AUTOMATED RETAIL STORE ON AUTONOMOUS OR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

• US 20190035044A1
• Filed: 07/26/2018
• Published: 01/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nuro, Inc.
• Inventors: FERGUSON, David, ZHU, Jiajun, JIRAPINYO, Pichayut, RANSOHOFF, Nan
• Application Number:
  US16/046,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20190035044A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/00 Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/109 Types of pasta, e.g. macaroni or noodles
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0658 specially adapted for cooking pizza
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/00 Kitchen containers, stands or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass; Cutting-boards, e.g. for bread bowls for food processors A47J43/0727
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00364 for caravans or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/007 for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/0257 the object being a vending stall, restaurant or food kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/346 means outside vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 : Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/001 : Planning or execution of driving tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0017 : of other traffic participants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00256 : Delivery operations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 : for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 : autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/06 : Use of order trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/24 : Unloading land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 : Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 : Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 : Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• 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 1/0033 : by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 : by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 : characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 : involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 : with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0231 : using optical position detecting means position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 : using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 : Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 : by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 : by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 : Target-seeking control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 : using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 : using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 : the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 : arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 : Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 : 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 : Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 : Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 : Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 : Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 : Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 : Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 : Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 : Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 : Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 : Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 : Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 : Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 : Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 : involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 : based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 : Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 : Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 : Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 : exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 : Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 : for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 : Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 : using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 : operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 : specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 : the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 : for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 : comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 : using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 : Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 : Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/048 : Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/688 : for thawing

Abstract

An autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for providing an assortment of items to a customer or a potential customer after such customer or potential customer summons the one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles in an unstructured open or closed environment. Each autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprises one or more compartments configured to contain and secure the assortment of the items to be selected once the summoned autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle arrives to a customer or potential customer.

Claims

1. An autonomous or semi-autonomous platform for positioning a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles and displaying a plurality of items, the platform comprising:

a) the plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, each vehicle comprising;

(i) a compartment configured to contain and secure two or more of the plurality of items;

(ii) an input device configured to receive an input data corresponding to a customer;

(iii) a communication device; and

(iv) an autonomous or semi-autonomous propulsion system;

b) a server processor configured to provide a server application comprising;

(i) a data storage module containing a plurality of locations comprising at least one inventory restocking location and a plurality of dispatch locations, wherein each dispatch location is associated with a demand;

(ii) a status module receiving a stock indication of each of the items and a current vehicle location from the communication device of one or more of the vehicles; and

(iii) a fleet management module directing the autonomous or semi-autonomous propulsion system of one or more of the vehicles, via the communication device, to one of the plurality of dispatch locations or the inventory restocking location based at least on one or more of the demand, the stock indication, and the current vehicle location; and

c) the platform further comprising a summoning processor configured to provide a summoning application comprising a summon module receiving a summons from the customer, the summons comprising at least a customer location, wherein the summon module further directs the autonomous or semi-autonomous propulsion system of one or more of the vehicles, via the communication device, to the customer location.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the summoning processor further comprises an identification module identifying the customer based at least on the input data.

3. The platform of claim 2, wherein the summoning processor further comprises a compartment module allowing the customer to access and remove one or more of the items from the compartment based at least on the identity of the customer and the summons.

4. The platform of claim 3, wherein the data storage module further contains a customer identification associated with the customer, and wherein the compartment module further allows the customer to access and remove one or more of the items from the compartment based on the customer identification.

5. The platform of claim 4, wherein the input data comprises the customer identification.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein the compartment comprises a sensor configured to detect an item status of one or more of the items.

7. The platform of claim 2, wherein the communication device is further configured to transmit the item status to the status module, and wherein the status module further applies a product detection algorithm to the item status to detect an absence of one or more of the items.

8. The platform of claim 7, wherein the product detection algorithm comprises a machine learning algorithm, a rule-based algorithm, or both.

9. The platform of claim 2, wherein each vehicle further comprises a product detection processor configured to provide a product detection application comprising a product detection module applying a product detection algorithm to the item status to detect an absence of one or more of the items.

10. The platform of claim 9, wherein the product detection algorithm comprises a machine learning algorithm, a rule-based algorithm, or both.

11. The platform of claim 1, wherein the compartment comprises an item emitting mechanism configured to emit the items within the compartment.

12. The platform of claim 11, wherein each vehicle further comprises an interface configured to receive a selection of the item and to direct the item emitting mechanism to emit at least one of the items based on the selection

13. The platform of claim 11, wherein the communication device is further configured to receive a selection of the item and transmit an instruction to the emitting mechanism to emit at least one of the items based on the selection.

14. The platform of claim 1, wherein the summons module further receives the stock indication and displays the stock indication to the customer.

15. The platform of claim 1, wherein each dispatch location in the data storage module is further associated with at least one of a current customer density, a historic customer density, a time-based customer density.

16. The platform of claim 1, wherein at least one of the server application and the summoning application further comprises a payment module managing payment from the customer for the item.

17. The platform of claim 1, wherein an input device configured to receive a payment from the customer for the item.

18. The platform of claim 1, wherein each vehicle further comprises an energy storage device configured to provide power to the autonomous or semi-autonomous propulsion system.

19. The platform of claim 18, wherein the status module further receives a power status associated with the energy storage device, and wherein the fleet management module further directs the autonomous or semi-autonomous propulsion system of one or more of the vehicles based on the power status.

20. The platform of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a thermometer, a barcode scanner, an RFID reader, a scale, a pressure sensor, a switch, and a camera.

21. The platform of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a button, a touchscreen, a Bluetooth sensor, a wireless network device, a cellular network device, a camera, a USB input, a keyboard, or any combination thereof.

22. The platform of claim 1, wherein the input data comprises a password, a key code, a facial recognition, a RFID recognition, a barcode recognition, a USB device input, a vocal signal, or any combination thereof.