System and method for securely delivering packages to different delivery recipients with a single vehicle

• US 9,741,010 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starship Technologies Ou (Starship Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starship Technologies Ou (Starship Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinla, Ahti
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda
• Application Number:
  US15/367,249
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A delivery system and method for delivering packages to multiple recipients uses a mobile robot having a delivery package space suitable for accommodating at least two packages, at least one package sensor configured to output first data reflective of the presence or absence of packages within with package space, at least one processing component configured to receive and process the package sensor'"'"'s first data and at least one communication component configured to at least send and receive second data. The mobile robot travels to a first delivery location, permits a first recipient to access the package space, and identifies the first recipient'"'"'s package to the first recipient. The system and method use data from the package sensor to verify that the first recipient removed only his or her package, if other package(s) are also present. The mobile robot then travels to a second delivery location associated with a second recipient.

Claims

1. A mobile robot delivery method for delivering a first package to a first delivery recipient at a first delivery location, the method comprising:

(i) providing a mobile robot (1) comprising at least one package space (10) containing at least first and second packages (20, 22) for delivery, at least one package sensor (30), at least one processing component (3) and at least one communication component (5);

(ii) the mobile robot (1) travelling to the first delivery location;

(iii) enabling access to the package space (10) to the first delivery recipient (60);

(iv) identifying to the first delivery recipient (60) the identity the first package (20) that the first delivery recipient (60) is authorized to remove from the package space (10);

(v) verifying that the first delivery recipient (60) only removed the first package (20) using the at least one package sensor (30);

(vi) determining whether a second package (22) intended for a second delivery recipient remains in the package space (10); and

(vii) the mobile robot (1) travelling to a second delivery location only if the second package (22) remains in the package space (10).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of enabling access to the package space (10) comprises at least one or a combination of automatically detecting that the first delivery location has been reached and opening a lid (40), and/or unlocking at least one electronic lock (50), and/or opening the lid (40) and/or unlocking the at least one electronic lock (50) when receiving an open input and/or command and/or signal from the first delivery recipient (60) and/or from a remote terminal (120).

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one or more of

(i) sending the first delivery recipient (60) an image of the package space (10) with the first package (20) clearly indicated and/or identified;

(ii) sending the first delivery recipient (60) an image of the first package (20); and

(iii) visually identifying the first package (20) with a graphical sign and communicating said sign to the first delivery recipient (60).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of using the package sensor (30) to verify that only the first delivery (20) has been removed comprises at least one or more of:

(i) weighing the package space (10) with a weight sensor prior to and/or after the removal of the package (20, 22) by the first delivery recipient (60);

(ii) taking visual images of the package space (10) with a visual camera prior to and after the removal of the package (20, 22) by the first delivery recipient (60) and transferring visual images to a remote terminal and/or to a computer vision system to identify whether the correct package has been removed;

(iii) scanning the package space (10) with an RFID scanner, equipped on the mobile robot (1) to determine whether only the first package (20) has been removed based on its RFID tag; and

(iv) detecting motion within the robot'"'"'s package space (10) with at least one motion sensor.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (v) further comprises requesting the first delivery recipient (60) to scan a package ID (32) on the first package (20).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing component (3) of the robot (1) is adapted to perform the step of verifying that only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10) using at least first data obtained by the package sensor (30).

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication component (5) of the robot (1) is adapted to send first data obtained by the package sensor (30) to a server (70), and wherein the server (70) is adapted to analyze said first data to verify that only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication component (5) of the robot (1) is adapted to send data obtained by the package sensor to a remote terminal (120), and wherein the remote terminal (120) is adapted to determine whether only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10).

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

informing the first delivery recipient (60) that they removed a wrong package, if the package sensor (30) outputs first data indicating that the second package (22) has been removed by the first delivery recipient (60).

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein informing the first delivery recipient (60) comprises at least one or more of:

(i) activating an alarm, and/or playing a recorded message;

(ii) sending a communication such as a text message to a first delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device;

(iii) calling the first delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device and playing a recorded message;

(iv) calling the first delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device and connecting them with a remote operator (120); and

(v) activating a speaker on the robot (1) through which a remote operator (120) can communicate with the first delivery recipient (60).

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining that the second package (22) has been removed from the package space (10) by the first delivery recipient (60),

(i) prompting the first delivery recipient (60) to return the second package (22) and

(ii) determining, via the package sensor (10), whether the second package (22) has been returned to the package space (10).

12. A mobile robot (1) adapted to at least securely deliver a first package (20) to a first delivery recipient (60) at a first delivery location, said robot (1) comprising:

(i) at least one package space (10) configured to hold at least two packages (20, 22);

(ii) at least one package sensor (30) configured to at least measure first data reflective of the presence or absence of at least one package;

(iii) at least one processing component (3) configured to at least receive the package sensor'"'"'s (30) first data and process it; and

(iv) at least one communication component (5) configured to at least send and receive second data;

wherein the mobile robot (1) and/or a server (70) that the robot (1) is adapted to communicate with via its communication component (5) is adapted to identify the first package (20) to the first delivery recipient (60); and

wherein the identification comprises at least one or more of;

(a) sending an image of the package space (10) with the first package (20) indicated to the first delivery recipient (60);

(b) sending the first delivery recipient (60) an image of the first package (20); and

(c) visually identifying the first package (20) with a graphical sign and communicating said sign to the first delivery recipient (60).

13. A mobile robot claim 12, wherein the package sensor (30) is adapted to measure first data relating to the package (20, 22) removed from the package space (10) and/or first data relating to the deliveries (20, 22) remaining within the package space (10).

14. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein the at least one package sensor (30) is configured to measure first data reflective of the presence or absence of each of a plurality of packages in the package space, and the identity of each such package.

15. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein the processing component (3) is adapted to determine whether only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10) at the first delivery location.

16. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein:

the communication component (5) is adapted to communicate with at least one server (70) at least to exchange second data relating to the robot'"'"'s packages (20, 22);

the communication component (5) is adapted to send the package sensor'"'"'s first data to the server (70); and

the server (70) is adapted to determine whether only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10) at the first delivery location and send the result of said determination to the robot'"'"'s communication component (5).

17. A mobile robot (1) according claim 16, wherein the server (70) is further adapted to send at least one command to the mobile robot (1) via its communication component (5), said command based at least partially on the package sensor'"'"'s (30) first data.

18. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein:

the communication component (3) is adapted to exchange the package sensor'"'"'s first data with at least one remote terminal (120), and

the remote terminal (120) is adapted to determine whether the only the first package (20) has been removed from the package space (10) at the first delivery location.

19. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein the package sensor (30) comprises at least one or more of:

(i) at least one camera adapted to at least take visual images of the package space (10);

(ii) at least one RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader and each package (20, 22) comprises at least one RFID tag;

(iii) at least one weight sensor adapted to at least weight the contents of the package space (10); and

(iv) at least one motion sensor and each package (20, 22) comprises at least one package ID (32).

20. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, wherein:

the processing component (3) and/or a server (70) that the robot (1) is adapted to communicate with via its communication component (5) is adapted to determine whether the first delivery recipient (60) retrieved the second package (22) and take an action based on this, and

said action comprises at least one or more of

(i) activating an alarm on the robot (1);

(ii) playing a recorded message on the robot (1);

(iii) sending a message to a first delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, wearable device and/or a comparable device;

(iv) calling the first delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device and playing a recorded message;

(v) calling the delivery recipient'"'"'s mobile device and connecting them with a remote terminal (120) directly; and

(vi) activating a speaker on the robot (1) through which a remote terminal (120) can communicate with the first delivery recipient (60) via the mobile robot'"'"'s (1) communication component (5).

21. A mobile robot (1) according to claim 12, A mobile robot (1) adapted to at least securely deliver a first package (20) to a first delivery recipient (60) at a first delivery location, said robot (1) comprising:

at least one package space (10) configured to hold at least two packages (20, 22);

at least one package sensor (30) configured to at least measure first data reflective of the presence or absence of at least one package;

at least one processing component (3) configured to at least receive the package sensor'"'"'s (30) first data and process it; and

at least one communication component (5) configured to at least send and receive second data;

wherein;

the processing component (3) is further configured to;

(i) navigate the mobile robot to a first delivery location;

(ii) enable access to the package space (10) to the first delivery recipient (60);

(iii) identify to the first delivery recipient (60) the first package (20) that the first delivery recipient (60) is authorized to remove from the package space (10);

(iv) verify that the first delivery recipient (60) only removed the first package (20) using the at least one package sensor (30);

(v) determine whether a second package (22) intended for a second delivery recipient remains in the package space (10); and

(vi) navigate the mobile robot to the second delivery location only if the second package (22) is still in the package space (10).

22. A mobile robot (1) adapted to at least securely deliver a first package (20) to a first delivery recipient (60) at a first delivery location, said robot (1) comprising:

at least one package space (10) configured to hold at least two packages (20, 22);

at least one package sensor (30) configured to at least measure first data reflective of the presence or absence of at least one package;

at least one processing component (3) configured to at least receive the package sensor'"'"'s (30) first data and process it; and

at least one communication component (5) configured to at least send and receive second data;

wherein;

upon determining that the second package (22) has been removed from the delivery space (10), the processing component (3) is further configured to prompt the first delivery recipient (60) to return the second package (22) and to use further first data obtained by the package sensor (30) to determine whether the second package (22) has been returned to the package space (10).