DEMAND-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF ITEMS USING INTERMODAL CARRIERS AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A distribution system comprising:
- a fulfillment center;
a first locomotive;
a first intermodal carrier vehicle;
a first aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the first intermodal carrier vehicle; and
at least one computer system in communication with at least the fulfillment center, the first locomotive, the first intermodal carrier vehicle and the first aerial vehicle, wherein the at least one computer system is configured to execute a method comprising;
predicting, at a first time, a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic region at a second time, wherein the fulfillment center is not in the first geographic region;
determining a first number of the first item associated with the first level of demand in the first geographic region at the second time;
prior to the second time,loading at least the first number of the first item into a compartment of the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the fulfillment center;
coupling the first intermodal carrier vehicle to the first locomotive; and
causing the first locomotive and the first intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with the first geographic area;
receiving an order for a delivery of one of the first item to a location in the first geographic area;
determining a first distance between a first departure point on the first set of rails and the location;
causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle;
causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the first departure point;
causing the first aerial vehicle to travel from the first departure point to the location; and
causing the first aerial vehicle to deposit the item at the location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distribution system comprising:
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a fulfillment center; a first locomotive; a first intermodal carrier vehicle; a first aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the first intermodal carrier vehicle; and at least one computer system in communication with at least the fulfillment center, the first locomotive, the first intermodal carrier vehicle and the first aerial vehicle, wherein the at least one computer system is configured to execute a method comprising; predicting, at a first time, a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic region at a second time, wherein the fulfillment center is not in the first geographic region; determining a first number of the first item associated with the first level of demand in the first geographic region at the second time; prior to the second time, loading at least the first number of the first item into a compartment of the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the fulfillment center; coupling the first intermodal carrier vehicle to the first locomotive; and causing the first locomotive and the first intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with the first geographic area; receiving an order for a delivery of one of the first item to a location in the first geographic area; determining a first distance between a first departure point on the first set of rails and the location; causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle; causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the first departure point; causing the first aerial vehicle to travel from the first departure point to the location; and causing the first aerial vehicle to deposit the item at the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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determining a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic area at a first time by at least one computer server; in response to determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time, selecting a first number of the first item based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time by the at least one computer server; loading at least the first number of the first item into at least a first compartment of a first intermodal carrier at a first location prior to the first time, wherein the first location is not in the first geographic area; loading at least a first aerial vehicle into at least the first compartment of the first intermodal carrier at the first location prior to the first time; coupling the first intermodal carrier to at least a first powered vehicle prior to the first time; selecting a first route departing from the first location for the first intermodal carrier based at least in part on at least one attribute of the first powered vehicle and the first geographic area; and causing, by at least the first powered vehicle, the first intermodal carrier to depart from the first location along the first route prior to the first time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A distribution system comprising:
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predicting demand for a first item in a first area by at least one computer server; predicting demand for a second item in a second area by the at least one computer server; determining a first number of the first item based at least in part on the demand for the first item in the first area; determining a second number of the second item based at least in part on the demand for the second item in the second area; loading at least the first number of the first item into an intermodal container at a fulfillment center; loading at least the second number of the second item into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center; loading an aerial vehicle into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center; placing the intermodal container onto a well car at the fulfillment center; coupling the well car to a locomotive at the fulfillment center; causing, by the locomotive, the well car to travel on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with at least one of the first area or the second area; receiving a first order for a delivery of one of the first item to a first location by the at least one computer server; selecting a first departure point on the first set of rails based at least in part on an operating range of the aerial vehicle, wherein a first distance between the first departure point and the first location is within the operating range; loading the one of the first item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container; causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point; causing the first aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the first item to the first location; causing the first aerial vehicle to return to the intermodal container at a first rendezvous point on the first set of rails; receiving a second order for a delivery of one of the second item to a second location by the at least one computer server; selecting a second departure point on the second set of rails based at least in part on the operating range of the aerial vehicle, wherein a second distance between the second departure point and the second location is within the operating range; loading the one of the second item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container; causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point; and causing the first aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the second item to the second location. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification