.

2. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

the robot sending a request for input when faced with a hazardous and/or unexpected setting; and

an operator terminal controlling the robot in the hazardous and/or unexpected setting.

3. The delivery method of claim 2, wherein the hazardous setting comprises a street to be crossed by the robot.

4. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the robot ceases motion when facing a hazardous and/or unexpected setting.

5. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the at least one delivery item is stored in a compartment in the robot during delivery and wherein providing access to the at least one delivery item in (e) comprises opening the compartment.

6. The delivery method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating a delivery recipient before providing access to the at least one delivery item in (e).

7. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the robot carrying the at least one delivery item weighs no more than 40 kg.

8. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the robot comprises two Subscriber Identity Modules.

9. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein the robot is adapted for operation in an unstructured outdoors environment.

10. The delivery method of claim 1 further comprising:

the robot navigating to a hub once the delivery is completed.

11. The delivery method of claim 1, wherein said providing access in (e) occurs upon arrival at the delivery location.

12. A system comprising:

(a) at least one server adapted for at least;

coordinating communication within the system, and for one or more of;

receiving data, storing data, sending data, and performing computations;

(b) at least one robot operating at least semi-autonomously and adapted to communicate with the at least one server in order to facilitate transport of a delivery by the robot to at least one recipient, said delivery comprising at least one delivery item; and

(c) at least one delivery terminal communicating with one or more of;

the at least one robot and the at least one server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one robot operates autonomously.

14. The system in accordance with claim 12,

wherein the system further comprises an operator terminal for controlling the robot in at least one of:

(i) a hazardous setting, and (ii) an unexpected setting.

15. The system claim 12,

wherein the at least one robot comprises a compartment for storing the delivery within the compartment, wherein the compartment is configured to be opened to provide access to the delivery.

16. The system in accordance with claim 12,

wherein said at least one robot comprises two Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs).

17. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one robot is adapted for operation in an unstructured outdoors environment.

18. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one hub that is adapted to perform at least one of:

storage, maintenance, repair, and resupply of the at least one robot.

19. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein a particular hub is adapted to serve an area of 2-10 square kilometers.

20. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein a particular hub comprises a communication module for communicating with of the other elements of the system.

21. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein a particular hub comprises 20-200 robots.

22. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the operator terminal is adapted to control multiple robots.

23. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one robot carrying the delivery weighs no more than 40 kg.

24. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the robot is adapted to travel with a speed of no more than 10 km/h, or no more than 8 km/h, or no more than 6 km/h, preferably between 3 and 6 km/h or, more preferably, between 4 and 5 km/h.