Demand-based distribution of items using intermodal carriers and unmanned aerial vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676107-B2
Application number	US-201916515681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A distribution system comprising:
a fulfillment center;
a first locomotive;
a first intermodal carrier vehicle;
a first aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the first intermodal carrier vehicle; and
at least one computer system in communication with at least the fulfillment center, the first locomotive, the first intermodal carrier vehicle and the first aerial vehicle, wherein the at least one computer system is configured to execute a method comprising:
predicting, at a first time, a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic region at a second time, wherein the fulfillment center is not in the first geographic region;
determining a first number of the first item associated with the first level of demand in the first geographic region at the second time;
prior to the second time,
loading at least the first number of the first item into a compartment of the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the fulfillment center;
coupling the first intermodal carrier vehicle to the first locomotive; and
causing the first locomotive and the first intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with the first geographic area;

receiving an order for a delivery of one of the first item to a location in the first geographic area;
determining a first distance between a first departure point on the first set of rails and the location;
causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle;
causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the first departure point;
causing the first aerial vehicle to travel from the first departure point to the location; and
causing the first aerial vehicle to deposit the item at the location.

2. The distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second locomotive;
a second intermodal carrier vehicle;
a second aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the second intermodal carrier vehicle,
wherein the at least one computer system is in communication with at least the second locomotive, the second intermodal carrier vehicle and the second aerial vehicle, and
wherein the method further comprises:
prior to the second time,
loading at least one of the first item into the second intermodal carrier at the fulfillment center;
coupling the second intermodal carrier vehicle to the second locomotive;
causing the second locomotive and the second intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a second set of rails in a second direction;
determining a second distance between a second departure point on the second set of rails and the location;
determining a comparison of the first distance to the second distance; and
selecting the first aerial vehicle for the delivery of the one of the first item based at least in part on the comparison.

3. The distribution system of claim 1 , wherein predicting the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic region at the second time comprises:
prior to the first time,
determining, by the at least one computer system, at least one of:
purchases of the first item or a second item by customers in the first geographic area over a predetermined period of time, wherein the second item is one of a complement to the first item or a substitute for the first item; or
deliveries of the first item or the second item to locations in the first geographic area over the predetermined period of time,

wherein the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area is predicted based at least in part on at least one of the prior purchases or the prior deliveries.

4. The distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the first intermodal carrier vehicle comprises:
at least one intermodal container defining the compartment at least in part, wherein the at least one intermodal container comprises a steel frame and a rollable door on an upper surface of the steel frame, and wherein a lower surface of the steel frame is in contact with a first well car;
a motorized roller disposed within the compartment, wherein the motorized roller is configured to extend or retract the rollable door;
a robotic arm disposed within the compartment;
wherein the at least one computer system is in communication with the motorized roller and the robotic arm, and
wherein causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle comprises:
engaging the one of the first item by the robotic arm; and
causing the one of the first item to be loaded into a cargo bay of the first aerial vehicle by the robotic arm, and

wherein causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first aerial vehicle at the first departure point comprises:
opening, by the motorized roller, the rollable door prior to launching the first aerial vehicle; and
closing, by the motorized roller, the rollable door after the aerial vehicle has been launched.

5. A distribution system comprising:
predicting demand for a first item in a first area by at least one computer server;
predicting demand for a second item in a second area by the at least one computer server;
determining a first number of the first item based at least in part on the demand for the first item in the first area;
determining a second number of the second item based at least in part on the demand for the second item in the second area;
loading at least the first number of the first item into an intermodal container at a fulfillment center;
loading at least the second number of the second item into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center;
loading an aerial vehicle into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center;
placing the intermodal container onto a well car at the fulfillment center;
coupling the well car to a locomotive at the fulfillment center;
causing, by the locomotive, the well car to travel on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with at least one of the first area or the second area;
receiving a first order for a delivery of one of the first item to a first location by the at least one computer server;
selecting a first departure point on the first set of rails based at least in part on an operating range of the aerial vehicle,
wherein a first distance between the first departure point and the first location is within the operating range;
loading the one of the first item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container;
causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point;
causing the aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the first item to the first location;
causing the aerial vehicle to return to the intermodal container at a first rendezvous point on the first set of rails;
receiving a second order for a delivery of one of the second item to a second location by the at least one computer server;
selecting a second departure point on the second set of rails based at least in part on the operating range of the aerial vehicle,
wherein a second distance between the second departure point and the second location is within the operating range;
loading the one of the second item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container;
causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point; and
causing the aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the second item to the second location.

6. The distribution system of claim 5 , wherein the fulfillment center is associated with a plurality of sets of rails, and
wherein causing the well car to travel on the first set of rails in the first dire

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Beckman Brian C
• Bjone Nicholas

Classifications

• G06Q30/0202

  Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• B61D3/16 Primary

  adapted for carrying special loads · CPC title

• B64C2201/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B61L25/025

  Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates · CPC title