IP Library Granted Patent US 12,619,261
Granted Patent B2
US 12,619,261 · App. 18/636,581 · Granted May 5, 2026

Control device, control method, and storage medium controlling a module to deliver a product to a user in a travelling moving body

Inventors: Rina Mukai (Aichi, JP); Tokuyuki Nishikawa (Aichi, JP); Richard Chung (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D1/667G05D1/683G05D2105/14G05D2105/28G05D2109/254
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,619,261
App. No.
18/636,581
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control device provided in a vehicle allows reception of a load carried by a drone, determines a position of a user who has ordered the load, and causes a ceiling module to move to the determined position while the vehicle is traveling toward a destination.

Claims (36)

1 . A control device that controls a module which is provided to a vehicle and which is movable in an inside of the vehicle, the control device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that, in cooperation with the memory, performs operations including:

determining, on a basis of given information, a position of a seat on which a user sits, the user relating to a product placed on the module,

wherein the module is provided to a ceiling of the vehicle and is movable inside the vehicle along a rail provided to the ceiling of the vehicle,

the module has a box-shaped configuration that enables the product to be placed thereon, and

the processor, in cooperation with the memory, further performs operations including:

causing, based on a signal transmitted from a drone that carries the product, an opening/closing device, which is provided to a roof of the vehicle and is capable of opening and closing an opening of the roof, to slide so as to open the opening of the roof,

causing the module to move toward the opening of the roof so that the module reaches a position in which the drone carrying the product is capable of placing the product on the module, and

causing the module to move along the rail to the determined position of the seat.

2 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the product is a product ordered by the user who is traveling in the vehicle;

the processor determines, on a basis of the given information, the position of the seat of the user who has ordered the product; and

the processor causes the module to move to the determined position of the seat while the vehicle is traveling toward a destination.

3 . The control device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the given information includes at least one of image information obtained by capturing an image of a gesture of the user, sound information of the user, signal information indicative of a signal transmitted from an input device which is provided to a seat on which the user sits and which accepts an input from the user, order information associated with a seat number of the seat on which the user sits, image information obtained by capturing an image of a screen while the user is ordering the product via the screen, and identification information of a user terminal that is owned by the user and that is paired with, through Bluetooth (registered trademark), the seat on which the user sits.

4 . The control device according to claim 2 , wherein:

on a basis of at least one of a traveling state of the vehicle and a traveling environment of the vehicle, the processor makes at least one of (i) determination of whether or not movement of the module is possible while the vehicle is traveling toward the destination and (ii) determination of whether or not the user is able to receive the product from the module.

5 . The control device according to claim 4 , wherein:

in a case where the processor determines that movement of the module is impossible or in a case where the processor determines that the user is not able to receive the product from the module, the processor calculates, on a basis of at least one of the traveling state of the vehicle and the traveling environment of the vehicle, a timing when movement of the module becomes possible while the vehicle is traveling toward the destination or a timing when the user becomes able to receive the product from the module.

6 . The control device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the processor determines, on a basis of the given information, the position of the seat of the user who has requested collection of garbage involved in the product; and

the processor causes the module to move to the determined position of the seat while the vehicle is traveling toward the destination.

7 . A control method used for a control device that controls a module which is provided to a vehicle and which is movable in an inside of the vehicle, the control method comprising:

determining, on a basis of given information, a position of a seat on which a user sits, the user relating to a product placed on the module,

wherein the module is provided to a ceiling of the vehicle and is movable inside the vehicle along a rail provided to the ceiling of the vehicle,

the module has a box-shaped configuration that enables the product to be placed thereon, and

the control method further comprises:

causing, based on a signal transmitted from a drone that carries the product, an opening/closing device, which is provided to a roof of the vehicle and is capable of opening and closing an opening of the roof, to slide so as to open the opening of the roof;

causing the module to move toward the opening of the roof so that the module reaches a position in which the drone carrying the product is capable of placing the product on the module; and

causing the module to move along the rail to the determined position of the seat.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a control program stored therein, the control program causing a computer to execute:

determining, on a basis of given information, a position of a seat on which a user sits in a vehicle, the user relating to a product placed on a module, wherein the module is provided to a ceiling of the vehicle, is movable in an inside of the vehicle along a rail provided to the ceiling of the vehicle and has a box-shaped configuration that enables the product to be placed thereon;

causing, based on a signal transmitted from a drone that carries the product, an opening/closing device, which is provided to a roof of the vehicle and is capable of opening and closing an opening of the roof, to slide so as to open the opening of the roof;

causing the module to move toward the opening of the roof so that the module reaches a position in which the drone carrying the product is capable of placing the product on the module; and

causing the module to move along the rail to the determined position of the seat.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2024
From: MUKAI, RINA; NISHIKAWA, TOKUYUKI; CHUNG, RICHARD
To: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 067117/0635 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-100998 · Jun 20, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240427351A1 · Dec 26, 2024
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