Defrost system for smart locker in package delivery

1. A method comprising:

determining an expected delivery time of a package to a locker unit;

determining an expected retrieval time of the package from the locker unit, wherein the expected retrieval time is based on usage of the locker unit over time;

determining a condition of the locker unit; and

activating, based on the condition of the locker unit and the expected delivery time or expected retrieval time, a defroster element associated with the locker unit before delivery of the package, wherein the defroster element is configured to melt ice around a peripheral edge of a door of the locker unit and around a lock of the locker unit.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving ambient weather information around the locker unit; and

determining, based on the ambient weather information, the condition of the locker unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the condition of the locker unit comprises receiving, from a human-machine interface associated with the locker unit, an indication that the locker unit is frozen.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the condition of the locker unit to another locker system or a service provider.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the condition of the locker unit comprises inferring or predicting the condition of the locker unit based on a weather pattern.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the weather pattern includes evaporative conditions followed by freezing temperatures.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the weather pattern includes snow or ice conditions followed by thawing conditions, which are followed by freezing temperatures.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising activating the defroster element according to a predetermined schedule.

9. A system comprising:

a locker unit having a door and a lock;

a defroster element associated with the door and/or the lock;

a unit controller comprising a processor and memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to:

determine an expected delivery time of a package to the locker unit;

determine an expected retrieval time of the package from the locker unit based on usage of the locker unit over time; and

activate, based on the expected delivery time or the expected retrieval time, the defroster element before delivery or retrieval of the package.

10. The system according to claim 9 , further comprising another defroster element associated with a housing of the locker unit.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the unit controller activates the defroster element based on a signal received from a locker system controller.

12. The system according to claim 9 , further comprising a human-machine interface that includes a display screen, the human-machine interface being configured to receive input from a user that indicates that the locker unit is in a frozen condition.

13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive ambient weather information around the locker unit; and

determine, based on the ambient weather information, a condition of the locker unit.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the defroster element includes a defrosting wire that encircles the door and/or the lock.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a condition for the locker unit by determining:

evaporative conditions followed by freezing temperatures; and/or

snow or ice conditions followed by thawing conditions, which are followed by freezing temperatures.

16. A locker system comprising:

a plurality of locker units, wherein each locker unit of the plurality of locker units comprise a door and a lock;

a first defroster element associated with the doors of at least some of the plurality of locker units;

a second defroster element associated with the locks of at least some of the plurality of locker units; and

a locker system controller having a processor, the processor executing instructions stored in memory to:

determine a condition for at least some of the plurality of locker units;

determine an expected use time of the locker unit based on usage of the locker unit over time; and

activate, based on the condition and the expected use time, the first defroster element and/or the second defroster element.

17. The locker system according to claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication that one of the plurality of locker units is frozen from a delivery unit or a smart device that communicates with the locker system.

18. The locker system according to claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to infer the condition based on a weather pattern.

19. The locker system according to claim 18 , wherein the weather pattern includes evaporative conditions followed by freezing temperatures.

20. The locker system according to claim 18 , wherein the weather pattern includes snow or ice conditions followed by thawing conditions, which are followed by freezing temperatures.