Autonomous vehicles for delivery and safety
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving an order for a purchase of an item from a customer, wherein the order specifies a destination location for a delivery of the item;
identifying, by at least one server, a source location where the item is located;
planning a first navigation path between the source location and the destination location that may be navigated by an autonomous vehicle to transport the item from the source location to the destination location;
determining a location of at least one person between the source location and the destination location;
planning a second navigation path between the source location and the destination location that may be navigated by the autonomous vehicle such that the autonomous vehicle will navigate within a defined distance of the location of the at least one person as the autonomous vehicle navigates between the source location and the destination location to transport the item from the source location to the destination location;
determining a first estimated delivery time with respect to the first navigation path;
determining a second estimated delivery time with respect to the second navigation path, wherein the second estimated delivery time is greater than the first estimated delivery time;
selecting, by the at least one server and based at least in part on the second navigation path causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate within the defined distance of the location, the first estimated delivery time and the second estimated delivery time, the second navigation path; and
sending an instruction to the autonomous vehicle to navigate the second navigation path and to perform a safety check-in with respect to the at least one person, wherein the safety check-in includes determining a health or safety of the at least one person.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to autonomous vehicles, such as autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) that may be utilized to transport items to specified locations (e.g., residences, dormitory rooms, etc.), operate as a safety escort for a human moving from one location to another (e.g., from a campus library to a dormitory room), form ad-hoc wireless networks with other autonomous vehicles, and/or to operate as a mobile security station that can provide direct connection between a person at the location of the autonomous vehicle and security, rescue, and/or other personnel.
172 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an order for a purchase of an item from a customer, wherein the order specifies a destination location for a delivery of the item; identifying, by at least one server, a source location where the item is located; planning a first navigation path between the source location and the destination location that may be navigated by an autonomous vehicle to transport the item from the source location to the destination location; determining a location of at least one person between the source location and the destination location; planning a second navigation path between the source location and the destination location that may be navigated by the autonomous vehicle such that the autonomous vehicle will navigate within a defined distance of the location of the at least one person as the autonomous vehicle navigates between the source location and the destination location to transport the item from the source location to the destination location; determining a first estimated delivery time with respect to the first navigation path; determining a second estimated delivery time with respect to the second navigation path, wherein the second estimated delivery time is greater than the first estimated delivery time; selecting, by the at least one server and based at least in part on the second navigation path causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate within the defined distance of the location, the first estimated delivery time and the second estimated delivery time, the second navigation path; and sending an instruction to the autonomous vehicle to navigate the second navigation path and to perform a safety check-in with respect to the at least one person, wherein the safety check-in includes determining a health or safety of the at least one person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving a request for a delivery of an item to a destination location; identifying, by at least one server, a source location where the item is located; receiving, from a device associated with a subscriber, position information indicating a location of the subscriber, wherein the subscriber is a person that has requested to receive safety check-ins by one or more autonomous vehicles navigating within a defined distance of a location of the subscriber; planning a navigation path between the source location and the destination location that may be navigated by an autonomous vehicle such that the autonomous vehicle will navigate within the defined distance of the location of the subscriber as the autonomous vehicle navigates between the source location and the destination location to transport the item from the source location to the destination location; and sending an instruction to the autonomous vehicle to navigate the navigation path and to perform a safety check-in with respect to the subscriber as the autonomous vehicle navigates within the defined distance of the subscriber, wherein the safety check-in includes determining a health or a safety of the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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a frame; a motor; a sensor; a storage compartment; a computing system configured to at least; receive instructions to navigate a navigation path between a source location and a destination location to complete an item delivery corresponding to an item included in the storage compartment; cause the autonomous vehicle to navigate the navigation path; determine, based at least in part on position information received from a device associated with a subscriber, a location of the subscriber, wherein the subscriber is a person that has requested to receive safety check-ins by one or more autonomous vehicles navigating within a defined distance of the location of the subscriber; cause the autonomous vehicle to navigate within the defined distance of the location of the subscriber as the autonomous vehicle navigates the navigation path between the source location and the destination location; and cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a safety check-in with respect to the subscriber as the autonomous vehicle navigates within the defined distance of the subscriber, wherein the safety check-in includes collecting, using the sensor, sensor data corresponding to the person subscriber when the autonomous vehicle is within the defined distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification