System and method for delivering packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503309-B2
Application number	US-202217929348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2022
Priority date	Sep 2, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A method for delivering a plurality of packages is described. The method includes obtaining, via a processor, information associated with a delivery plan of the plurality of packages from at least one memory. Based on the information, the method includes determining, via the processor, a current location, and a destination location of a target container. In response to the determination, the method includes determining, via the processor, a movement plan to move the target container to the destination location. Based on the movement plan, the method includes activating, via the processor, a first set of motorized tiles to move the target container to the destination location. The method further includes receiving, via the processor, an updated movement plan from a server plan when a preset condition is met. Based on the updated movement plan, the method includes activating, via the processor, a second set of motorized tiles.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A delivery vehicle for delivering a plurality of packages, the delivery vehicle comprising:
a grid of a plurality of motorized tiles configured to move a plurality of containers within the delivery vehicle, wherein the plurality of packages are placed in the plurality of containers; at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions, wherein the at least one memory further stores one or more information associated with a delivery plan of the plurality of packages, and wherein the one or more information comprises: for each package of the plurality of packages:
a current delivery status,
a delivery schedule,
a mapping of the package with a container of the plurality of containers, and
a mapping of the plurality of containers and the plurality of motorized tiles; and at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to at least: obtain the one or more information from the at least one memory; based on the one or more information, determine a current location and a destination location of a target container, of the plurality of containers, within the grid; determine a movement plan to move the target container from the current location to the destination location; activate a first set of motorized tiles, of the plurality of motorized tiles, to move the target container to the destination location based on the movement plan; transmit a request to a server to update the movement plan when a preset condition is met; receive an updated movement plan from the server, in response to the transmitted request; and activate a second set of motorized tiles, of the plurality of motorized tiles, to move the target container to the destination location based on the updated movement plan.

2 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of packages are placed in the plurality of containers based on the delivery schedule of each of the plurality of packages, and a size and a weight of each package of the plurality of packages.

3 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers are loaded on the grid of the plurality of motorized tiles based on the delivery schedule of each of the plurality of packages.

4 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines the movement plan by receiving a pre-calculated movement pattern from the at least one memory, and wherein the pre-calculated movement pattern comprises instructions to activate the first set of motorized tiles such that the target container moves to the destination location in a least possible number of moves of the first set of motorized tiles.

5 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines the movement plan by receiving a pre-calculated movement pattern from the at least one memory, and wherein the pre-calculated movement pattern comprises instructions to activate the first set of motorized tiles such that the target container moves to the destination location in a least possible time.

6 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the preset condition is met when one or more motorized tiles of the first set of motorized tiles cease to function.

7 . The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first set of motorized tiles comprises a target motorized tile, a blank motorized tile, a destination motorized tile, and a third set of motorized tiles, wherein the target container is loaded on the target motorized tile, and wherein the target container is to be moved to the destination motorized tile based on the movement plan.

8 . The delivery vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second set of motorized tiles comprises the target motorized tile, the blank motorized tile, the destination motorized tile, one or more motorized tiles of the third set of motorized tiles, and a fourth set of motorized tiles that are located adjacent to the first set of motorized tiles.

9 . A method for delivering a plurality of packages, the method comprising:
obtaining, via a processor, one or more information associated with a delivery plan of the plurality of packages from at least one memory, wherein the one or more information comprises: for each package of the plurality of packages:
a current delivery status,
a delivery schedule,
a mapping of the package with a container of a plurality of containers, wherein the plurality of packages are placed in the plurality of containers, and
a mapping of the plurality of containers and a plurality of motorized tiles, wherein the plurality of motorized tiles are placed in a grid, in a delivery vehicle, and are configured to move the plurality of containers within the delivery vehicle; based on the one or more information, determining, via the processor, a current location and a destination location of a target container, of the plurality of containers, within the grid; in response to the determination of the current location and the destination location, determining, via the processor, a movement plan to move the target container from the current location to the destination location; activating, via the processor, a first set of motorized tiles, of the plurality of motorized tiles, to move the target container to the destination location based on the movement plan; transmitting, via the processor, a request to a server to update the movement plan when a preset condition is met; receiving, via the processor, an updated movement plan from the server, in response to the transmitted request; and activating, via the processor, a second set of motorized tiles, of the plurality of motorized tiles, to move the target container to the destination location based on the updated movement plan.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of packages are placed in the plurality of containers based on the delivery schedule of each of the plurality of packages, and a size and a weight of each package of the plurality of packages.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of containers are loaded on the grid of the plurality of motorized tiles based on the delivery schedule of each of the plurality of packages.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the movement plan comprises receiving a pre-calculated movement pattern from the at least one memory, and wherein the pre-calculated movement pattern comprises instructions to activate the first set of motorized tiles such that the target container moves to the destination location in a least possible number of moves of the first set of motorized tiles.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the movement plan comprises receiving a pre-calculated movement pattern from the at least one memory, and wherein the pre-calculated movement pattern comprises instructions to activate the first set of motorized tiles such that the target container moves to the destination location in a least possible time.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the preset condition is met when one or more motorized tiles of the first set of motorized tiles cease to function.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first set of motorized tiles comprises a target motorized tile, a blank motorized tile, a destination motorized tile, and a third set of motorized tiles, wherein the target container is loaded on the target motorized tile, and wherein the target container is to be moved to the destination motorized tile based on the movement plan.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second set of motorized tiles comprises the target motorized tile, the blank motorized tile, the

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stark Steven
• Yadav Girish Kumar
• Feldkamp Timothy Mark
• Lundeen Kurt Michael
• Melcher David
• Vincent John Randolf
• Chen Yifan
• Garrow Sarah

Classifications

• B65G1/0478

  for matrix-arrangements · CPC title

• G06Q10/08355

  Routing methods · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• B60P3/007

  for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles · CPC title

• B65G1/1371 Primary

  with data records · CPC title