Transport system, control device, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11816627-B2
Application number	US-202017119363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 24, 2019
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a transport system, a control device, and a method whereby package transport efficiency can be improved. A transport system 1 includes at least one memory configured to store a program code, and at least one processor configured to access the program code and operate as instructed by the program code. The program code includes a detection code configured to cause the at least one processor to detect a first package to be collected at a specified collection location, and an identification code configured to cause the at least one processor to identify a second package to be delivered to the collection location. Furthermore, the program code includes a generation code configured to, when a first date and time that is a collection deadline of the first package and a second date and time that is a scheduled delivery date and time of the second package satisfy a predetermined condition, cause the at least one processor to generate a movement plan for a vehicle in which the vehicle transports the second package to the collection location and, then, the vehicle collects the first package from the collection location. Additionally, the program code includes a control code configured to cause the at least one processor to carry out control for causing the vehicle to move in accordance with the generated movement plan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle-based transport system associated with at least one unmanned vehicle, the at least one unmanned vehicle being configured to collect and transport packages, the vehicle-based transport system comprising:
at least one memory storing program code; and
at least one processor configured to access the program code and operate as instructed by the program code,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
execute detection code included in the program code to detect a first package to be collected at a specified collection location,
execute identification code included in the program code to identify a second package to be delivered to the specified collection location,
execute generation code included in the program code to, when a first date and time that is a collection deadline of the first package and a second date and time that is a scheduled delivery date and time of the second package satisfy a predetermined condition, generate a movement plan for an unmanned vehicle of the at least one unmanned vehicle, in which the unmanned vehicle is controlled to transport the second package to the specified collection location and, then, the unmanned vehicle is controlled to collect the first package from the specified collection location, and
execute control code included in the program code to control movement of the unmanned vehicle in accordance with the generated movement plan,

wherein the predetermined condition includes a late condition that the second date and time that is the scheduled delivery date and time is a later date and time than the first date and time that is the collection deadline,
wherein the predetermined condition further includes at least one of:
a proximity condition that the first date and time and the second date and time are proximate to each other, or
a preparation complete condition that preparation for starting transportation of the second package is completed by a latest transport start date and time that still allows the unmanned vehicle to transport the second package to the specified collection location by a third date and time that is an earlier date and time than the first date and time,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to, when the late condition and at least one of the proximity condition or the preparation complete condition are satisfied, change the scheduled delivery date and time from the second date and time to the third date and time,
wherein the vehicle-based transport system further comprises a storage device configured to be installed at the specified collection location and to store the transported second package, and
wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the control code to, when the scheduled delivery date and time of the second package is changed from the second date and time to the third date and time that is an earlier date and time than the second date and time, control the storage device so as to, for an operation date and time at which a recipient of the second package operates the storage device to retrieve the second package, (i) restrict retrieval of the second package by the recipient based on the operation date and time being earlier than the second date and time and (ii) enable retrieval of the second package by the recipient based on the operation date and time being the second date and time or later.

2. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined condition includes the late condition, the proximity condition, and the preparation complete condition, and
the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to change the scheduled delivery date and time to the third date and time when the late condition, the proximity condition, and the preparation complete condition are satisfied.

3. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a send circuit configured to, when the late condition is satisfied and the proximity condition is not satisfied, send a message informing about a proposal to change the collection deadline of the first package from the first date and time to a fourth date and time that is later than the second date and time that is the scheduled delivery date and time of the second package.

4. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 3 , wherein the send circuit is configured to send the message informing also about an incentive to be obtained, due to changing the collection deadline to the fourth date and time, by a requester that requested delivery of the first package.

5. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 4 , wherein the send circuit is configured to send the message informing about the incentive that corresponds to a difference between the first date and time and the fourth date and time.

6. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to, when the late condition is not satisfied, generate the movement plan for the unmanned vehicle such that the unmanned vehicle is controlled to transport the second package to the specified collection location by the second date and time that is the scheduled delivery date and time and, then, the unmanned vehicle is controlled to collect the first package from the specified collection location.

7. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, generate a movement plan for another unmanned vehicle that differs from the unmanned vehicle, such that said another unmanned vehicle is controlled to collect the first package from the specified collection location by the collection deadline.

8. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to, when a plurality of second packages to be delivered to the specified collection location is identified, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied by an earliest date and time among scheduled delivery dates and times of the plurality of second packages, and the first date and time that is the collection deadline, generate the movement plan for the unmanned vehicle.

9. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one processor is configured to execute the identification code to, when a plurality of second packages to be delivered to the specified collection location is identified, further identify, based on at least one of a size or a weight of the first package, the unmanned vehicle of the at least one unmanned vehicle, the identified unmanned vehicle being capable of collecting the first package, and
the at least one processor is configured to execute the generation code to generate the movement plan for the identified unmanned vehicle when, among scheduled delivery dates and times of the plurality of second packages, the scheduled delivery date and time of the second package to be delivered by the identified unmanned vehicle, and the first date and time that is the collection deadline satisfy the predetermined condition.

10. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein a relationship between a first route on which the unmanned vehicle is controlled to transport the second package, and a second route on which the unmanned vehicle is controlled to transport the first package is a relationship between an outbound route and an inbound route.

11. The vehicle-based transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the unmanned vehicle is an

Assignees

• Rakuten Group Inc

Inventors

• TAZUME Toshiaki

Classifications

• G06Q10/08355 Primary

  Routing methods · CPC title

• B65G63/002 Primary

  for articles · CPC title