IP Library Patent Application 16514240
Patent Application
App. No. 16/514,240

AUTONOMOUS LOCKER DELIVERY

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
16/514,240
Abstract

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.

Claims (33)

1 . A system for autonomously delivering products, the system comprising:

a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising:

a storage area configured to house a plurality of products;

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 product, and wherein the docking station is located within the storage area; and

a retrieval point;

a control circuit located on the carrier vehicle, the control circuit configured to:

identify, from the plurality of products, a selected product; and

cause the selected product 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 , further comprising a plurality of lockers, wherein each of the plurality of lockers are configured to house ones of the products, and 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 3 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.

5 . 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.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine, based on a trigger condition, that the selected product has been delivered.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

in response to the determination that the selected product has been delivered, cause transmission of an indication that the selected product has been delivered.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the indication that the selected product has been delivered includes an indication of the selected product.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the trigger condition is one or more of removal of the selected product from the retrieval point, delivery of the selected product by a delivery vehicle, and the identification of the selected product.

10 . A method for autonomously delivering products, the method comprising:

transporting, via a docking station within a storage area of a carrier vehicle, a plurality of products, wherein the storage area includes a retrieval point;

identifying, from the plurality of products, a selected product; and

causing the selected product 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 , further comprising:

housing, within a plurality of lockers, ones of the products, 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 12 , wherein at least some of the plurality of lockers include an authentication device.

14 . 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.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, based on a trigger condition, that the selected product has been delivered.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

in response to the determining that the selected product has been delivered, causing transmission of an indication that the selected product has been delivered.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the indication that the selected product has been delivered includes an indication of the selected product.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the trigger condition is one or more of the causing the selected product to move from the docking station to the retrieval point, delivering the selected product by a delivery vehicle, and identifying the selected product.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 049928/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2019
From: HIGH, DONALD R.; WINKLE, DAVID C.; ATCHLEY, MICHAEL D.; MCHALE, BRIAN G.; ANTEL, NICHOLAS RAY; O'BRIEN, JOHN J.; MATTINGLY, TODD D.; WILKINSON, BRUCE W.
To: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049790/0888 →