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EP-3667583-B1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPURPOSE SERVICE TASKS

EP3667583B1EP 3667583 B1EP3667583 B1EP 3667583B1EP-3667583-B1

Inventors

  • KRAVCHENKO, VLADIMIR

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20181211

Claims (7)

  1. System for performing multipurpose service tasks, the system comprising: • one or more standardized transport modules (100), wherein each transport module (100) comprises: a housing defining the shape and volume of the transport module, a storage subsystem (111) for the secure transportation of at least one cargo unit, a module power interface (112), an access/lock subsystem (113) for locking and unlocking the module, a fixation/blocking subsystem (114) for fixing and locking the transport module to a storage slot, an encrypted identification module (115) comprising a unique ID of the transport module (100), a module control unit (300) comprising at least the following elements which are connected to an internal system bus: - a processor unit (310), - a memory unit (330), - a network interface (340) for data exchange between the module control unit and other devices and systems connected to the network, - a controller unit (350) used to control the communication between the module control unit and peripheral devices, the peripheral devices including at least the fixation/blocking subsystem (114), the module power interface and the access/lock subsystem (113), - a security module (370), - a power supply unit (360), and - an input/output interface (380), - at least one transport unit (400) for transportation one of the transport modules (100) to a determined storage slot or from a storage slot to the place of storage and service of the module, wherein each transport unit (400) comprises: autonomous vehicle or non-automated vehicle (410) comprising at least the following: a command subsystem (411) for processing incoming information and building a program for management of movement and behaviour of the transport unit (400), a sensor subsystem (412) for monitoring the state of the environment, road surface and road conditions, an engine subsystem (413) for driving the transport unit (400), a navigation/orientation subsystem (414) for the transport unit orientation in space, a chassis (415), a battery subsystem (416) for providing the electric energy, a communication station (420) to communicate with a central fleet management system (FMS), a transport infrastructure and other autonomous units, modules and vehicles, an integration and transportation platform (480) standardized with the transport module size, for loading, unloading and fixing the one or more standardized transport modules, wherein the integration and transportation platform (480) comprises at least one of the following elements: module fixation subsystem (481) for fixing the transport module (100), and integration bus (482) for integration the transport module (100) with the energy and information system of the vehicle (410), an encrypted identification module (430), a manipulators subsystem (440) for capturing, holding and/or manipulating the transport module (100, 726), an optional transformation subsystem (450) for transforming the transport unit (400), a charging port (460), an input/output interface (470), a backup subsystem (490) improving the reliability and safety. - a geographically distributed network of stationary located storage slots (750) for storing transport modules (100, 726), being part of the automated transportation and logistic system (700), comprising: a computer-based Fleet Managing System (710), a plurality of network of arsenals (720) for storage, current power supply and basic maintenance of transport modules (100, 726), a network of bases/depots (730) for transport units (400, 736), a plurality of service stations (740) for performing maintenance, inspection and repair of transport units (400, 736) and transport modules (100, 726), a communication system (713, 723, 734, 74, 752B) distributed among the system (700) elements, responsible for system communication wherein each storage slot comprises means for receiving at least one transport module, the housing of the transport module is at least partially accessible after fixing and locking the transport module (100) to the storage slot, the fixation/blocking subsystem (114) of the transport module (100) to the storage slot and the means for receiving at least one transport module (100) are standardized within the system with respect to the size and type of the transport module (100).
  2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the payload compartment (111) is in the form of basket for goods or cargo, slidable and hidable in the housing.
  3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one transport module (100) comprises means for storing and/or generating energy and means for transmitting said energy.
  4. The system according to claims 1-3, wherein at least one transport unit (400, 736) is unmanned automated vehicle (UAV) of any type.
  5. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein elements of the system comprise a unique device ID accessible for remote reading.
  6. The system, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein elements of the system comprise means for data transmission and/or storage and/or processing.
  7. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, where the transport unit (400, 736) is suitable for acting as a universal transport platform for transportation and delivery of many types of transport modules (100, 726).

Description

Technical Field The described technology relates to systems, devices, tools, platforms and methods used for the transportation and delivery of cargo, equipment, goods, services and mail, including automated ones, (http://www-formal.stanford.edu/imc/future/delivery.html), postal services, included automated transport and logistics systems and urban freight distribution systems (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban freight distribution). Background Freight transport systems, postal systems, delivery systems and urban freight distribution system are the elements of transport infrastructure that are essential for the delivery and distribution of goods (products, materials, components, packages and correspondence) and various services within the urban, sub-urban environment as well at the rural area. According to various sources, about 22% efficient used time of private cars is spent on shopping, transportation of purchased goods to the buyer's accommodation, as well as transportation of buyers to places of purchase or receipt of goods (including food, consumer goods, clothing, household goods, consumer electronics, etc.). Given the problems faced by the transport systems of modern cities and the challenges posed by the global process of urbanization, many companies currently are developing related solutions in the field of urban transport environment, including the automation of the transportation process. The overall level of automation in cities is also growing, including production and logistics, as well as the scope of public services, retail, transport and city environment management. Various inventions and patents registered around solving these problems. For example, patent application No. EP1211658 describe method and system for controlling freight distribution, which provides a method of controlling physical distribution of freight. WO2017064202A1 describe method and system for autonomous or semi-autonomous delivery. Another example of technology related to presented invention is US Patent 9,256,852 B1, describe Autonomous delivery platform for automated delivery of packages with use of autonomous road vehicle (as well as in in WO2017156586A1). In US Patent 5931262 A described delivery vehicle multi-tier storage of cargo, in US 7568877 B1 Patent- Cargo handling apparatus. Another types of inventions, described in US 9,305, 280 B1 Patent and US 20150183528 A1, related to aerial automated delivery systems and methods. All of the above patents attempt to solve similar problems as the proposed invention. But none of the proposed patents use the modular principle in their system design, following the path of specialization in solving one or a narrow set of transport and service tasks. The technology under consideration provide possibility to united and combine in one modular system a wide range of automated transportation services, both industrial, municipal and consumer - oriented, uniting them into a single automated transport and logistics system and implement a number of transport and service products that use similar principles of operation, implementation and development, on one unified modular transportation platform. Providing the effective implementation, the technology allows to automate and simplify a significant part of the logistics and transport processes in an urban, suburban and rural environment, associated with the transportation of goods and delivery of services, to increase the efficiency, accuracy and adaptability of transport and delivery of goods and services, to implement the option of delivery of cargo, orders and goods to final consumers both to their location, and to the selected delivery point without regard to the recipient being at this point upon delivery and without blocking delivery vehicle at the delivery point until the recipient arrival (split times of delivery and receipt), to significantly reduce expenses for customer and services consumer for transportation, to save time, inefficiently used by the population for the transport of goods from the places of purchase to the places of use, to increase the efficiency of the urban transport system, to improve the environment, to save space occupied by fixed infrastructure for the delivery of goods and increase the attractiveness of transport services for delivery of goods and services. The described technology may be used as a multifunctional platform and framework to create a transportation network for delivery of goods and performance of a wide range of services related to the transport functions, in local areas, as well as for building a network of transport systems linking several/many cities and territories into a single (global) transport system, creation of new generation postal and courier services aimed at both the local and the global transportation of objects and services. Due to the wide range of possible types of transport modules, used as a parts of the system, and variants of their application on the basis of tec