Autonomous locker delivery
View Patent ↗Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for autonomously delivering lockers. In some embodiments, a system comprises a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising a storage area, a docking station including a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to secure at least one locker, wherein the docking station is located within the storage area, and a retrieval point, a plurality of lockers each configured to house at least one product, a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker, and a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker, and cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.
1. A system for autonomously delivering lockers, the system comprising:
a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising:
a storage area configured to house a plurality of lockers;
a docking station, wherein the docking station includes a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to releasably secure at least one locker, and wherein the docking station is located within the storage area; and
a retrieval point;
the plurality of lockers, each of the plurality of lockers configured to house at least one product;
a control circuit located on the carrier vehicle, the control circuit configured to:
identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker; and
cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery vehicle travels via one or more of land, water, and air.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include a climate control unit, wherein the climate control units are configured to maintain a climate-controlled environment inside each of the at least some of the plurality of lockers.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage area includes a first area and a second area, and wherein the first area is climate controlled.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
determine, based on a trigger condition, that the selected locker has been delivered.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
in response to the determination that the selected locker has been delivered, cause transmission of an indication that the selected locker has been delivered.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the indication that the selected locker has been delivered includes an indication of products housed within the selected locker.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the trigger condition is one or more of removal of the selected locker from the retrieval point, delivery of the selected by a delivery vehicle, and the identification of the selected locker.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.
10. A method for autonomously delivering lockers, the method comprising:
transporting, via a docking station within a storage area of a carrier vehicle, a plurality of lockers, wherein the storage area includes a retrieval point;
housing, within each of the plurality of lockers, at least one product;
identifying, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker; and
causing the selected locker to move from the docking station to the retrieval point.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the delivery vehicle travels via one or more of land, water, and air.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include a climate control unit, wherein the climate control units are configured to maintain a climate-controlled environment inside each of the at least some of the plurality of lockers.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the storage area includes a first area and a second area, and wherein the first area is climate controlled.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining, based on a trigger condition, that the selected locker has been delivered.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
in response to the determining that the selected locker has been delivered, causing transmission of an indication that the selected locker has been delivered.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the indication that the selected locker has been delivered includes an indication of products housed within the selected locker.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the trigger condition is one or more of the causing the selected locker to move from the docking station to the retrieval point, delivering the selected locker by a delivery vehicle, and identifying the selected locker.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.