Automated access to secure facilities using autonomous vehicles
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving an order for a delivery of a first item from a customer by at least one server over a computer network, wherein the order specifies a facility located in a geographic region to which the first item is to be delivered;
determining that the first item is located in a storage compartment of an autonomous ground vehicle within the geographic region by the at least one computer server, wherein the autonomous ground vehicle comprises;
the storage compartment;
a plurality of wheels;
an electric motor;
at least one wireless transceiver;
an item engagement system;
a Global Positioning System receiver; and
at least one computer processor;
transmitting a first instruction to deliver the first item to the facility to the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network;
receiving an electronic message from the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network, wherein the electronic message identifies a position of the autonomous ground vehicle determined by the Global Positioning System receiver;
determining that the position of the autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with the location of the facility by the at least one computer server;
transmitting a second instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network, wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to access the facility via a secure entryway, to retrieve the first item from the storage compartment by the item engagement system and to deposit the first item within a vicinity of the location of the facility, and wherein the second instruction comprises a wireless access code for accessing the facility via the secure entryway and at least one of a transmission mode or a transmission frequency for the wireless access code;
causing, by the at least one wireless transceiver of the autonomous ground vehicle, a first transmission of the wireless access code via the transmission mode or at the transmission frequency to an access device at the facility, wherein the access device is configured to cause the secure entryway to open upon receiving the first transmission;
accessing, by the autonomous ground vehicle, the facility via the secure entryway;
delivering, by the autonomous ground vehicle, the first item to the facility;
determining that the first item was delivered to the facility; and
in response to determining that the first item was delivered to the facility,transmitting, over the computer network, a third instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle,wherein the third instruction is an instruction to retrieve a second item from the facility by the item engagement system and to deposit the second item within the storage compartment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.
284 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an order for a delivery of a first item from a customer by at least one server over a computer network, wherein the order specifies a facility located in a geographic region to which the first item is to be delivered; determining that the first item is located in a storage compartment of an autonomous ground vehicle within the geographic region by the at least one computer server, wherein the autonomous ground vehicle comprises; the storage compartment; a plurality of wheels; an electric motor; at least one wireless transceiver; an item engagement system; a Global Positioning System receiver; and at least one computer processor; transmitting a first instruction to deliver the first item to the facility to the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network; receiving an electronic message from the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network, wherein the electronic message identifies a position of the autonomous ground vehicle determined by the Global Positioning System receiver; determining that the position of the autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with the location of the facility by the at least one computer server; transmitting a second instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle by the at least one server over the computer network, wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to access the facility via a secure entryway, to retrieve the first item from the storage compartment by the item engagement system and to deposit the first item within a vicinity of the location of the facility, and wherein the second instruction comprises a wireless access code for accessing the facility via the secure entryway and at least one of a transmission mode or a transmission frequency for the wireless access code; causing, by the at least one wireless transceiver of the autonomous ground vehicle, a first transmission of the wireless access code via the transmission mode or at the transmission frequency to an access device at the facility, wherein the access device is configured to cause the secure entryway to open upon receiving the first transmission; accessing, by the autonomous ground vehicle, the facility via the secure entryway; delivering, by the autonomous ground vehicle, the first item to the facility; determining that the first item was delivered to the facility; and in response to determining that the first item was delivered to the facility, transmitting, over the computer network, a third instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the third instruction is an instruction to retrieve a second item from the facility by the item engagement system and to deposit the second item within the storage compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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identifying a task to be performed at a secured facility by at least one computer server, wherein the task comprises a delivery of a first item to the secured facility and a retrieval of a second item from the secured facility; selecting one of a plurality of autonomous ground vehicles to perform the task, wherein the selected autonomous ground vehicle comprises; a storage compartment; a plurality of wheels; an electric motor powered by at least one battery; an item engagement system; at least one wireless transceiver; a Global Positioning System receiver; and at least one computer processor; transmitting, over a computer network, a first instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the first instruction comprises an instruction to travel to the secured facility; receiving, over the computer network, a position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle from the autonomous ground vehicle; determining that the position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with a location of the secured facility; in response to determining that the position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with the location of the secured facility, transmitting, over the computer network, a second instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to access the secured facility, an instruction to retrieve the first item from the storage compartment by the item engagement system and an instruction to deposit the first item within a vicinity of the location of the secured facility; enabling the selected autonomous ground vehicle to access the secured facility to perform the task; and determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has deposited the first item within the vicinity of the location of the secured facility; in response to determining that the first item was deposited within the vicinity of the location of the secured facility, transmitting, over the computer network, a third instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the third instruction comprises an instruction to retrieve the second item from the secured facility by the item engagement system and to deposit the second item within the storage compartment; and in response to determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has deposited the second item within the storage compartment, causing the selected autonomous ground vehicle to be restricted from accessing the secured facility. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, over a computer network, an order for a delivery of a first item to a facility; causing an autonomous ground vehicle to deliver the first item to the facility by at least one computer server, wherein the autonomous ground vehicle comprises; a storage compartment; a plurality of wheels; an electric motor powered by at least one battery; an item engagement system; at least one wireless transceiver; a Global Positioning System receiver; and at least one computer processor; receiving, over the computer network, a position of the autonomous ground vehicle; determining that the autonomous ground vehicle is within a vicinity of a secure entryway at the facility based at least in part on the position of the autonomous ground vehicle; in response to determining that the autonomous ground vehicle is within the vicinity of the secure entryway, transmitting, over the computer network, a first instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the first instruction comprises an instruction to access the facility via the secure entryway, an instruction to retrieve the first item from the storage compartment by the item engagement system and an instruction to deposit the first item within the facility; causing the secure entryway to open for not more than a predetermined period of time over the computer network; and confirming that the autonomous ground vehicle has deposited the first item within the facility over the computer network; and in response to determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has deposited the first item within the facility, transmitting, over the computer network, a second instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to retrieve a second item from the facility by the item engagement system and an instruction to deposit the second item within the storage compartment; and determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has deposited the second item within the storage compartment; and in response to determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has retrieved the second item within the facility, causing, over the computer network, the secure entryway to close. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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identifying a task to be performed at a secure facility by at least one computer server, wherein the task comprises a retrieval of a first item from the secured facility; selecting one of a plurality of autonomous ground vehicles to perform the task, wherein the selected autonomous ground vehicle comprises; a storage compartment; a plurality of wheels; an electric motor powered by at least one battery; an item engagement system; at least one wireless transceiver; a Global Positioning System receiver; a 3D printer; and at least one computer processor; transmitting, over a computer network, a first instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the first instruction comprises an instruction to travel to the secured facility; receiving, over the computer network, a position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle from the autonomous ground vehicle; determining that the position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with at least one of the location of the secured facility or the task; in response to determining that the position of the selected autonomous ground vehicle is consistent with the at least one of the location of the secured facility or the task, transmitting, over the computer network, a second instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the second instruction is an instruction to access the secured facility, to retrieve the first item from the secured facility by the item engagement system and to deposit the first item within the storage compartment; enabling the selected autonomous ground vehicle to access the secured facility to perform the task; and determining that the autonomous ground vehicle has retrieved the first item from the secured facility; in response to determining that the first item was retrieved from the secured facility, transmitting, over the computer network, a third instruction to the autonomous ground vehicle, wherein the third instruction is an instruction to extract the at least one ingredient from the first item and to manufacture the second item by the 3D printer using the at least one ingredient; and causing the selected autonomous ground vehicle to be restricted from accessing the secured facility.
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Specification