Abstract: An embodiment article delivery system, and corresponding method, includes a ground-based parent delivery vehicle and a plurality of child delivery vehicles configured to hold one or more articles for an article delivery to or from a customer location. The parent is configured to carry the child vehicles simultaneously, to transport them to at least one discharge location, and to discharge at least one of the child vehicles at discharge location. The child vehicle is configured to execute a hold instruction including waiting at a hold location following the discharge from the parent delivery vehicle. The child is further configured to navigate from the hold location to the customer location for the article delivery, the customer location differing from the hold location. Embodiment systems and methods can enable significant increases in product delivery efficiency or other article distribution efficiency.

Abstract: A security bin and a security bin controller are described that measure fullness or height of secure contents in a security bin; listen to radio beacons over a short-range radio to determine a bin distance from a first radio, such as by measuring received radio power; determine one of three bin security states: home, caution or warning; and then broadcast a status message, warning message or alarm message over long-range radio, dependent on both the fullness of the bin and the security state. Embodiments include shredder bins, adapted to receive secure or confidential documents. Status messages may be used to initiate a search for a lost bin or to schedule bin service. Embodiments include measuring rate-of-fill. Alarm messages may be responsive to both bin location and fill volume. Embodiments and use of a controller include waste bins, including industrial or medical waste.