Distributing items using multimodal delivery systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11993294-B2
Application number	US-202217896809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2022
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A delivery system comprising:
a first vehicle configured for traveling on one or more roads;
a trailer coupled to the first vehicle,
wherein the trailer comprises an interior compartment and at least one door that may be operated to enable access to the interior compartment or to secure access to the interior compartment;

at least one computer system programed with one or more sets of computer instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to execute a method comprising:
causing a second vehicle to be received into the interior compartment of the trailer via the at least one door at a first location, wherein the second vehicle includes at least a first item loaded therein;
with the trailer at the first location,
causing at least the first item to be transferred into the interior compartment;

causing at least a second item to be transferred into the interior compartment of the trailer via the at least one door at the first location;
loading at least the first item and the second item into a third vehicle within the interior compartment;
with at least the first item and the second item loaded into the third vehicle within the interior compartment,
causing the delivery system to travel from the first location to a second location; and
causing the third vehicle to depart from the trailer at the second location and deliver at least the first item and the second item to a third location.

2. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle is an aerial vehicle, and wherein the third vehicle is a ground vehicle.

3. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle is a ground vehicle, and wherein the third vehicle is an aerial vehicle.

4. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving information regarding an order for at least the first item and the second item from a customer,
wherein the information identifies the first item, the second item and the third location.

5. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
retrieving at least the second item from a storage area of a facility at the first location; and
causing at least the second item to be loaded into the trailer at the facility.

6. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one door comprises:
a first door provided at a top of the trailer; and
a second door provided at a rear end of the trailer;
wherein the second vehicle is caused to be received in the interior compartment via the first door, and
wherein the second item is caused to be transferred into the interior compartment via the second door.

7. A method comprising:
causing a first powered vehicle to be received into an interior compartment of a carrier vehicle via at least one door, wherein the first powered vehicle is caused to be received into the interior compartment at a first location;
with the carrier vehicle at the first location,
causing at least a first item to be transferred from the first powered vehicle into the interior compartment; and
causing at least a second item to be transferred into the interior compartment of the trailer;

transporting the carrier vehicle from the first location to a second location by a second powered vehicle;
loading at least the first item and the second item into a third powered vehicle within the interior compartment; and
with at least the first item and the second item loaded into the third powered vehicle within the interior compartment,
causing the third powered vehicle to depart from the carrier vehicle at the second location and deliver at least one of the first item or the second item to a third location.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first powered vehicle is an aerial vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carrier vehicle is a trailer, and
wherein the second powered vehicle is a road tractor.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the third powered vehicle is a ground vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving information regarding an order for a delivery of at least the first item and the second item from a customer,
wherein the information identifies the first item, the second item and the third location.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
retrieving at least the second item from a facility associated with the first location,
wherein at least the second item is caused to be transferred from the facility into the interior compartment of the carrier vehicle at the first location.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carrier vehicle further comprises a robotic arm within the interior compartment configured to at least one of:
retrieve the first item from the first powered vehicle;
load at least one of the first item or the second item into the third powered vehicle.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carrier vehicle further comprises a vehicle retrieval system within the interior compartment,
wherein the retrieval system comprises at least one of an arm, an elevator, a pulley, a lift or a catapult, and
wherein the first powered vehicle is caused to be received into the interior compartment via the vehicle retrieval system.

15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first powered vehicle is caused to be received into the interior compartment via a first door provided at a top of the carrier vehicle, and
wherein the second item is caused to be transferred into the interior compartment via a second door provided at a rear end of the carrier vehicle.

16. A method comprising:
causing a first powered vehicle to enter into a compartment of a carrier vehicle, wherein the first powered vehicle is an aerial vehicle, wherein the first powered vehicle comprises a first storage compartment, and wherein the first powered vehicle is caused to enter the compartment of the carrier vehicle when the carrier vehicle is at a first location of a facility;
transferring a first item from the first storage compartment of the first powered vehicle into a second storage compartment of a second powered vehicle within the compartment of the carrier vehicle;
transferring a second item from the facility into the second storage compartment of the second powered vehicle;
transporting, by a third powered vehicle, the carrier vehicle from the first location to a second location associated with a delivery of at least the first item and the second item;
releasing the third powered vehicle from the carrier vehicle at the second location;
causing the third powered vehicle to travel from the second location to the third location; and
causing the third powered vehicle to deliver at least the first item and the second item to the third location.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the carrier vehicle further comprises a robotic arm and a vehicle retrieval system within the interior compartment,
wherein the robotic arm is configured to at least one of:
retrieve the first item from the first powered vehicle; and
load at least one of the first item or the second item into the third powered vehicle,

wherein the retrieval system comprises at least one of the robotic arm, an elevator, a pulley, a lift or a catapult, and
wherein the first powered vehicle is caused to be received into the interior compartment via the vehicle retrieval system.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
identifying information regarding an order for a delivery of at least the first item and the second item from a customer,
wherein the information identifies the first item, the

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Beckman Brian C
• Bjone Nicholas

Classifications

• B64U2101/64

  for parcel delivery or retrieval · CPC title

• B64U80/20

  with arrangements for servicing the UAV · CPC title

• B64U80/70

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64U70/90

  Launching from or landing on platforms · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title