Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective UAVs to move themselves; and wherein a first UAV control circuit of a first UAV of the multiple UAVs is configured to identify a second UAV carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second UAV directing the second UAV to transfer the first tool system to the first UAV, and direct a first propulsion system of the first UAV to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second UAV.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for mobile vending. A system for mobile vending comprises a mobile vending machine comprising: an item dispenser configured to display a plurality of items for purchase, a set of motorized wheels, a navigation sensor device, a communication device, and, a control circuit configured to navigate the mobile vending machine based on navigation instructions; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the mobile vending machine via the communication device, the central computer system being configured to: determine a destination for the mobile vending machine, provide the navigation instructions to the mobile vending machine to cause the mobile vending machine to travel to the destination using the set of motorized wheels and the navigation sensor device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for restoring shopping space conditions are provided. A system for restoring shopping space conditions comprises a motorized transport unit comprising at least one sensor, and a central computer system comprising a wireless transceiver for communicating with the motorized transport unit. The central computer system being configured to: identify a section of a shopping space having a dropped item, instruct the motorized transport unit to travel to the section of the shopping space and collect information associated with the dropped item using the at least one sensor, determine a characteristic of the dropped item in the section of the shopping space using the at least one sensor of the motorized transport unit, and select a cleaning task from a plurality of cleaning tasks based on the characteristic of the dropped item.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for monitoring a parking area. A system for monitoring a parking area comprises an image database storing a plurality of images of a parking lot taken by one or more satellites over time, a baseline database storing baseline models of a plurality of sections of the parking lot, and a control circuit coupled to the image database and the baseline database.

Abstract: Some embodiments include systems, methods, and apparatuses capable of determining a leader of a group of autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a system of autonomous vehicles comprises two or more autonomous vehicles each having a communication device and in communication with one another, each of the two or more autonomous vehicles configured to travel as a group, receive and transport goods, communicate with others of the two or more autonomous vehicles in the group, and conduct a negotiation to establish at least one leader, wherein any one of the two or more autonomous vehicles can become the at least one leader.

Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that include a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; propulsion system; and a universal coupler configured to interchangeably couple with and decouple from one of multiple different tool systems each having different functions to be put into use while carried by a UAV, wherein a coupling system of the universal coupler is configured to secure a tool system with the UAV and enable a communication connection between a communication bus and the tool system, and wherein the multiple different tool systems comprise at least a package securing tool system configured to retain and enable transport of a package while being delivered, and a sensor tool system configured to sense a condition and communicate sensor data of the sensed condition to the UAV control circuit over the communication bus.

Abstract: A shopping facility assistance system includes a plurality of motorized transport units, a plurality of user interface units, and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the motorized transport units and the user interface units. The central computer system is configured to control movement of the motorized transport units through a shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the user interface units. More particularly, the central computer system controls movement of the motorized transport units such that a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units selectively leads a user to a destination within the shopping facility or follows the user within the shopping facility as determined by the central computer system. By one approach, the motorized transport units move through the shopping facility via a plurality of preferred pre-determined path segments.

Abstract: Various systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein that are useful for autonomously delivering lockers. In some embodiments, a system comprises a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising a storage area, a docking station including a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to secure at least one locker, wherein the docking station is located within the storage area, and a retrieval point, a plurality of lockers each configured to house at least one product, a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker, and a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker, and cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that for transporting and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles. The unmanned aerial vehicles may be deployed from mobile stations that include receptacles each configured to retain an unmanned aerial vehicle. The receptacles may be independently movable into relative positions that permit multiple unmanned aerial vehicles to be deployed simultaneously from the mobile stations.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to enable delivery of commercial products to customers. In some embodiments, the system comprises an autonomous ground vehicle on a delivery route to deliver commercial products to a person of interest. The AGV comprises control circuits communicatively coupled to sensors. The control circuits, using sensor data, determines whether a person positioned within a threshold distance relative to the AGV is the PoI; allow the PoI to designate an intention of a second person positioned within the threshold distance as being friendly or adverse relative to the PoI; determine the intention of the second person; receive a command from the PoI overriding the determination that the second person's intention is adverse to the PoI; and allow the PoI to take possession of the commercial products when the designated intention is friendly relative to the PoI and the command is received.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to enable delivery of commercial products via one or more modular autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, the system may include databases and primary autonomous vehicles (PAVs). Each database can include information corresponding to commercial missions each defining delivery characteristic and commercial product characteristics of products scheduled for delivery to a delivery destination. Each PAV can include transceivers, storage areas (e.g., to store secondary autonomous vehicles (SAV), SAV components, and commercial objects), and control circuits. The control circuit(s) can be configured to assess commercial missions and select SAV components in accordance with assessed commercial missions. The control circuits can be configured to cause the selected SAV components to be affixed on the SAV.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for restoring shopping space conditions are provided. A system for restoring shopping space conditions comprises a motorized transport unit comprising at least one sensor, and a central computer system comprising a wireless transceiver for communicating with the motorized transport unit. The central computer system being configured to: identify a section of a shopping space having a dropped item, instruct the motorized transport unit to travel to the section of the shopping space and collect information associated with the dropped item using the at least one sensor, determine a characteristic of the dropped item in the section of the shopping space using the at least one sensor of the motorized transport unit, and select a cleaning task from a plurality of cleaning tasks based on the characteristic of the dropped item.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for autonomous vehicles task management and organization. A system for organizing autonomous product delivery vehicles comprises a locomotion system of a first autonomous vehicle, a communication device, a memory device, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to retrieve one or more vehicle tasks assigned to the first autonomous vehicle from a hash chain database, decrypt the task parameters with a private key of the first autonomous vehicle stored on the memory device, identify a second autonomous vehicle as a transferee of the one or more vehicle tasks based on transfer rules in the task parameters, and update the hash chain database with a new block comprising a hash of preceding data in the hash chain database and the task parameters of the one or more vehicle tasks encrypted with a public key of the second autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for autonomous vehicles hierarchy management. In some embodiments, a system for autonomous product delivery vehicle fleet management comprises a locomotion system, a communication device, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to receive a request from a second autonomous vehicle to join the autonomous vehicle fleet, wherein the autonomous vehicle fleet comprises a master autonomous vehicle configured to coordinate tasks assigned to vehicles in the autonomous vehicle fleet, authenticate the second autonomous vehicle based on fleet rules stored in a hash chain database and update the hash chain database to add the second autonomous vehicle to the autonomous vehicle fleet, detect a master reassignment condition, and select an autonomous vehicle in the autonomous vehicle fleet as a new master autonomous vehicle based on master assignment rules stored in the hash chain database.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for facilitating delivery, via autonomous ground vehicles, of products ordered by customers of a retailer to physical locations of vehicles designated by the customers.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for monitoring a parking area. A system for monitoring a parking area comprises an image database storing a plurality of images of a parking lot taken by one or more satellites over time, a baseline database storing baseline models of a plurality of sections of the parking lot, and a control circuit coupled to the image database and the baseline database.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to selecting tools and drones for completing a task. In some embodiments, the system comprises an autonomous vehicle configured to transport the tools and the drones including a plurality of sensors configured to detect properties of the tools and the drones, the drones, the tools, and a control circuit configured to receive, from the sensors, indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, select, based on the service requests and the indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones to perform at least one of the service requests, cause the at least one of the drones to be equipped with the at least one of the tools, and transmit instructions that are based on the at least one of the service requests.

Abstract: When a first laser beam and a second laser beam are directed to the volume of space, an aerial drone is configured to lock onto the first laser beam using a first sensor, and to utilize the first laser beam to guide the drone to an accurate landing at a landing site. The aerial drone is further configured to lock onto the second laser beam using a second sensor, to determine a relationship between the first laser beam and the second laser beam, and to utilize the relationship to adjust the tilt of the aerial drone, the orientation of the aerial drone, the speed differential between the aerial drone and the landing site, and/or the alignment of a portion of the drone with a portion of the landing site when making the landing.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for authenticated customer retail product review management. A system comprises a communication device configured to communicate nodes of a distributed transaction ledger over a network, wherein the distributed transaction ledger comprises digital product purchase records associated with a plurality of entities and a control circuit configured to receive a private key and a public key associated with a user, index transactions associated with the user in the distributed transaction ledger, determine products owned by the user based on the transactions associated with the user, display products owned by the user in a customer review user interface, receive a product review for a product owned by the user via the customer review user interface, generate a product review record based on the product review, and send the product review record to a distributed database as an update to the distributed database.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided, some apparatuses comprise: a location controller separate from a motorized transport unit, comprising: a transceiver configured to receive communications from the motorized transport unit; a control circuit; a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from the communications, a unique light source identifier of a light source detected by the motorized transport unit, and relative distance information determined by the motorized transport unit through an optical measurement; process the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information relative to a mapping of the shopping facility; and determine, in response to the processing, a location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility as a function of the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information.