Item delivery using 3D manufacturing on demand

• US 9,684,919 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Apsley, Linda Knowlton, Bodell, Colin Ian, Danton, Jacob Conrad, Hayden, Scott Randall, Kapila, SaiPrasad, Lessard, Eric, Uhl, Robert Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US14/076,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/10 Additive manufacturing, e.g. 3D printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/10 Geometric CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Methods and systems can be provided for providing items manufactured on demand to users. A user request for an item can be received. The item can have 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith. A delivery method for the item can be determined. A manufacturing apparatus can be selected to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Instructions can be sent to the manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Delivery instructions can be provided for delivering the item according to the delivery method.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more processor devices; and

memory including instructions executable by the one or more processor devices that, when executed by the one or more processor devices, cause the system to at least;

provide, in an electronic marketplace, information about a plurality of items available via the electronic marketplace from a plurality of suppliers, each item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith, wherein the 3D manufacturing instructions are accessible to the electronic marketplace, the 3D manufacturing instructions being associated with at least a virtual model defining a three-dimensional representation of the item;

receive a request from a user for an item from the plurality of items available in the electronic marketplace;

determine, from the request, a delivery method for the item that includes manufacture of the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions, wherein determining the delivery method for the item further comprises determining a storage location for the item;

select a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the delivery method for the item, wherein selecting the 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item comprises selecting a manufacturing apparatus located at the storage location;

validate the virtual model based at least in part on a simulation of at least one environmental condition;

send, responsive to the validation, the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the virtual model to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein receipt of the 3D manufacturing instructions causes the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the item; and

execute instructions that cause the item to be delivered according to the delivery method, wherein executing the delivery instructions that cause the item to be delivered comprises generating instructions to store the item at the storage location after manufacturing the item at the storage location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined delivery method includes delivery via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of a service provider, wherein the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the service provider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the request is received at a kiosk at which a user can generate the request, the kiosk having a manufacturing apparatus associated therewith;

wherein determining a delivery method for the item comprises selecting manufacture of the item at the manufacturing apparatus associated with the kiosk; and

wherein selecting the 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item comprises selecting the manufacturing apparatus associated with the kiosk.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein receiving the request comprises associating the request with a user account associated with the electronic marketplace.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic marketplace presents an assembly comprising a plurality of subcomponents;

and wherein receiving the request comprises receiving an item selection including a subcomponent of the plurality of subcomponents.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user preference associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining the delivery method comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least in part upon the preference of the user.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a cost associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining the delivery method for the item comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least upon the cost.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a time associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining the delivery method for the item comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least upon the time.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a user request for an item, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith, the 3D manufacturing instructions being associated with at least a virtual model defining a three-dimensional representation of the item;

identifying, by the computing device, location information for the user;

determining, by the computing device, a delivery method for the item that includes manufacture of the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the virtual model, wherein determining the delivery method for the item further comprises determining a storage location for the item accessible by the user;

selecting, by the computing device, a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item, based at least in part on the identified location information of the user, wherein selecting the 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item comprises selecting a manufacturing apparatus located at the storage location;

validating, by the computing device, the virtual model based at least in part on a simulation of at least one environmental condition;

sending, by the computing device responsive to the validation, the 3D manufacturing instructions to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to cause manufacture of the item by the 3D manufacturing apparatus based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions; and

executing instructions that cause the item to be stored at the storage location accessible by the user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes storage location information for the storage location.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes access information for accessing the item at the storage location.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes information associated with an availability of the item at the storage location.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to implement at least:

provide, in an electronic marketplace, information about a plurality of items available via the electronic marketplace from a plurality of suppliers, each item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith, the 3D manufacturing instructions being associated with at least a virtual model defining a three-dimensional representation of the item and being accessible to the electronic marketplace;

receive a request from a user for an item from the plurality of items available in the electronic marketplace;

determine, from the request, a delivery method for the item that includes manufacture of the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions;

select a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the delivery method for the item, the 3D manufacturing apparatus being selected from a plurality of mobile 3D manufacturing apparatuses, the selection being based at least in part on an amount of time associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus and a delivery location;

validate the virtual model based at least in part on a simulation of at least one environmental condition;

send, responsive to the validation, the 3D manufacturing instructions to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein receipt of the 3D manufacturing instructions causes the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the item; and

execute instructions that cause the item to be delivered according to the delivery method.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein determining the delivery method is further based at least in part upon a cost associated with the delivery method that includes manufacturing the item via the 3D manufacturing apparatus.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, storing further computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to implement at least generate delivery instructions for transporting the item to the delivery location.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein selecting the 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item is further based at least in part upon an amount of deviation from a route of the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein the amount of deviation is associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus and transporting the item to the delivery location.