Indoor deliveries by autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11222299-B1
Application number	US-201816102442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 13, 2018
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

Customized navigation maps of an area are generated for autonomous vehicles based on a baseline map of the area, transportation systems within the area, and attributes of the autonomous vehicles. The customized navigation maps include a plurality of paths, and two or more of the paths may form an optimal route for performing a task by an autonomous vehicle. Customized navigation maps may be generated for outdoor spaces or indoor spaces, and include specific infrastructure or features on which a specific autonomous vehicle may be configured for travel. Routes may be determined based on access points at destinations such as buildings, and the access points may be manually selected by a user or automatically selected on any basis. The autonomous vehicles may be guided by GPS systems when traveling outdoors, and by imaging devices or other systems when traveling indoors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for distributing items within a geographic area, the distribution system comprising:
at least one computer system; and
a first autonomous vehicle comprising:
a frame;
at least one pair of wheels joined to at least one axle;
at least one battery;
a motor disposed within the frame, wherein the motor is configured to cause the at least one pair of wheels to rotate at a speed within a predetermined speed range;
at least one storage compartment having at least the item stored therein, wherein the at least one storage compartment is disposed within the frame;
at least one power module for powering the motor;
an imaging device having a field of view extending forward of the autonomous vehicle;
a Global Positioning System receiver; and
at least one computer processor,

wherein the at least one computer system is in communication with the first autonomous vehicle, and
wherein the at least one computer system is programmed to execute a method comprising:
receiving information regarding an order for a delivery of an item from a fulfillment center to one of a plurality of interior spaces within a building;
determining information regarding a prevailing weather condition in the geographic area;
selecting a first route from the fulfillment center to at least one access point at the building based at least in part on a first navigation map of the geographic area for the first autonomous vehicle and the prevailing weather condition, wherein the first navigation map comprises a first plurality of geolocations in the geographic area and a first plurality of paths, and wherein each of the first plurality of paths extends between at least two of the first plurality of geolocations;
selecting a second route from the at least one access point to the one of the plurality of interior spaces based at least in part on a second navigation map, wherein the second navigation map comprises a second plurality of geolocations within the building and a second plurality of paths, and wherein each of the second plurality of paths extends between at least two of the second plurality of geolocations;
causing the item to be loaded into the storage compartment at the fulfillment center; and
transmitting at least a first electronic message to the first autonomous vehicle, wherein the first electronic message comprises a first instruction to transport the item from the fulfillment center to the at least one access point via the first route based at least in part on information received by the Global Positioning System receiver and a second instruction to transport the item from the at least one access point to the one of the plurality of interior spaces via the second route based at least in part on imaging data captured by the imaging device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
generating the first navigation map of the geographic area for the first autonomous vehicle based at least in part on a baseline map of the geographic area, information regarding a plurality of transportation systems within the geographic area, and at least one dimension of the first autonomous vehicle, wherein each of the first plurality of geolocations is represented in the navigation map by a latitude, a longitude and an elevation, and wherein each of the plurality of transportation systems extends between at least two of the first plurality of geolocations; and
generating the second navigation map of the building based at least in part on a layout of the building, information regarding a plurality of access systems within the building, and the at least one dimension of the first autonomous vehicle, wherein each of the second plurality of geolocations is represented in the second navigation map by a latitude, a longitude and an elevation, and wherein each of the plurality of access systems extends between at least two of the second plurality of geolocations.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
generating the layout of the building based at least in part on a blueprint of at least one of the interior spaces and imaging data captured within the building,
wherein the imaging data is captured by at least one imaging device associated with one of a security system or a second autonomous vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the information regarding the order comprises a delivery address of the building,
wherein the information regarding the order is received from a mobile device associated with a customer, and
wherein the method further comprises:
identifying a plurality of access points at the building based at least in part on the delivery address, wherein the plurality of access points includes the at least one access point;
causing a display of at least a portion of the first navigation map on the mobile device, wherein the portion of the first navigation map comprises at least one icon corresponding to one of the plurality of access points; and
receiving, from the mobile device, a selection of the at least one icon in the portion of the first navigation map displayed on the mobile device;
wherein the first route extends from a geolocation associated with the fulfillment center to a geolocation associated with the one of the access points corresponding to the at least one icon.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying first data regarding a layout of a building within an area, wherein the first data includes geolocations of at least one surface within the building, and wherein the building comprises at least one interior space and at least one access point;
identifying second data regarding at least one access system within the building;
determining third data regarding at least one attribute of a first autonomous vehicle within the area, wherein the first autonomous vehicle comprises an imaging device and a Global Positioning System receiver;
generating a first navigation map of the building for the first autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the first data, the second data and the third data, wherein the first navigation map comprises a first plurality of paths, wherein each of the first plurality of paths extends between two of the geolocations, and wherein the first navigation map further comprises at least a first geolocation corresponding to the at least one access point and at least a second geolocation corresponding to the at least one interior space;
storing the first navigation map in at least one data store;
identifying a task to be performed at or within the at least one interior space; and
in response to identifying the task,
selecting a first route to be traveled on the at least one surface by the first autonomous vehicle from the first geolocation to the second geolocation by way of the at least one access system based at least in part on the first navigation map, wherein the first route comprises at least one of the first plurality of paths;
determining at least one environmental condition within the area;
selecting a second route to be traveled by the first autonomous vehicle to the first geolocation based at least in part on a second navigation map and the at least one environmental condition within the area, wherein the second navigation map comprises a second plurality of geolocations in the area and a second plurality of paths, and wherein each of the second plurality of paths extends between at least two of the second plurality of geolocations;
transmitting at least a first electronic message to the first autonomous vehicle over a network, wherein the first electronic message comprises:
a first instruction to travel to the first geolocation; and
a second instruction to travel from the first geolocation to the second geolocation over at least a portion of the first route;

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Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Baalke Uriah John
• Braun Stav
• Jin Sonia
• Lim Jia Hao

Classifications

• G01C21/3453

  Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments · CPC title

• G01C21/3407

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G01C21/206

  specially adapted for indoor navigation · CPC title

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title