Intelligent system for autonomous operation of mobile retail storefronts
A network software system that enables the autonomous operation of mobile retail storefronts within a regional delivery area. The system connects local retailers with consumers by handling order placement, real-time inventory tracking, and delivery coordination. An order server communicates with the mobile storefronts to receive orders, determine consumer geolocation, calculate distances, and assign the closest mobile storefront based on proximity and available inventory. A mobile computer application aboard each storefront manages delivery scheduling, navigation, order processing, and intelligent communication with consumers, providing real-time updates and automated correspondence. The system supports various mobile inventories and automates all stages of order fulfillment, including the ability to direct mobile storefronts to areas with high concentrations of preferred customers. It is also capable of fully autonomous operation using self-driving technology.
1. An order and delivery system to be deployed over a regional delivery area comprising:
a plurality of mobile storefronts operating autonomously within the regional delivery area; and
an order server configured to communicate over a closed network with said plurality of mobile storefronts through a GPS-based routing program, with said order server further configured to perform the following:
receive an order from a consumer via an Internet connected device,
determine the consumer's geolocation corresponding to the order based on location of said Internet connected device, and
calculate via the GPS-based routing program distances between the consumer's geolocation and a current location of each of said plurality of mobile storefronts, and send the order to one of said plurality of mobile storefronts over the closed network based on the calculated distances;
each mobile storefront comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive the order from said order server and to communicate with the consumer, and to determine the current location of the mobile storefront, and
an onboard computer configured to perform the following:
evaluate the current location and heading of said mobile storefront,
provide navigation and routing on the consumer's geolocation, and send a message via said transceiver directly to the device used by the consumer to place the order, with the message including an arrival notification when said mobile storefront that received the order is within a pre-determined proximity to the consumer's geolocation, and
generate a status that takes into account inventory usage of said autonomous mobile storefront;
said mobile storefront receiving the order facilitates preparation of the order with its stored inventory for delivery to the consumer at the consumer's geolocation.
2. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said onboard computer is further configured to perform the following:
monitor in real-time inventory carried by said mobile storefront;
estimate a time of arrival (ETA) of the order to the consumer's geolocation; and
send a second message to the consumer via said transceiver that includes the ETA and a real-time inventory confirmation of the order.
3. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein each autonomous mobile storefront further comprises an expeditor terminal configured to facilitate access to the order within said mobile storefront.
4. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said onboard computer for each autonomous mobile storefront is further configured to deny the order response that results in a delivery service time that would exceed a pre-defined maximum allowable time limit.
5. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said order server is further configured to organize, manage, and assemble an aggregation of products by a plurality of autonomous mobile storefronts for delivery to a consumer.
6. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said onboard computer for each autonomous mobile storefront is further configured to operate an automated navigation program to route said autonomous mobile storefront to a preferred destination based on at least one of a desired location, quantity, and proximity of customers within a defined delivery area.
7. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said onboard computer for each autonomous mobile storefront is further configured to operate a client management program that identifies preferred customers based on frequency of orders.
8. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said autonomous mobile storefronts is configured as a self-driving vehicle.
9. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein each autonomous mobile storefront is configured to travel by at least one of land, air, and water.
10. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the Internet connected device used by the consumer comprises a personal electronic device.
11. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the consumer's geolocation is at least one of a physical address and a non-physical address.
12. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said order server is further configured to receive payment from the consumer so as to prepay for the order prior to delivery.
13. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said onboard computer for each autonomous mobile storefront is configured to receive traffic conditions, and with the navigation and routing on the consumer's geolocation being provided based on the received traffic conditions.
14. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the status further includes fuel consumption of said autonomous mobile storefront.
15. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises office products, and with the order being an office products order.
16. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises stored food items, and with the order being a meal order.
17. The order and delivery system according to claim 16 wherein each autonomous mobile storefront comprises a mobile kitchen, with each mobile kitchen comprising storage for the food items and kitchen equipment useable to prepare the meal order from the stored food items.
18. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises fuel, and with the order being a fuel supply order.
19. The order and delivery system according to claim 18 wherein said fuel supply order comprises at least one of liquid fuel, fuel gas, biofuel, fuel derived from electric fuel cells, and alternative fuels.
20. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises fresh produce, and with the order being a fresh produce order.
21. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises pharmaceutical products, and with the order being a prescription order.
22. The order and delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stored inventory for each autonomous mobile storefront comprises grocery products, and with the order being a grocery products order.
23. An order and delivery system to be deployed over a regional delivery area comprising:
a plurality of mobile storefronts operating autonomously within the regional delivery area; and
an order server configured to communicate over a closed network with said plurality of mobile storefronts through a GPS-based routing program, with said order server further configured to perform the following:
receive an order from a consumer via an Internet connected device,
determine the consumer's geolocation corresponding to the order based on location of said Internet connected device, and
calculate via the GPS-based routing program distances between each of said plurality of mobile storefronts, and send the order to one of said plurality of mobile storefronts over the closed network based on the calculated distances;
each mobile storefront comprising:
a transceiver configured to determine the current location of the mobile storefront, and
an onboard computer configured to perform the following:
evaluate the current location and heading of said mobile storefront, and
operate an automated navigation program to route said autonomous mobile storefront to a preferred destination based on at least one of a desired location, quantity, and proximity of customers within a defined delivery area, and send a message via said transceiver directly to the device used by the consumer to place the order, with the message including an arrival notification when said mobile storefront that received the order is within a pre-determined proximity to the consumer's geolocation; and
said mobile storefront receiving the order facilitates preparation of the order with its stored inventory for delivery to the consumer at the consumer's geolocation.
24. An order and delivery system to be deployed over a regional delivery area comprising:
a plurality of mobile storefronts operating autonomously within the regional delivery area; and
an order server configured to communicate over a closed network with said plurality of mobile storefronts through a GPS-based routing program, with said order server further configured to perform the following:
receive an order from a consumer via an Internet connected device,
determine the consumer's geolocation corresponding to the order based on location of said Internet connected device, and
calculate via the GPS-based routing program distances between each of said plurality of mobile storefronts, and
send the order to one of said plurality of mobile storefronts over the closed network based on the calculated distances;
each mobile storefront comprising:
a transceiver configured to determine the current location of the mobile storefront, and
an onboard computer configured to perform the following:
evaluate the current location and heading of said mobile storefront, and
operate a client management program that identifies preferred customers based on frequency of orders, and
provide navigation and routing on the consumer's geolocation, and send a message via said transceiver directly to the device used by the consumer to place the order, with the message including an arrival notification when said mobile storefront that received the order is within a pre-determined proximity to the consumer's geolocation,
said mobile storefront receiving the order facilitates preparation of the order with its stored inventory for delivery to the consumer at the consumer's geolocation.