Food locker sanitation system for autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11537973-B2
Application number	US-201916588676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2019
Priority date	Sep 30, 2019
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

The systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to an autonomous vehicle food locker system that may include environmentally controlled storage compartments for storing and/or transporting perishable food items to be delivered to end consumers. The storage compartments may provide ultraviolet light controls and surfaces that provide sanitized food storage areas for a delivery vehicle. Computing processor(s) may be configured for determining a sanitization procedure for sanitizing the interior portion of the food storage locker based on sensor information received from internal and external sensors, video feeds, photographs, and other information. The processor(s) may determine one or more sanitation characteristics that can indicate or inform cleanliness of the interior portion of the food storage locker, and perform automated sanitization procedures that can include activating a chemical layer disposed on the interior portion of the food storage locker. The system may also maintain a digital record documenting the delivery process.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving sensor information indicative of one or more sanitation characteristics of an interior portion of a food storage locker;
determining, based at least in part on the sensor information, one or more sanitation characteristics indicative of cleanliness of the interior portion of the food storage locker;
matching, based at least in part on the sensor information, a sanitization characteristic of the one or more sanitation characteristics to data stored in a characteristics database associated with a type of contamination;
determining, based on the type of contamination, a sanitization procedure for sanitizing the interior portion of the food storage locker; and
performing the sanitization procedure, wherein the sanitization procedure comprises activating a chemical layer disposed on the interior portion of the food storage locker,
wherein receiving the sensor information indicative of one or more sanitation characteristics of the interior portion of the food storage locker further comprises:
determining, based at least in part on the sensor information, an identity associated with a food provider, wherein the sensor information comprises a video feed of at least one individual accessing the food storage locker; and
saving, to a computer-readable memory, information indicative of the identity.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the sanitization procedure comprises:
activating a photonic output array directed towards an interior surface of the food storage locker based at least in part on pattern matching techniques and the data stored in the characteristics database.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2 , further comprising energizing a long-persistence phosphor portion of the chemical layer via an ultraviolet (UV) photonic output associated with the photonic output array.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3 , wherein energizing the long-persistence phosphor portion of the chemical layer comprises providing a photonic stimulus having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelength values.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4 , wherein energizing the long-persistence phosphor portion of the chemical layer further comprises providing the photonic stimulus for a predetermined time period.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the sensor information indicative of one or more sanitation characteristics of the interior portion of the food storage locker further comprises:
receiving one or more of a temperature associated with the interior portion of the food storage locker, a temperature associated with an exterior portion of the food storage locker, and time information associated with a door latch operation of the food storage locker.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the sanitization procedure further comprises:
generating an encrypted message associated with the food storage locker, the encrypted message indicative of a sanitation event that indicates service readiness of the food storage locker; and
transmitting, via a wireless communications network, the encrypted message from the food storage locker to a mobile device associated with a consumer.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart
• White Kendra
• Brown Kristopher Karl
• Deljevic Zeljko
• Dellock Paul Kenneth

Classifications

• B60P3/20 Primary

  Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) · CPC title

• B60S1/64

  for cleaning vehicle interiors, e.g. built-in vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• G06F16/583

  using metadata automatically derived from the content · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2/088

  using photocatalysts or photosensitisers · CPC title