Methods and systems for automating a logistics transaction using an autonomous vehicle and elements a wireless node network

1. A node-enabled autonomous vehicle that conducts a logistics transaction related to a package, comprising:

an autonomous vehicle operative to move, in response to control input, from a first location to a transaction location related to the logistics transaction;

a mobile master node integrated as part of the autonomous vehicle, the mobile master node being one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, wherein the mobile master node further comprises:

a node processing unit,

a node memory coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit,

a short-range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and being operative to communicate with the nodes in the wireless node network;

a longer range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate directly with a server in the wireless network; and

wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node, when executing the code maintained on the node memory, is operative to

receive shipment information generated by the server, the shipment information identifying the package for the logistics transaction, the transaction location for the logistics transaction related to the package, and an identification of a node associated with the package,

provide a control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to move from the first location to the transaction location, and

automatically conduct the logistics transaction related to the package if the mobile master node successfully associates with the node associated with the package by automatically generating association data on the mobile master node reflecting a logical pairing of (a) the node associated with the package and (b) the mobile master node on the autonomous vehicle as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location,

wherein the automatic generation of the association data results from the mobile master node attempting to detect, in response to the autonomous vehicle approaching in accordance with the control signal the transaction location that is specified in the shipping information for the package to which the node is associated, a signal being broadcast from the node associated with the package.

2. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the logistics transaction comprises picking up the package at the transaction location after the mobile master node successfully associates with the node associated with the package.

3. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a package payload storage and a package articulation system that is operative to place the package within the package payload storage and remove the package from within the package payload storage; and

wherein the mobile master node is further operative to automatically conduct the logistics transaction by being operative to:

associate the mobile master node and the node associated with the package, and

provide a pickup control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to pick up the package at the transaction location and place the package in the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle.

4. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the mobile master node is further operative to:

provide an unload control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system to unload the package and the node associated with the package from the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle; and

transmit a verification message to the server over the longer range communication interface, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was picked up.

5. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the logistics transaction comprises dropping off the package at the transaction location after the mobile master node successfully associates with the node associated with the package.

6. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a package payload storage and a package articulation system that is operative to place the package within the package payload storage and remove the package from within the package payload storage; and

wherein the mobile master node is further operative to conduct the logistics transaction by being further operative to:

associate the mobile master node and the node associated with the package; and

provide a drop off control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to remove the package from within the package payload storage and place the package at the transaction location.

7. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the mobile master node is further operative to transmit a verification message to the server over the longer range communication interface, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was dropped off at the transaction location.

8. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the node associated with the package is an ID node, wherein the ID node is operative to communicate with the mobile master node over the short-range communication interface but is unable to directly communicate with the server.