Systems and methods for smart containers configured for moving goods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11934202-B2
Application number	US-202117171053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2021
Priority date	Feb 9, 2021
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A smart container for transporting items in transportation vehicles, e.g., an autonomous vehicle (AV), having heating/cooling capabilities, security features, unloading/loading assistance, and/or GPS cellular tracking for positional awareness, and methods of use thereof, are provided. The smart container includes an inductive charging module for receiving power from the vehicle. The container may provide information to facilitate delivery. When the vehicle arrives at a delivery destination, the customer may be provided a map of containers within the vehicle, and a specific container may provide an indication that it is the correct container. The customer may then provide a code to access the container. If a container is improperly removed, an alarm may be triggered and a notification may be provided to a third party.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A smart container comprising:
a body configured to store one or more items, the body comprising an opening and a door configured to transition between an open position and a closed position;
one or more sensors;
an inductive charging module configured to be charged via an external charging source and to power the smart container;
communication circuitry configured to communicate with one or more receivers; and
a computing device comprising a processor and a memory having computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
transmit data indicative of smart container information to at least one of the one or more receivers via the communication circuitry to facilitate delivery of the one or more items,

wherein one of the one or more receivers is integrated with a customer device, and
wherein the processor is configured to transmit data indicative of smart container information to the customer device, the smart container information comprising a map including a location of the smart container within a delivery vehicle to facilitate delivery of the one or more items.

2. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more sensors comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature within the smart container, the smart container further comprising a temperature control module operatively coupled to the computing device, and wherein the processor is configured to control temperature within the smart container via the temperature control module based on the temperature measurements and a desired temperature range stored in a memory of the processor.

3. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more sensors comprises a door sensor operatively coupled to the door, and wherein the processor is configured to generate an alarm if the door sensor detects that the door is tampered with.

4. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry is configured to communicate with one or more receivers via a Bluetooth connection.

5. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more receivers is integrated with an autonomous vehicle.

6. The smart container of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit data indicative of smart container information to the autonomous vehicle, the smart container information comprising information that the smart container is properly loaded on the autonomous vehicle.

7. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit an alert to the customer device, the alert indicative of an approaching delivery.

8. The smart container of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive smart container information comprising at least one of contents, customer name, delivery location, desired temperature range, code for deleting smart container memory, anticipated pickup date, or anticipated trip length.

9. The smart container of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to delete the received smart container information upon receipt of a code via a graphical user interface coupled to the smart container.

10. The smart container of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to maintain the door in the closed position when activated, and wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the lock upon receipt of an unlock code via a graphical user interface operatively coupled to the smart container.

11. The smart container of claim 1 , further comprising a status indicator configured to indicate status of the smart container, the status comprising at least one of a charge level of the smart container, when the inductive charging module is being charged by the external charging source, when the smart container is within a predetermined proximity to a destination, or if the smart container is being removed from a delivery vehicle at an incorrect destination.

12. The smart container of claim 1 , further comprising a GPS system configured to determine a geographical location of the smart container.

13. The smart container of claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to power the smart container when the inductive charging module is not being charged via the external charging source.

14. A method for delivering one or more items using a smart container, the method comprising:
receiving the one or more items in the smart container;
loading the one or more items within the smart container onto a delivery vehicle;
charging the smart container via an inductive charging module of the smart container and an external charging source of the delivery vehicle; and
transmitting data indicative of smart container information to a receiver to facilitate delivery of the one or more items,
wherein transmitting data indicative of smart container information to the receiver comprises transmitting data indicative of smart container information to a customer device, the smart container information comprising a map including a location of the smart container within the delivery vehicle to facilitate delivery of the one or more items.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a desired temperature range associated with the one or more items;
sensing temperature within the smart container via one or more sensors; and
controlling temperature within the smart container based on the sensed temperature and the desired temperature range.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving smart container information comprising at least one of contents, customer name, delivery location, desired temperature range, anticipated pickup date, or anticipated trip length; and
deleting the received smart container information upon receipt of a code via a graphical user interface operatively coupled to the smart container.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the smart container comprises a door sensor operatively coupled to a door of the smart container, the method further comprising generating an alarm if the door sensor detects that the door is tampered with.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart
• Phung Peter
• Carlson Adam
• Richer Benjamin
• Huebner Annette

Classifications

• G05D1/0291 Primary

  Fleet control (monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833 Primary

  Tracking · CPC title

• B65D43/16 Primary

  hinged for upward or downward movement · CPC title

• G05D1/69 Primary

  Coordinated control of the position or course of two or more vehicles · CPC title