Autonomous delivery platform

• US 9,256,852 B1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Myllymaki, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Kito R
• Application Number:
  US13/933,109
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/007 for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles
• 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 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

Package delivery platform. An autonomous road vehicle is operative to receive destination information, and to drive to a destination based on the destination information. A package securing subsystem is attached to the autonomous road vehicle and comprises at least one securable compartment. Each securable compartment is operative to secure at least one package therein. Each securable compartment is associated with compartment access information. An access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface. The access subsystem is operative, upon receipt through the access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to the compartment associated with the received compartment access information.

Claims

1. A package delivery platform, comprising:

an autonomous road vehicle operative to receive a first destination and to drive toward the first destination;

a package securing subsystem attached to the autonomous road vehicle and comprising at least one securable compartment, each securable compartment operative to secure at least one package therein, each securable compartment associated with corresponding compartment access information;

a positioning system operative to determine a location of the package delivery platform; and

an access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface and operative, upon both (a) the determined location of the package delivery platform matching a most current received destination and (b) receipt through the at least one access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to a particular securable compartment associated with the received compartment access information;

wherein the autonomous road vehicle is further operative to receive, after beginning to drive toward the first destination and prior to reaching the first destination a second destination based at least in part on a location of a mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment, and to drive toward the second destination instead of continuing to drive toward the first destination.

2. The package delivery platform of claim 1, wherein the compartment access information comprises a personal identification number (PIN), and wherein the access information interface comprises a PIN pad to receive a PIN as a component of the compartment access information.

3. The package delivery platform of claim 1, wherein the compartment access information comprises a payment amount;

wherein the access subsystem comprises a payment subsystem operative to receive payment information; and

wherein the access subsystem is operative to permit access to the particular securable compartment upon receiving at least payment information corresponding to the payment amount.

4. The package delivery platform of claim 3, wherein the payment subsystem comprises a payment card reader to receive the payment information.

5. The package delivery platform of claim 1, wherein the autonomous road vehicle is further operative to receive, prior to reaching the second destination, an undated destination corresponding to a changed location of the mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment, and to drive toward the updated destination instead of continuing to drive toward the second destination.

6. The package delivery platform of claim 1, wherein the compartment access information comprises information communicable via near field communication (NFC);

and wherein the access subsystem comprises at least one of an NFC initiator and an NFC target to receive access information communicable via NFC.

7. A package delivery system, comprising:

a package securing subsystem comprising at least one securable compartment, each securable compartment operative to secure at least one package therein, each securable compartment associated with corresponding compartment access information;

a positioning system operative to receive a first destination for each package, and to determine a location of the package securing subsystem; and

an access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface and operative, upon both (a) the determined location of the package securing subsystem matching the most current received destination and (b) receipt through the at least one access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to a particular securable compartment associated with the received package access information;

wherein the positioning system is further operative to receive, prior to reaching the first destination, a second destination based at least in part on a location of a mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment.

8. The package delivery system of claim 7, wherein the access information comprises a personal identification number (PIN), and wherein the access information interface comprises a PIN pad to receive a PIN as a component of the package access information.

9. The package delivery system of claim 7, wherein the access information comprises a payment amount;

wherein the access subsystem comprises a payment subsystem operative to receive payment information; and

wherein the access subsystem is operative to permit access to the particular securable compartment upon receiving payment information corresponding to the payment amount.

10. The package delivery system of claim 7, wherein the payment subsystem comprises a payment card reader for receiving payment information.

11. The package delivery system of claim 7 wherein is further operative to receive, prior to reaching the second destination, an updated destination corresponding to a changed location of the mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment.

12. The package delivery system of claim 7, wherein the access information comprises information communicable via near field communication (NFC);

and wherein the secured package access subsystem comprises at least one of an NFC initiator and an NFC target to receive access information communicable via NFC.

13. A method to deliver packages, comprising:

providing a package delivery platform comprising;

an autonomous road vehicle operative to receive a first destination and to drive toward the first destination;

a package securing subsystem attached to the autonomous road vehicle and comprising at least one securable compartment, each securable compartment operative to secure at least one package therein, each securable compartment associated with corresponding compartment access information;

a positioning system operative to determine a location of the package delivery platform; and

an access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface and operative, upon both (a) the determined location of the package delivery platform matching a most current received destination and (b) receipt through the at least one access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to a particular securable compartment associated with the received compartment access information and the most current destination information;

wherein the autonomous road vehicle is further operative to receive, prior to reaching the first destination, a second destination based at least in part on a location of a mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment, and to drive toward the second destination;

securing a package, associated with the first destination and a first compartment access information, in a first securable compartment of the package securing system;

autonomously driving the autonomous road vehicle toward a first destination based on the first destination information;

receiving, by the autonomous road vehicle and prior to reaching the first destination, a second destination, based at least in part on a reported location of a mobile communication device associated with the first compartment access information;

autonomously driving the autonomous road vehicle toward the second destination instead of the first destination based on the received second destination;

receiving, via the at least one access information interface and after arrival at the second destination, the first compartment access information; and

permitting, by the access subsystem and in response to receiving the first compartment access information while the autonomous road vehicle is at the second destination, access to the first securable compartment.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein the compartment access information comprises a personal identification number (PIN) and the access subsystem comprises a PIN pad to receive a PIN as a component of the compartment access information;

and

wherein receiving, via the at least one access information interface, the first compartment access information comprises receiving the PIN via the PIN pad.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein the compartment access information comprises a payment amount and the access subsystem comprises a payment subsystem operative to receive payment information;

and

wherein receiving, via the at least one access information interface, the first compartment access information comprises receiving the payment information via the payment system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the package delivery platform further comprises providing the payment subsystem further comprising a payment card reader to receive payment information.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the package delivery platform further comprises providing an autonomous road vehicle that is further operative to receive, prior to reaching the second destination, an updated destination corresponding to a changed location of the mobile communication device associated with the access information of the particular securable compartment, and to drive toward an updated destination based on receiving the updated destination.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the compartment access information comprises information communicable via near field communication (NFC) and the access subsystem comprises at least one of an NFC initiator and an NFC target to receive access information communicable via NFC.