Camera-controlled self-delivery cart

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224967-B1
Application number	US-201916283273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2019
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A user location in a parking lot or other designated area may be identified based on sensor data, such as from one or more sensors in or around the designated area. Also within the designated area, a transport location of a transport associated with an order of the user may be identified based on image data provided by one or more cameras remote from the transport. The transport can be controlled to move from the identified transport location to the identified user location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a plurality of cameras dispersed in or around a first area so as to provide image data about objects relative to the first area;
a plurality of carts each receivable into the first area and each comprising:
a basket configured to receive a plurality of items;
a plurality of wheels connected with the basket;
a propulsion system to drive the wheels; and
a communication unit coupled with the propulsion system; and

a computer system comprising one or more processors, memory, and computer-executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to at least:
determine that a customer has entered the first area;
identify order data associated with the customer;
identify, from among the plurality of carts, a corresponding cart associated with the order data and containing one or more items ordered by the customer;
determine, for the corresponding cart, a cart location within the first area by analyzing the image data provided by the plurality of cameras;
determine, for the customer, a customer location within the first area by analyzing the image data provided by the plurality of cameras;
generate a route from the cart location to the customer location within the first area by analyzing the image data provided by the plurality of cameras; and
send communication instructions to the propulsion system of the cart via the communication unit to move the cart from the cart location to the customer location according to the route generated.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the computer system further to determine an estimated arrival time of the customer to the first area by receiving:
a customer's global positioning system (GPS) coordinates;
an alert that the customer has passed a predetermined border; or
a notification from the customer.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions cause the computer system to generate, based at least in part on the estimated arrival time determined, instructions to put items into the cart basket or introduce the cart into the first area.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer system to:
identify when the cart reaches the customer location; and
control the propulsion system of the cart via the communication unit of the cart to move the cart from the customer location to a subsequent location based at least in part on the image data provided by the plurality of cameras.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart further comprises a fiducial recognizable based at least in part on the image data provided by the plurality of cameras and configured to identify the cart and cart location in the first area.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart further includes an indicator configured to identify when the basket contains the plurality of items and when the basket no longer contains the plurality of items.

7. A system, comprising:
a camera having a field of view that includes a designated area;
a first transport comprising a first propulsion system and a first communication unit;
a second transport comprising a second propulsion system and a second communication unit;
a processor; and
a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to at least:
identify a first user location of a first user in the designated area and a second user location of a second user in the designated area, the first user location and the second user location based on information from a sensor or other input about user positioning;
determine a first transport position of the first transport based at least in part on data from the camera;
determine a second transport position of the second transport based at least in part on data from the camera;
control the first propulsion system via the first communication unit to cause the first transport to move from the first transport position to the first user location within the designated area; and
control the second propulsion system via the second communication unit to cause the second transport to move from the second transport position to the second user location within the designated area.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the first transport to move from the first user location to the second user location or cause the second transport to move from the second user location to the first user location.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second transport moves from the second transport position to the second user location after the first transport has been controlled from the first user location to a subsequent location within the designated area.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the camera comprises a plurality of cameras dispersed in or around the designated area.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
create a map of the designated area based at least in part data provided by the camera; and
control the first propulsion system via the first communication unit or control the second propulsion system via the second communication unit based at least in part on the map.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises the camera and wherein the first user location and the second user location are each identified based at least in part on data from the camera.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lin Sheng-Wei
• Beckett Todd
• Ducrou Jon Robert
• Edwards Alexander
• Hapgood Ryan David
• Neville Michael John
• Owens Jenna Christine
• Zelenskiy Lev

Classifications

• Y02P90/60

  Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes · CPC title

• G05B19/41895

  using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] (control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00) · CPC title

• H04W4/024

  Guidance services · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W4/025

  using location based information parameters · CPC title