Autonomous vehicle-based package pickup and transfer

• US 9,796,529 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hoareau, Guillaume, Liebenberg, Johannes J., Musial, John G., Whitman, Todd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Logan, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US15/275,566
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 700216
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0216 Vehicle for transporting goods in a warehouse, factory or similar
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

According to an aspect, an autonomous loading and transfer pad includes a frame having driver assembly configured to transport the frame. The frame includes a surface configured to receive a container. A communications interface is communicatively coupled to the autonomous loading and transfer pad. The autonomous loading and transfer pad also includes an order control system communicatively coupled to the communications interface. The order control system is configured to direct movement of the autonomous loading and transfer pad, via the communications interface, to a pickup point in a storage facility. The autonomous loading and transfer pad receives an item at the pickup point, directs movement of the autonomous loading and transfer pad, via the communications interface, to a transfer point external to the storage facility, and directs an autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle, via the communications interface, to the transfer point.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an autonomous vehicle, comprising;

a frame having driver assembly configured to transport the frame, the frame including a surface configured to receive a container; and

a communications interface communicatively coupled to the autonomous vehicle; and

an order control system communicatively coupled to the communications interface, the order control system configured for;

directing movement of the autonomous vehicle, via the communications interface, to a pickup point in a storage facility, the autonomous vehicle configured to receive an item at the pickup point, the item received in the container;

directing movement of the autonomous vehicle, via the communications interface, to a transfer point external to the storage facility, and

directing an autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle, via the communications interface, to the transfer point,

wherein the item is one of a plurality of items subject to an order, the system further comprises a memory storing specifications of the plurality of items, and the order control system is further configured for;

retrieving the specifications for the plurality of items from the memory;

determining a container size for receiving the plurality of items based on the specifications of the plurality of items; and

calculating a routing plan for the autonomous vehicle in the storage facility as a function of the specifications of the plurality of items and the pickup points of the plurality of items within the storage facility, the routing plan calculated to receive the plurality of items in an order that balances distribution of weight of the plurality of items within the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a robotic arm configured for:

retrieving the item from the pickup point and placing the item in the container; and

removing the item from the container and placing the item at the transfer point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the order control system is configured to authenticate the autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle prior to hand off of the item to the autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transfer point external to the storage facility comprises at least one of a roof top location and a ground level location, the transfer point is logically divided into individual bays for item transfer, wherein the roof top location receives autonomous aerial vehicles as the autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicles, and the ground level location receives autonomous land vehicles as the autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicles.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store an order for the item and corresponding item identification information, wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a scanning device configured to scan information on the item, and the order control system is configured to compare the scanned information to item identification information in the order stored in the memory, the comparing operative to validate a corresponding item subject to pick up by the autonomous vehicle matches the item listed in the order.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory is further configured to store an identifier of the pickup point of the item in the storage facility, and an identifier of the transfer point external to the storage facility.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communications interface includes a global positioning system device communicatively coupled to the order control system, the global positioning system device guiding the autonomous vehicle to the pickup point of the item in the storage facility via the identifier of the pickup point and the identifier of the transfer point external to the storage facility.

8. A method, comprising:

transmitting, via an order control system, routing instructions to an autonomous vehicle, the routing instructions guiding movement of the autonomous vehicle to a pickup point in a storage facility;

receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, an item from the pickup point;

wherein the routing instructions further guide movement of the autonomous vehicle to a transfer point external to the storage facility; and

transmitting item pickup instructions to an autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle,

wherein the item is one of a plurality of items subject to an order, method further comprising;

determining a container size for receiving the plurality of items based on specifications of the plurality of items; and

calculating a routing plan for the autonomous vehicle in the storage facility as a function of the specifications of the plurality of items and the pickup locations of the plurality of items within the storage facility, the routing plan calculated to receive the plurality of items in an order that balances distribution of weight of the plurality of items within the container.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving, via a robotic arm of the autonomous vehicle, the item from the pickup location and placing the item in the container; and

removing, via the robotic arm, the item from the container and placing the item at the transfer location.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

scanning information on the item via a scanning device of the autonomous vehicle; and

comparing the information scanned to item information stored by the order control system, the comparing operative to validate a corresponding item subject to pick up by the autonomous vehicle matches the item information stored by the order control system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the item is subject to an order, the method further comprising storing the specifications of the item, the pickup location of the item in the storage facility, and the transfer location external to the storage facility.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

guiding, via a global positioning system device communicatively coupled to the order control system, the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location of the item in the storage facility and the transfer location external to the storage facility.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

authenticating the autonomous delivery vehicle prior to hand off of the item to the autonomous pick-up and delivery vehicle.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a computer processor to cause the computer processor to perform a method, comprising:

transmitting routing instructions to an autonomous vehicle, the routing instructions guiding movement of the autonomous vehicle to a pickup location in a storage facility;

receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, an item from the pickup location;

wherein the routing instructions further guide movement of the autonomous vehicle to a transfer location external to the storage facility; and

transmitting item pickup instructions to an autonomous delivery vehicle,

wherein the item is one of a plurality of items subject to an order, wherein the program instructions executable by a computer processor further cause the computer processor to perform;

determining a container size for receiving the plurality of items based on specifications of the plurality of items; and

calculating a routing plan for the autonomous vehicle in the storage facility as a function of the specifications of the plurality of items and the pickup locations of the plurality of items within the storage facility, the routing plan calculated to receive the plurality of items in an order that balances distribution of weight of the plurality of items within the container.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions executable by a computer processor further cause the computer processor to perform:

scanning information on the item via a scanning device of the autonomous vehicle;

comparing the information scanned to item information stored by an order control system, the comparing operative to validate a corresponding item subject to pick up by the autonomous vehicle matches the item information stored by the order control system.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the item is subject to an order, wherein the program instructions executable by a computer processor further cause the computer processor to perform storing the specifications of the item, the pickup location of the item in the storage facility, and the transfer location external to the storage facility.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the program instructions executable by a computer processor further cause the computer processor to perform:

guiding, via a global positioning system device communicatively coupled to the order control system, the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location of the item in the storage facility and the transfer location external to the storage facility.