Delivering hems using autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235929-B1
Application number	US-202016737853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2016
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first facility in a first geographic area;
a carrier vehicle;
a first autonomous ground vehicle; and
at least one computer system in communication with the carrier vehicle and the first autonomous ground 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 second geographic area at a second time, wherein the second time follows the first time;
prior to the second time, selecting at least a first number of the first item based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item in the second geographic area at the second time;
prior to the second time, causing at least the first autonomous ground vehicle and the first number of the first item to be loaded onto the carrier vehicle at the first facility;
prior to the second time, causing at least the first number of the first item to be loaded into at least one of the first autonomous ground vehicle or the second autonomous ground vehicle at the first facility; and
prior to the second time, causing the carrier vehicle to transport the first number of the first item and the first autonomous ground vehicle from the first facility to at least the second geographic area.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the carrier vehicle is a ground vehicle comprising an access door, and
wherein the method further comprises:
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the carrier vehicle within the second geographic area via the access door with at least one of the first item within a storage compartment.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a first order for a delivery of at least one of the first item to a location in the second geographic area; and
in response to receiving the first order,
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the carrier vehicle within the second geographic area; and
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to transport at least the one of the first item to the location in the second geographic area via at least a portion of at least one of a sidewalk, a crosswalk, a path or a trail.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to the second time, causing at least a second number of a second item to be loaded into the carrier vehicle;
receiving a second order for a delivery of at least one of the first item or at least one of the second item to a location in the second geographic area; and
in response to receiving the second order,
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the carrier vehicle with the at least one of the first item or the at least one of the second item within a storage compartment of the first autonomous ground vehicle; and
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to transport at least the at least one of the first item or the at least one of the second item to the location in the second geographic area.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining a second number of the first item available at a second facility within the second geographic area,
wherein the first number of the first item is selected based on the level of demand for the first item in the second geographic area and the second number of the first item.

6. A method comprising:
determining a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic area by at least one computer processor;
selecting a first number of the first item based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area determined by the at least one computer processor;
loading at least the first number of the first item into at least a first storage compartment of a first autonomous ground vehicle outside of the first geographic area; and
transporting, by a first carrier vehicle, at least the first autonomous ground vehicle into the first geographic area with at least the first number of the first item within the first storage compartment.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving an order for a delivery of at least one of the first item by the at least one computer processor, wherein the order specifies a location within the first geographic area; and
in response to receiving the order,
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the first carrier vehicle within the first geographic area; and
transmitting, to the first autonomous ground vehicle over a network, at least one instruction to deliver the at least one of the first item to the location within the first geographic area.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
selecting a second number of the first item based at least in part on the first number of the first item and the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area determined by the at least one computer processor; and
loading at least the second number of the first item into at least a second storage compartment of a second autonomous ground vehicle outside of the first geographic area,
wherein transporting at least the first autonomous ground vehicle into the first geographic area comprises:
transporting, by the first carrier vehicle, at least the second autonomous ground vehicle into the first geographic area with at least the second number of the first item within the second storage compartment.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
causing the first autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the first carrier vehicle within the first geographic area;
selecting a second number of the first item based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area determined by the at least one computer processor;
loading at least the second number of the second item into at least a second storage compartment of a second autonomous ground vehicle outside of the first geographic area;
transporting, by a second carrier vehicle, at least the second autonomous ground vehicle into the second geographic area with at least the second number of the first item within the second storage compartment;
causing the second autonomous ground vehicle to disembark from the second carrier vehicle within the first geographic area;
receiving, at a first time, an order for a delivery of at least one of the first item by the at least one computer processor, wherein the order specifies a first location within the first geographic area;
selecting one of the first autonomous ground vehicle or the second autonomous ground vehicle to deliver the at least one of the first item to the first location; and
causing the selected one of the first autonomous ground vehicle or the second autonomous ground vehicle to deliver the at least one of the first item to the first location.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting the one of the first autonomous ground vehicle or the second autonomous ground vehicle to deliver the at least one of the first item to the first location comprises:
determining a second location of the first autonomous ground vehicle at the first time;
determining a third location of the second autonomous ground vehicle at the first time; and
selecting the one of the first autonomous ground vehicle or the second autonomous ground vehicle to deliver the at least one of the first item to the first location based at least in part on at least one of:
a distance between the first location and the second location;
a distance between the first location and the third location;
an estimated time for the first autonomous ground vehicle to travel from the second location to the first location;
an estimated ti

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Brady Tye Michael
• Canavor Darren Ernest
• Evans Ethan Zane
• Mishra Pragyana K
• Siegel Hilliard Bruce

Classifications

• G06Q30/0205 Primary

  based on location or geographical consideration · CPC title

• B65G1/1373 Primary

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• G05D2201/0213

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05D1/0278

  using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS · CPC title