Automated delivery vehicle, systems and methods for automated delivery

• US 9,235,213 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Judge Villamar
• Original Assignee: Daniel Judge Villamar
• Inventors: Villamar, Daniel Judge
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US13/869,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20140046512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Provided is a delivery vehicle and methods and systems for automated delivery using the delivery vehicle. The automated delivery method comprises receiving, by a processing device, an order from a buyer. The order specifies one or more products to be delivered to the buyer and itinerary information. The processing device transmits the order to a placer robot. The placer robot positions the one or more products to a delivery vehicle. Then, the delivery vehicle may transport the products to a delivery destination based on the order. The delivery vehicle may be driverless and lightweight and move automatically. The delivery vehicle may move on a flat track using itinerary information of the order. Additionally, the delivery vehicle may use a Global Positioning System to determine own location and compare it to the itinerary information.

Claims

1. An automated delivery system comprising:

a processing device configured to receive an order from a buyer and transmit the order to a placer robot, the order specifying one or more products to be delivered to the buyer and itinerary information;

the placer robot configured to position the one or more products to a delivery vehicle based on the transmitted order, wherein the placer robot includes a liquid product robot placer, the liquid product robot placer being configured to pour an ordered amount of the one or more products in the delivery vehicle, the one or more products including a liquid product, a granular product, and a solid product;

the delivery vehicle configured to transport the one or more products based on the transmitted order, the delivery vehicle riding along on a flat track, wherein the flat track is substantially on an uniform level with a road surface, and wherein the delivery vehicle includes at least one wheel and at least two guiding pins on the bottom of the vehicle, the at least two guiding pins being configured to interlock with a guiding groove disposed in the flat track;

wherein the delivery vehicle includes a Global Positioning System, the Global Positioning System providing location data associated with a location of the delivery vehicle, the location data being processed based on the itinerary information to locate a delivery destination and to control an itinerary of the delivery vehicle.

2. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the order is received via a network wirelessly or by wires.

3. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the itinerary information includes instructions on travel distance and travel direction associated with a delivery destination.

4. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the delivery vehicle has no driver and travels automatically.

5. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the order includes an alphanumeric code associated with a product, the code being entered via a mobile phone, a personal computer, a laptop, or a keypad of the delivery vehicle.

6. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the placer robot has one or more arms configured to grasp a product and place the product on the delivery vehicle.

7. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the placer robot includes a conveyor robot placer, the conveyor robot placer being configured to move the one or more products into the delivery vehicle.

8. The automated delivery system of claim 1, wherein the delivery vehicle communicates with the placer robot wirelessly.

9. An automated delivery method comprising:

receiving, by a processing device, an order from a buyer, the order specifying one or more products to be delivered to the buyer and itinerary information;

transmitting the order to a placer robot;

positioning, by the placer robot, the one or more products to a delivery vehicle based on the transmitted order, wherein the placer robot includes a liquid product robot placer, the liquid product robot placer being configured to pour an ordered amount of the one or more products in the delivery vehicle, the one or more products including a liquid product, a granular product, and a solid product;

locating a delivery destination based on location data associated with a location of the delivery vehicle, the location data being received from a Global Positioning System associated with the delivery vehicle, wherein the location data is processed based on the itinerary information;

transporting, by the delivery vehicle, the one or more products based on the transmitted order to a delivery destination according to the itinerary information, an itinerary of the delivery vehicle being controlled using the location data, wherein the delivery vehicle is configured to ride along on a flat track, wherein the flat track is substantially on an uniform level with a road surface, the delivery vehicle including at least one wheel and at least two guiding pins on the bottom of the vehicle, the at least two guiding pins being configured to interlock with a guiding groove disposed in the flat track.

10. The automated delivery method of claim 9, wherein the order is transmitted to the delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle communicating with the placer robot to send a command to cause the placer robot to position the one or more products to a delivery vehicle based on the order.

11. The automated delivery method of claim 9, wherein the placer robot has one or more arms configured to grasp a product and place the product on the delivery vehicle.

12. The automated delivery system of claim 9, wherein a container is placed in the delivery vehicle, the liquid product robot placer pouring the product in the container.

13. The automated delivery system of claim 9, wherein the placer robot includes a conveyor robot placer, the conveyor robot placer being configured to move the one or more products into the delivery vehicle.

14. The automated delivery system of claim 9, wherein the delivery vehicle communicates with the placer robot wirelessly.

15. The automated delivery system of claim 9, further comprising:

processing the order to retrieve order data;

storing the order data in a database.

16. A delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle being a driverless delivery vehicle, comprising:

a cargo section configured to hold one or more products, the one or more products positioned in the cargo section by a placer robot, wherein the placer robot includes a liquid product robot placer, the liquid product robot placer being configured to pour an ordered amount of the one or more products in the delivery vehicle, the one or more products including a liquid product, a granular product, and a solid product;

one or more wheels configured to move along on a flat track, wherein the flat track is substantially on an uniform level with a road surface;

at least two guiding pins configured to interlock with one or more guiding grooves disposed in the flat track;

a groove break configured to slow the delivery vehicle, the groove break being configured to grip a groove ledge, the groove ledge disposed within the guiding groove;

a Global Positioning System configured to provide location data associated with a location of the delivery vehicle, the location data being processed based on the itinerary information to locate a delivery destination; and

a control device configured to receive itinerary information from a processing device and control an itinerary of the delivery vehicle using the location data and the delivery destination.

17. The delivery vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a key pad configured to receive an alphanumeric code associated with a product.