SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDED ITEM DELIVERY OPERATIONS

Abstract

A method includes: obtaining an item identifier corresponding to an item for placement in a container, the item being associated with a delivery destination; in response to placement of the item at a storage position within the container, recording a storage location including coordinates of the storage position; monitoring transit information of the container during transport of the container; when the transit information of the container corresponds to the delivery destination, retrieving the recorded storage location of the item within the container; and controlling an output assembly to generate item retrieval guidance based on the recorded storage location.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/234,146, filed Aug. 17, 2021, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Transportation and delivery of items, e.g., the transportation and delivery of packages to specified destinations, typically involves loading the items into a container for transportation, such as a vehicle (e.g., a delivery van or the like). Items may then be retrieved from the container and deposited at respective delivery locations, such as residences or businesses. The process by which the items are loaded into the container, however, may impede rapid retrieval of items from the container for delivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for guided item delivery.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating certain components of the computing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of sensors and output devices in the vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for guided item delivery.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example performance of blocks 405 and 410 of the method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example performance of block 420 of the method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example performance of block 435 of the method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example performance of block 435 of the method of FIG. 4.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples disclosed herein are directed to a method, comprising: obtaining an item identifier corresponding to an item for placement in a container, the item being associated with a delivery destination; in response to placement of the item at a storage position within the container, recording a storage location including coordinates of the storage position; monitoring transit information of the container during transport of the container; when the transit information of the container corresponds to the delivery destination, retrieving the recorded storage location of the item within the container; and controlling an output assembly to generate item retrieval guidance based on the recorded storage location.

Additional examples disclosed herein are directed to a computing device, comprising: computing device, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to: obtain an item identifier corresponding to an item for placement in a container, the item being associated with a delivery destination; in response to placement of the item at a storage position within the container, record a storage location including coordinates of the storage position; monitor transit information of the container during transport of the container; when the transit information of the container corresponds to the delivery destination, retrieve the recorded storage location of the item within the container; and control an output assembly to generate item retrieval guidance based on the recorded storage location.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for guided item delivery operations. A wide variety of items, such as packages and other freight, are transported from origin locations to destination locations, often via a variety of intermediate locations. In the illustrated example, items 104-1, 104-2, and 104-3 (collectively referred to as the items 104, and generically referred to as an item 104; similar nomenclature is also employed for other components in the discussion below) may be transported from a facility 108 such as a warehouse to destination locations, such as residences 112-1, 112-2, and 112-3. The number of items 104, and the number of destination locations 112, can vary, and need not be equal in other examples (e.g., more than one item 104 can be delivered to a single destination location 112).

The items 104 can be delivered from the facility 108 to the residences 112 in a mobile container, which in the illustrated example is integrated with a vehicle 116, such as a delivery van. The vehicle 116 can be implemented as a van, a box truck, a tractor-trailer, or the like and can be controlled by an operator 120 (e.g., a human) or can be autonomous. In general, a plurality of items 104 are placed in the storage container of the vehicle 116, e.g., by one or more loading staff at the facility 108. The vehicle 116 then travels (e.g., under the control of an operator 120 or autonomously) to the residences 112. At each residence, the operator 120 or an autonomous apparatus such as a drone retrieves the relevant item(s) 104 destined for that residence 112, removes the relevant item(s) 104 from the vehicle 116, and delivers the relevant item(s) 104 to the relevant residence 112 before proceeding to the next residence 112. Associations between items 104 and residences 112 can be stored in a central repository 124, which can also contain data defining a delivery route that specifies a sequence in which the vehicle 116 is to travel to the residences 112. The repository 124 can also contain a variety of other data defining the items 104, such as sender identities and locations, item identifiers (e.g., uniquely distinguishing each item 104 from other items 104), item dimensions (e.g., one or more of width, length, and height), item weights, and the like.

The number of items 104 in the vehicle 116 can impede the speed with which the operator 120 or drone, or recipient (e.g., in implementations in which the vehicle 116 travels to destinations autonomously, and recipients retrieve items from the vehicle 116) can locate and retrieve the items 104 from the vehicle 116 for delivery at each residence 112. For example, early in a delivery run, the vehicle 116 may contain tens or hundreds of items 104. Locating specific items 104 among the total load of the vehicle 116 may be time-consuming, and certain items 104 may therefore consume suboptimal periods of time to be delivered. In some examples, delivery of an item 104 may be abandoned by the operator 120 or drone, e.g., if locating the item 104 within the vehicle 116 consumes more than a threshold time period (e.g., thirty seconds, although a wide variety of other thresholds are also contemplated).

The system 100 includes certain components and functionality to track the storage locations of items 104 within the vehicle 116, e.g., according to a coordinate system established within the vehicle 116. Tracking the storage locations of the items 104 within the vehicle 116 allows the system 100 to generate retrieval guidance, e.g., via visual and/or audible output(s) perceptible by the operator 120 or drone. The retrieval guidance facilitates searching and retrieval of the items 104 from the vehicle 116 by the operator 120 or drone, and may therefore reduce the time consumed by each retrieval and delivery operation (e.g., at a given residence 112).

As described in greater detail below, the system 100 includes a computing device 128 associated with the vehicle 116 and/or the operator 120. The computing device 128 includes, or is communicatively coupled with, sensors disposed within the vehicle 116 as well as an output assembly controllable to generate the retrieval guidance. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computing device 128 can also exchange data with the central repository 124, e.g., via a network 132 implemented as any suitable combination of local and wide-area networks. The sensors disposed within the vehicle 116 enable the computing device 128 to track each item 104 as each item 104 is placed within the vehicle 116, e.g., on a support structure such as a shelf. The computing device 128 can therefore record the storage locations of each item 104. The computing device 128 can further obtain storage locations and use the obtained storage locations to generate retrieval guidance upon determining that the vehicle 116 has arrived at a delivery destination (e.g., a residence 112).

Turning to FIG. 2, certain components of the computing device 128, sensors, and output assembly are shown. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the computing device 128 includes a processor 200, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a combination thereof. The processor 200 is communicatively coupled with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a memory 204, implemented as a suitable combination of volatile and non-volatile memory elements. The memory 204 can store a plurality of computer-readable instructions, e.g., in the form of a delivery guidance application 208 executable by the processor 200 to perform functionality discussed in greater detail below. The application 208, in other examples, can be implemented as a suite of distinct applications, or as a dedicated hardware element (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)).

The computing device 128 also includes a communications interface 212 enabling communication between the device 128 and other computing devices (e.g., a server hosting the central repository 124), via suitable short-range links, networks such as the network 132, and the like. The interface 212 therefore includes suitable hardware elements, executing suitable software and/or firmware, to communicate over the network 132 and/or other communication links.

The computing device 128 includes, or is otherwise communicatively coupled with, a trigger sensor, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader 224, barcode scanner, or the like. The RFID reader 224 can be disposed at a doorway to the storage container of the vehicle 116. The RFID reader 224 can include, for example, a directional reader configured to detect RFID tags affixed to items 104, or affixed to bins or containers carrying the items 104, as the items 104 pass through the doorway, as well as to detect the direction in which the RFID tags are traveling (i.e., whether an RFID tag is entering or exiting the vehicle 116).

The computing device 128 also includes, or is otherwise communicatively coupled with, a sensor assembly 216, and an output assembly 220. The sensor assembly 216 includes any one of, or any suitable combination of, sensors configured to track items 104a within the vehicle 116. In this example, the sensor assembly 216 includes one or more load sensors 228, e.g., an array of pressure sensors or optical sensors disposed on a support structure (e.g., a shelf) within the vehicle 116. The load sensor 228 can generate data indicating the presence of an item 104 thereon, and optionally one or more of a weight of the item 104, and dimensions of the item 104 (e.g., a width and length of the item 104 resting on the load sensor 228).

The sensor assembly 216 can further include one or more cameras 232, such as color and/or depth cameras disposed within the vehicle 116 to observe at least a portion of the storage container of the vehicle 116. Via the camera(s) 232, the computing device 128 can obtain sequences of images in which the movement and placement of items 104 within the vehicle 116 can be tracked. The sensor assembly 216 can further include one or more mobile cameras 232a, e.g., implemented as components of a wearable computing device such as a pair of smart glasses or the like. In further examples, the sensor assembly 216 can include a microphone configured to capture voice or other audible signals describing a position of an item 104 within the vehicle 116.

The output assembly 220 can include any one of, or any combination of, indicator lights such as one or more laser pointers 236, e.g., controllable to direct a beam of light towards various positions within the vehicle to provide a visible indication of the location. The indicator light(s) can also include one or more electronic labels 240, e.g., disposed on an edge of a shelf within the vehicle 116. The label(s) 240 can include a controllable display, an array of addressable light emitting diodes (LEDs), a reflecting or fluorescing surface, or the like. In further examples, the label(s) 240 can be affixed to items 104, e.g., as distinct controllable electronic labels affixed to respective items 104 prior to loading into the vehicle 116, and connectable with the computing device 128 via short-range radio technologies (e.g., RFID, Bluetooth, or the like). The output assembly 220 can further include one or more speakers 244, e.g., mounted within the vehicle 116, controllable to generate output audible to the operator 120. Further, the output assembly 220 can include one or more displays 248, e.g., flat panel or other suitable displays, disposed within the vehicle 116 and controllable by the processor 200 to present various information to the operator 120.

In some examples, certain components of the sensor assembly 216 and/or the output assembly 220 can be integrated with a further computing device, distinct from and in communication with the computing device 128. For example, the computing device 128 can be deployed in the vehicle 116 as a tablet computer affixed to the vehicle 116. The operator 120, meanwhile, can carry a mobile computing device such as a wrist-mounted computer and/or a head-mounted device 308 (e.g., smart glasses, or the like). The device 128 carried by the operator 120 can include one or more sensors and/or output devices, such as a camera, a display, and a speaker. The computing device 128 can therefore obtain sensor data directly from some sensors, and control some output devices directly, while obtaining sensor data from other sensors via the computing device 128 carried by the operator 120. The computing device 128 can also control some output devices directly, while controlling other output devices by sending instructions to the computing device 128 carried by the operator 120.

Turning to FIG. 3, an example arrangement of certain elements of the sensor assembly 216 and the output assembly 220 within the vehicle 116 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, which illustrates a side view of the vehicle 116 (bottom) and an overhead view of the cargo area of the vehicle 116 (middle), the sensors 216 (e.g., camera 232) and output devices 220 (e.g., laser pointer 236) can be disposed at various positions within the vehicle 116. For example, the RFID sensor(s) 224 can be disposed at a doorway 300 into the cargo area. In vehicles 116 with more than one doorway to the cargo area, additional RFID sensors may be provided.

The vehicle 116 can include at least one support structure such as a shelf 304 (two shelves 304 at approximately the same height are shown in FIG. 3), onto which items 104 can be placed. At least one of the shelves 304 (and in the illustrated example, both of the shelves 304) may carry a load sensor 228, enabling the locations of items 104 on the shelves 304 to be detected and reported to the computing device 128. The vehicle 116 can also, in some examples, include load sensors 228 on other support structures, such as a floor of the vehicle 116.

The vehicle 116 can further include at least one camera 232, e.g., mounted to a ceiling of the cargo area, with a field of view (FOV) that encompasses at least a portion of the cargo area. In some examples, as illustrated, more than one camera 232 can be deployed to provide greater coverage of the cargo area. In some examples, the cameras 232 can be mounted to walls instead of, or in addition to, the ceiling. The cameras 232 may also have movable lens assemblies, to redirect their FOVs. The laser pointer 236 is also shown as being ceiling-mounted in the present example, and can also have a movable emitter, enabling the computing device 128 to control the direction in which the laser pointer 236 emits a beam of light. The electronic label 240 is disposed on an edge of a shelf 304 (each shelf edge in the vehicle can carry an electronic label 240, in some examples), such that the label 240 faces into the aisle of the cargo area, and is thus visible to the operator 120 when the operator 120 is in the cargo area.

As noted above, some sensors and/or output devices can be integrated with a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle 116. For example, the operator 120 can carry a wearable computing device 128 such as a wrist-mounted device (not shown) or a pair of smart glasses 308. The glasses 308 can include the display 248, e.g., to implement a heads-up display mechanism. The glasses 308 can also include the mobile camera 232a, and/or in some implementations can include a mobile laser pointer 236. Because the glasses 308 are mobile, the camera 232a is not at a fixed, predetermined position within the vehicle 116, as is the case with the cameras 232, the laser pointer 236, and the like. The glasses 308 can therefore also include a motion sensor such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The glasses 308 can, via control of the IMU and the camera 232a affixed to the glasses 308, track the location of the glasses 308 within the cargo area of the vehicle 116, and thereby register images captured by the glasses 308 to a predetermined coordinate system of the cargo area.

Turning to FIG. 4, a method 400 for guided item delivery operations is shown. The method 400 will be described in conjunction with its performance in the system 100 (e.g., by the computing device 128 in conjunction with the sensor assembly 216 and the output assembly 220). In general, via performance of the method 400, the computing device 128 determines and records a location of an item 104 within the vehicle 116 (e.g., according to a predetermined coordinate system representing the space within the cargo area of the vehicle 116), and later generates perceptible output indicating that location, to facilitate retrieval of the item by the operator 120, e.g., reducing time spent searching for the item 104 by the operator 120.

At block 405, the computing device 128 is configured to obtain an identifier of an item 104 to be placed within the cargo area of the vehicle 116. A plurality of items 104 may be placed in a staging area of the facility 108, for example, in preparation for loading the items 104 into the vehicle 116. Each item 104 is previously assigned an identifier (e.g., an alphanumeric string) that uniquely distinguishes the item 104 from other items 104 in transit.

The computing device 128 can be configured to obtain the item identifier via the RFID reader 224, e.g., when the item 104 crosses the doorway 300 into the vehicle 116. In some examples, the item 104 includes an RFID tag storing the item identifier (e.g. embedded in a label affixed to the item 104), and the RFID tag is configured to transmit the item identifier to the reader 224 upon interrogation by the reader 224. In other examples, the computing device 128 can obtain the item identifier from a barcode scanner, e.g., implemented by the glasses 308, incorporated into the computing device 128, or another imaging device associated with the vehicle 116 or the facility 108.

Upon obtaining the item identifier, the computing device 128 is configured to initiate tracking of the item 104, via at least one sensor of the sensor assembly 216. For example, the computing device 128 can control the cameras 232 to begin capturing respective sequences of images depicting the interior of the vehicle 116. In some examples, the images from the cameras 232 may be combined, using stored calibration data defining the location of each camera 232 within the vehicle 116, to generate a composite image. The location of the camera 232a mounted on the glasses 308 is generally not stored in predetermined calibration data, as the glasses 308 are mobile relative to the vehicle 116. Images captured by the glasses 308 can instead be registered to a coordinate system corresponding to the glasses themselves, and the glasses 308 can include processing hardware configured to track the location of the glasses 308 (and therefore the camera 232a included thereon) within the vehicle 116, e.g., via use of images from the camera 232a and the IMU or other motion sensor. Various mechanisms will occur to those skilled in the art to combine image and/or motion sensor data to generate pose estimations. Examples of such mechanisms include those implemented by the ARCore software development kit provided by Google LLC, and the ARKit software development kit provided by Apple Inc. Various other mechanisms can also be implemented by the glasses 308 to implement simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) functionality, e.g., to generate a three-dimensional representation of the cargo area of the vehicle, using images from the camera 232a and the motion sensor, substantially in real time. The vehicle 116 can include markers or other visual anchors with predetermined coordinates in the vehicle-specific coordinate system, enabling the glasses 308 to register such tracked poses with the vehicle's coordinate system, and thereby register images captured by the glasses with the vehicle coordinate system. Example locationing mechanisms for mobile devices are set out in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2021/0233256, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In other examples, only a subset of the cameras 232 may be activated at block 405. For example, in some implementations the ceiling-mounted cameras 232 may be omitted, or their activation may be omitted from block 405. In such implementations, the computing device 128 may transmit a tracking request or other suitable instruction to a mobile computing device such as the glasses 308.

Tracking of the item 104 as initiated at block 405 can include processing the image(s) captured by the camera(s) 232 to detect features such as edges, colors, or the like, and to determine the location of the item 104 in each image based on such features. For example, a ceiling-mounted camera 232 can be configured to capture a sequence of images depicting a shelf 304, and to compare each image with the preceding image to identify edges, blocks of color, or the like, that are different from the preceding image.

At block 410, the computing device 128 is configured to determine whether a tracked item 104 has been placed, e.g., on a shelf 304. The determination at block 410 can include, for example, determining whether an item 104 was detected in the above-mentioned sequence of images, and has not moved in a threshold period of time and/or number of images in the sequence.

For example, turning to FIG. 5, a sequence of images 500, 504, and 508 is shown, e.g., captured by a ceiling-mounted camera 232. In the image 500 (the earliest in the sequence) a shelf 304 is visible, and no items 104 are detected thereon. In the image 504, the item 104-1 is detected adjacent to the shelf 304 (the images 504 and 508 omit a hand of the operator 120 for simplicity), but the determination at block 410 is negative, as the detected item has not remained in a detected location for a threshold period of time (e.g., five image frames in the sequence captured by the camera 232, or any other suitable threshold). The computing device 128 therefore continues tracking the item 104-1 at block 405. The image 508, captured after the image 504, also depicts the item 104-1, having been positioned on the shelf 304. If the item 104-1 remains in the illustrated position for a threshold period of time as noted above, the determination at block 410 is affirmative.

At block 415, upon determining that an item 104 has been placed, the computing device 128 can optionally (as indicated by dashed lines defining block 415) validate the location of the item detected via the tracking process initiated at block 405. For example, the computing device 128 can monitor sensor data from the load sensor 228, and determine whether the load sensor data indicates a matching location for the item 104 as determined from the image sequence. Turning to FIG. 6, a first storage location 600 is indicated in an overhead view of the cargo area of the vehicle 116, as determined from the images 500, 504, and 508. A second location 604 is also illustrated, as determined from the load sensor 228. The computing device 128 can be configured, at block 415, to determine whether the locations 600 and 604 are separated by less than a threshold distance. In other examples, the computing device 128 can also be configured to retrieve item 104 dimensions (e.g., height and width) and/or an item 104 weight from the repository 124, and compare the retrieved data to dimensions and/or weight from the load sensor 228. When the locations 600 and 604 do not match (e.g., are not within a threshold distance), or when the retrieved dimensional data does not match the load sensor data (e.g., within corresponding thresholds), the determination at block 415 is negative. When the determination at block 415 is affirmative, the computing device 128 proceeds to block 420.

In some examples, the load sensor 228 can be employed instead of the cameras 232 to track item 104 locations and determine whether an item 104 has been placed at block 410. For example, if the locations, dimensions, and/or weight of an item 104 reported by the load sensor 228 remains stable for a threshold time period, the determination at block 410 is affirmative.

At block 420, having determined (and optionally validated) a storage location for the item 104 within the vehicle 116, the computing device 128 is configured to record the storage location. The computing device 128 can, for example, store coordinates in a coordinate system 608 (as shown in FIG. 6) corresponding to the item 104. The coordinates can be stored in the memory 204, and/or can be uploaded to the central repository 124 for storage. FIG. 6 illustrates an example data record 612 containing the storage location. The storage location (e.g., expressed in coordinates in the coordinate system 608) is stored in association with the item identifier obtained at block 405, and can also be stored in association with an identifier of the vehicle 116. Various other data can be stored in association with the item identifier, including item dimensions, weight, and a delivery destination (e.g., a mailing address, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, or the like).

Returning to FIG. 4, the computing device 128 is configured to repeat the performances of blocks 405 to 420 for each item placed in the vehicle 116. For example, the computing device 128 can be configured to return from block 420 to block 405 until an instruction is received indicating that loading of the vehicle 116 is complete.

Following completion of the loading process, and recordal of the storage locations of each item 104 in the vehicle 116, the computing device 128 proceeds to block 425. At block 425, the computing device 128 is configured to determine whether a current place (e.g., a latitude/longitude, mailing address, or GPS data) of the vehicle 116 matches a delivery destination associated with any of the items 104 for which storage locations were recorded via block 420. The current place of the vehicle 116 is also referred to as current transit information. In general, the computing device 128 stores route data defining an order in which the items 104 are to be delivered. The computing device 128 can therefore, in some examples, determine a distance between the current transit information of the vehicle 116, and the delivery destination associated with the next item 104 in the route data. When the distance is below a predetermined threshold, the computing device 128 can proceed to block 430. Otherwise, the computing device 128 can continue monitoring the current transit information of the vehicle 116.

At block 430, following an affirmative determination at block 425, the computing device 128 is configured to retrieve the storage locations previously recorded for any items 104 associated with the next current delivery destination. At block 435, the computing device 128 is configured to control the output assembly 220 to generate retrieval guidance to facilitate retrieval of the item(s) 104 from the vehicle 116 by the operator 120 for delivery.

The retrieval guidance generated via the output assembly 220 can take various forms. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the computing device 128 can retrieve the storage location 700 of the item 104-1, and control the laser pointer 236 to emit a beam 704 of light towards the storage location 700, e.g., to illuminate the item 104-1. In some examples, when another storage location indicates that the item 104-1 is behind other items, the computing device 128 may control the laser pointer 236 to generate a flashing beam rather than a solid beam, e.g., to indicate that the relevant item 104 is behind other items 104.

In other examples, instead of or in addition to the beam 704, the computing device 128 can be configured to control an electronic label 240 to indicate a portion thereof adjacent to the recorded storage location of the relevant item 104. For example, as shown in the detail 708 of FIG. 7, the computing device 128 can control a portion 712 of the label 240 adjacent to the item 104-1 to illuminate, flash, modify a graphic, or the like. Control of the portion 712 can include storing, e.g., in the memory 204, a mapping between the coordinate system of the cargo area in the vehicle 116 and the electronic labels 240. The mapping can include, for example, an indication of the coordinates of each of a plurality of segments of an electronic label 240. The computing device 128 can then select the closest segment (or set of segments) to the recorded storage location, and transmit a command to the selected segment(s) of the e-label 240 to illuminate or generate other suitable output signals. In examples in which some or all items 104 carry respective controllable electronic labels, e.g., with LEDs or other output devices, the computing device 128 can transmit a command to illuminate or generate other perceptible output to the relevant controllable label.

In further examples, as shown in FIG. 8, the computing device 128 can generate retrieval guidance by transmitting guidance data to a mobile device worn by the operator 120, such as a wrist-mounted computer and/or the glasses 308. For example, the retrieval guidance can include an indication 800 of the relevant item identifier (and may also include, in some examples, other information corresponding to the item 104, such as a product name, a product image, a bin identifier, an indication of how many items 104 are to be retrieved for the current destination, and the like). The retrieval guidance data can also include an overlay 804 or other visual indicator, rendered on the display 248 at a location corresponding to the actual location of the item 104-1.

When a given delivery destination corresponds to more than one item 104, the computing device 128 can be configured to await receipt of a confirmation command, e.g., from the operator 120, that a first item 104 has been retrieved before generating further retrieval guidance for the next item 104 for the same delivery destination.

In further examples, the retrieval guidance can include audible guidance, such as text-to-speech playback of a zone identifier. For example, the computing device can maintain a set of zone definitions, and can determine which zone contains the storage location for an item 104 to be delivered. The computing device 128 can retrieve a name of that zone (e.g., “back-right, top shelf”), and generate audible output naming the relevant zone, via the speaker 244.

The computing device 128 can continue to generate retrieval guidance until, for example, detecting that the item(s) 104 corresponding to the current delivery destination have been removed from the vehicle 116. The computing device 128 can detect such removal, for example via the RFID reader 224, and/or via updated sensor data from the load sensor 228 indicating removal of the relevant item(s) 104 from the shelf 304.

Following the generation of retrieval guidance at block 435, at block 440 the computing device 128 is configured to determine whether items 104 remain to be delivered. When the determination at block 440 is negative, the computing device 128 returns to block 425, awaiting arrival of the vehicle 116 at the next delivery destination. When the determination is affirmative, performance of the method 400 ends.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

Certain expressions may be employed herein to list combinations of elements. Examples of such expressions include: “at least one of A, B, and C”; “one or more of A, B, and C”; “at least one of A, B, or C”; “one or more of A, B, or C”. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, the above expressions encompass any combination of A and/or B and/or C.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining an item identifier corresponding to an item for placement in a container, the item being associated with a delivery destination;

in response to placement of the item at a storage position within the container, recording a storage location including coordinates of the storage position;

monitoring transit information of the container during transport of the container;

when the transit information of the container corresponds to the delivery destination, retrieving the recorded storage location of the item within the container; and

controlling an output assembly to generate item retrieval guidance based on the recorded storage location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the item identifier includes receiving the item identifier from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader disposed at a doorway of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein recording the storage location includes, in response to obtaining the item identifier:

controlling a camera to capture a sequence of images of an interior of the container; and

tracking the item within the container, based on the sequence of images, to determine the storage location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein recording the storage location further includes:

receiving sensor data from a load sensor disposed at a support surface corresponding to the storage location; and

validating the storage location based on the sensor data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein validating the storage location includes comparing the sensor data to a predetermined dimension of the item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein recording the storage location includes, in response to obtaining the item identifier:

receiving sensor data from a load sensor disposed at a support surface within the vehicle; and

detecting the storage location based on the sensor data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the output assembly includes:

controlling an indicator light disposed within the container to generate a visual indication of the storage location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator light includes a movable laser pointer mounted within the container.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator light includes an electronic shelf label disposed on a support surface corresponding to the storage location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the output assembly includes:

controlling a speaker disposed within the container to generate an audible indicator of the storage location.

11. A computing device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to: obtain an item identifier corresponding to an item for placement in a container, the item being associated with a delivery destination; in response to placement of the item at a storage position within the container, record a storage location including coordinates of the storage position; monitor transit information of the container during transport of the container; when the transit information of the container corresponds to the delivery destination, retrieve the recorded storage location of the item within the container; and control an output assembly to generate item retrieval guidance based on the recorded storage location.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the item identifier by receiving the item ID from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader disposed at a doorway of the container.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to record the storage location by, in response to obtaining the item identifier:

controlling a camera to capture a sequence of images of an interior of the container; and

tracking the item within the container, based on the sequence of images, to detect the storage location.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to record the storage location by:

receiving sensor data from a load sensor disposed at a support surface corresponding to the storage location; and

validating the storage location based on the sensor data.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to validate the storage location by comparing the sensor data to a predetermined dimension of the item.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to record the storage location by, in response to obtaining the item identifier:

receiving sensor data from a load sensor disposed at a support surface within the vehicle; and

detecting the storage location based on the sensor data.

17. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to control the output assembly by:

controlling an indicator light disposed within the container to generate a visual indication of the storage location.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the indicator light includes a movable laser pointer mounted within the container.

19. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the indicator light includes an electronic shelf label disposed on a support surface corresponding to the storage location.

20. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to control the output assembly by:

controlling a speaker disposed within the container to generate an audible indicator of the storage location.