Mobile reconfigurable modular electronic freight terminal and freight container module thereof
An unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system operates whereby a shipper first selects a freight container module of one of a plurality of sizes to pack at least one item, and then ships it to a predetermined target; the shipper inputs shipping information to the shipping system; when the shipper and/or the predetermined target modifies the shipping information, delivery is modified in real time. The reconfigurable decentralized shipping system includes a plurality of transport means operating in respective operating areas and configured with at least one unmanned handling unit, each of the operating areas including a plurality of freight terminal staging points and at least intersected with at least another one of the operating areas.
1. An unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system, comprising:
a chassis including at least one load carrier for securely bearing a freight terminal, at least two wheels that are rotatable relative to each other and provided at the load carrier, and a plurality of motor assemblies respectively for driving the wheels;
a retractable assisted platform that is retractable relative to the chassis, the retractable assisted platform including a corpus, a telescopic drive configured to drive the corpus to move between a receiving position that overlaps with the load carrier in a height direction and an operating position exposed outside the load carrier in the height direction, and a group of movers disposed on the corpus for transferring the freight terminal; and
one or more freight container modules disposed on the freight terminal,
wherein the chassis further includes a sensor configured to sense a balance status of the load carrier and outputting a balance signal, and a microprocessor configured to receive the balance signal, computing, and respectively driving the motor assemblies to cause the load carrier in balance with the at least two wheels.
2. The unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system according to claim 1 , wherein a vehicle includes at least on set of wireless communication devices, and the chassis further includes one wireless communication device communicatively connected to the set of wireless communication devices.
3. The unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system according to claim 1 , further comprising a payload checker configured to confirm data of respective freight container modules in the freight terminal.
4. The unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system according to claim 1 , wherein the chassis and/or the retractable assisted platform includes a retractable lift table configured to lift the freight terminal.
5. The unmanned handling unit for a reconfigurable decentralized shipping system according to claim 1 , wherein the freight terminal is provided with a plurality of pairs of immobilized columns, the spacing between the plurality of pairs of immobilized columns corresponding to one of the plurality of predetermined sizes, each freight container module including a body, an identification mark disposed on the body, and a pair of pivotal lock bars that are actuatable to partially protrude from the body; and the freight container module includes at least two upright lift arms, and retractable pivotal arms cooperating with the lift arms to actuate the pivotal lock bars.