Robotic delivery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12340336-B2
Application number	US-202117353168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 22, 2020
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

Techniques for automatically providing a package for pickup are presented. The techniques can include: receiving, at a publicly-accessible terminal, a code associated with the package; validating the code with data in a database communicatively coupled to the terminal; retrieving, by a robot communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal, the package from a publicly-inaccessible package staging site; delivering, by the robot, the package to a customer interface repository; obtaining confirmation that the package has been removed from the customer interface repository; and storing data, by at least one server, indicating the package has been removed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of automatically providing a package for pickup, the method comprising:
validating credentials provided by an agent;
determining a deposit location within a publicly-inaccessible package staging site that is unoccupied;
providing, at a robotic delivery system computer and to the agent, an identification of the deposit location within the publicly-inaccessible package staging site, whereby the agent drops off the package at the deposit location;
receiving confirmation, at the robotic delivery system computer, and using a combination of sensors at the deposit location within the publicly-inaccessible package staging site, that the package has been deposited by the agent at the deposit location within the publicly inaccessible package staging site;
receiving, at a publicly-accessible terminal, a code associated with the package;
validating the code with data in a database communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal;
retrieving the package, by a robot communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal, from the publicly-inaccessible package staging site;
delivering the package, by the robot, to a customer interface repository, wherein the customer interface repository comprises a shell affixed to a wall separating the package staging site from the publicly-accessible terminal, wherein surfaces of the shell consist of a top surface and a single side surface, wherein the robot delivers the package by joining a bin to the shell, and wherein surfaces of the bin consist of a rear surface, a bottom surface, and a single side surface;
obtaining confirmation that the package has been removed from the customer interface repository; and
storing data, by at least one server, indicating the package has been removed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the receiving the code associated with the package:
sending electronically a notification that the package is available for pick up.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the receiving the code associated with the package, and at a location different from a location of the publicly-accessible terminal:
receiving, at a second publicly-accessible terminal, a second code associated with the package;
validating, by the at least one server, the second code;
delivering a prompt, by the second publicly-accessible terminal, to deposit the package;
determining that the package has been deposited at a second customer interface repository; and
storing data, by the at least one server, indicating the package has been accepted.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising transferring, by a second robot at the location different from the location of the publicly-accessible terminal, the package to a delivery staging location.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the robotic delivery system computer, an indication of an intent to remove a second package from the package staging site;
providing, at the robotic delivery system computer, an identification of a second deposit location within the package staging site;
receiving confirmation, at the robotic delivery system computer, that the second package has been removed from the second deposit location within the package staging site; and
sending electronically a notification that the second package has been removed from the second deposit location.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot is installed on a track that provides positions of access to the customer interface repository and to the deposit location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the package staging site comprises a plurality of deposit locations for each of a plurality of packages.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the code associated with the package comprises scanning a barcode.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the package is provided to an autonomous delivery device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises at least one registerable robot pick-up point.

11. A system for automatically providing a package for pickup, the system comprising:
a combination of sensors at a deposit location within a publicly-inaccessible package staging site;
a robotic delivery system computer communicatively coupled to the combination of sensors and configured to validate credentials provided by an agent, determine a deposit location within a publicly-inaccessible package staging site that is unoccupied, provide to the agent an identification of the deposit location within the package staging site, whereby the agent drops off the package at the deposit location, and receive confirmation, using the combination of sensors, that the package has been deposited by the agent at the deposit location within the publicly-inaccessible package staging site;
a publicly-accessible terminal configured to receive a code associated with the package;
at least one electronic processor communicatively coupled to the terminal and configured to validate the code with data in a database communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal;
a robot communicatively coupled to the publicly-accessible terminal and configured to retrieve the package from a publicly-inaccessible package staging site and deliver the package to a customer interface repository, wherein the customer interface repository comprises a shell affixed to a wall separating the package staging site from the publicly-accessible terminal, wherein surfaces of the shell consist of a top surface and a single side surface, wherein the robot is configured to deliver the package by joining a bin to the shell, wherein surfaces of the bin consist of a rear surface, a bottom surface, and a single side surface, wherein the at least one electronic processor is further communicatively coupled to the robot, and wherein the at least one electronic processor is further configured to obtain confirmation that the package has been removed from the customer interface repository; and
at least one server communicatively coupled to the at least one electronic processor and configured to store data indicating the package has been removed.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the robotic delivery system computer is further configured to send electronically a notification that the package is available for pick up.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a second publicly-accessible terminal configured to receive, prior to the publicly accessible terminal receiving the code associated with the package, a second code associated with the package, wherein the second publicly-accessible terminal is at a location different from a location of the publicly-accessible terminal;
wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to validate the second code;
wherein the second publicly-accessible terminal is further configured to deliver a prompt to deposit the package;
wherein the system further comprises at least one sensor configured to determine that the package has been deposited at a second customer interface repository; and
wherein the at least one server is further configured to store data indicating the package has been accepted.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a second robot at the location different from the location of the publicly-accessible terminal configured to transfer the package to a delivery staging location.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the robotic delivery system computer is further configured to receive an indication of an intent to remove a second package from the package staging site, provide an identification of a second deposit location wi

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Tartal William A
• Yessin Gabriel M

Classifications

• G07F17/13

  the containers being a postal pick-up locker · CPC title

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title

• G06Q10/0836 Primary

  Recipient pick-ups · CPC title