Patent Publication Number: US-2022227279-A1

Title: Methods and Apparatus for Releasably Securing a Robot in a Delivery Vehicle

Description:
This is an international application that claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/845,220, filed May 8, 2019, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Releasably Securing a Personal Package Delivery Device in a Delivery Vehicle”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to autonomous vehicles and systems for use in the delivery of goods in commerce. While there has been much discussion about the use of autonomous vehicles for passenger use, the full promise of autonomous delivery vehicles is a story that is still being written. Self-driving semi trailer-trucks, for example, are currently traversing the highways in Arizona and a few other western states and delivering freight in bulk from one distribution center to another. At present, however, a human operator still rides along in the semi trailer-truck to add an extra layer of safety in unexpected traffic situations and that driver then takes control of the vehicle when the truck exits the highway near its destination due to the additional complexity of navigation on non-highway roadways. 
     While the added complexity of navigating non-highway roads is being explored by a number of well-publicized efforts, most of the publicized focus has been on self-driving vehicles for use in passenger transportation. Personal package delivery has typically been handled by package delivery companies using a human-driven vehicle. This is not only because autonomous travel on a community or city-wide level is not yet perfected, but also because there is presently no non-human way to autonomously deliver a package from a delivery vehicle at curb-side to the front door or other designated location at the delivery address. There are often front steps and other obstacles to be traversed between the curb and the front door. At present, a human driver is still required to locate the appropriate package to be delivered from within the delivery vehicle and carry it to the doorstep or other preferably sheltered location at the delivery destination. Several companies are working towards autonomous grocery deliveries, which require the recipient to meet the vehicle; but the vast majority of deliveries are unattended deliveries, and require some way to get from the vehicle to the doorstep or other final destination. 
     Given these real-world challenges to autonomously delivering personal packages from a delivery vehicle to the doorstep of the delivery location, several options have emerged: aerial delivery via drone or other UAV, ground delivery via autonomous wheeled container, and ground delivery via ambulatory autonomous robot. In areas where drones and small wheeled vehicles are impractical due to stairs or other obstacles, ambulatory robots can be used, but what is needed to increase reliability and predictability of the overall system is a mounting system that can safely store and optionally charge the robots when the delivery vehicle is in transit and effectively deploy them when the vehicle has arrived at a destination for the curbside to doorstep portion of the delivery. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a deployment assembly for releasably securing a mobile robot in a delivery vehicle. The assembly comprises a base portion removably mounted to the vehicle and one or more extendable members coupled to the base portion and having at least one securement feature operative to releasably secure the robot. The extendable members are operative to move between a retracted position and an extended position whereby the mobile robot is deployed from the vehicle or, in the case of a returning robot, prepared to be stowed in the vehicle. The extendable members may be actuated by the robot or they may be self-actuated. In embodiments, the docking assembly charges the mobile robot and exchanges data, although data exchange may be performed wirelessly as well. 
     In an embodiment, sensors and communication links are disposed on the assembly for communicating with the robot or the vehicle. Communications with the robot may entail determining if it is time to extend or retract the extendable members. Communications with the vehicle include the opening or closing of the access door to deploy or receive the robot. Communication may occur through wireless or wired methods. 
     In another embodiment, the deployment assembly is encased in an enclosure to both secure the robot when it is stowed and to hide it from view of passersby. The base portion of the deployment assembly may further include an additional securement feature to further secure the robot. 
     The present invention also provides a method for deploying an autonomous robot from a vehicle, such as a delivery vehicle, where the robot is secured in the vehicle by a deployment assembly have a base portion and one or more extendable members. The extendable members are extended with the robot attached to them via a securement feature and once the members are fully extended, the deployment assembly sends a signal to the robot, which allows the robot to proceed with a delivery. As the robot proceeds with a package, for example, the extendable members are retracted and the access door to the vehicle is closed. When the robot has completed its pickup or delivery, the process repeats in reverse with the end result being the robot back inside the vehicle in a stowed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the invention and together with the written description serve to explain the principles, characteristics, and features of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    are partially transparent illustrations of a deployment assembly installed in the rear of a delivery vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational side view of a deployment assembly in retracted position with a robot in a folded configuration on the assembly&#39;s extendable members. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational side view of a deployment assembly in an extended position with a robot in an operational configuration on the assembly&#39;s extendable members. 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up side illustration of an embodiment of a portion of the extendable members having a robot disposed thereon. 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are close up side illustrations of another embodiment of a portion of the extendable members having a protrusion shaped to fit into a recessed portion of a robot. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a self-actuating deployment assembly with a motor and cable drive system illustrated. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a deployment assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a cable drive. 
     
    
    
     While implementations of the disclosed inventions are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that they are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident to one skilled in the art, however, that embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods or components have not been described in detail so that the details of the present invention are not obfuscated. 
     In the interest of clarity, some routine features of the implementations described herein are omitted. It will be appreciated that in the development of any actual implementation of the present invention, certain decisions must be made in order to achieve specific goals, and that different decisions may be made to achieve different goals without departing from the teachings of the invention. While certain implementations might be complex and time-consuming, they would nevertheless be routine to accomplish for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     As discussed herein, the overall process for autonomously delivering packages from a distribution depot to their ultimate destination starts with packages being loaded onto a delivery van. In certain embodiments, this is performed by workers at the distribution center, but in other embodiments, autonomous robots are used to identify packages and place them in the appropriate vehicles. In some embodiments, a robot may then board the delivery vehicle and ride to the first stop where it will deploy from the vehicle and carry the appropriate package to an identified location on the premises of the destination address. It will then return to the delivery vehicle and re-board it in preparation for the ride to the next delivery stop. It is the boarding and unboarding (also referred to as deployment herein) process and mechanics that is the subject and focus of the present application. 
       FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show a partially transparent side view of a rear portion of a delivery vehicle  10  with an embodiment of a robot deployment assembly  20  consistent with the teachings of the presently disclosed invention installed. With reference to  FIG. 1 a   , the deployment assembly  20  is in a fully retracted position with a robot  30  folded into a docked configuration and attached to, or otherwise disposed upon, the assembly  20  such that the robot  30  fits inside the vehicle  10  with the liftgate  15  closed. While the robot  30  in this embodiment is configured to fold its legs  35  behind its torso  37  to fit inside the vehicle  10 , other robots may be configured differently and may fit in the vehicle in different ways, which may require slight changes to the configuration of the assembly  20 , but which will not deviate from the inventive aspects disclosed. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are an isolated depiction of an embodiment of a robot deployment assembly  20  having a base portion  22  and extendable members  25 .  FIG. 2  shows the assembly  20  fully retracted with the robot  30  folded into a docked configuration and disposed on the assembly  20 .  FIG. 3  shows the assembly  20  fully extended with the robot&#39;s legs  35  extended in an operational configuration. In certain embodiments, the assembly  20  is secured to the floor of a vehicle, such as vehicle  10 , adjacent to the rear doors or lift gate with bolts  24  or other suitable fasteners. In other embodiments, the assembly is secured to the floor of the vehicle using the rear bench seat anchor points, with a latch for easy installation and removal; however, other attachment methods will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art and may vary depending on the type of vehicle used. In further embodiments, the assembly  20  is removable from the vehicle. 
     In embodiments, the robot  30  is removably connected to the assembly  20  so that when the vehicle  10  travels from one delivery destination to the next, the robot  30  is not damaged and passengers are protected from the robot accidentally shifting in transit or in case of a car accident. In certain embodiments, the assembly  20  has extendable members  25  that support the robot  30  at one or more points. One support point may be in an area analogous to the armpits of the robot  30  and the combination of the weight of the robot  30  and some feature of the extendable members  25  keeps the robot  30  in place when it is in a docked configuration. In certain embodiments, the feature is a groove or a divot in which the robot rests. In other embodiments, such as is illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5   a , and  5   b , the extendable members  25  contain securement features  40  to help secure the robot  30  on the members  25 . 
     In an embodiment, robot  30  in  FIG. 4  is illustrated resting on the extendable members  25 , with a securement feature  40  that keeps the robot  30  from becoming dislodged from the members  25 . The securement feature  40  can be one or a plurality of protrusions, indentations, magnets, electromagnets, straps such as may encircle the arms or torso of the robot, hooks, or an attachment point or other means of physically securing the robot inside the vehicle such that the robot is able to be connected or to automatically connect itself securely for transport. In other embodiments, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , securement feature  40  on the extendable member (not shown for purposes of clarity) cooperates with a recess  45  on the robot  30  to secure the robot to the extendable member  25  during transport. Further embodiments include an actuated latching mechanism that automatically secures the robot  30  once an appropriate signal has been sent from the robot  30  or the vehicle  10  to the assembly  20 . For stability in transport, some embodiments may have a second point of contact between the robot  30  and the assembly  20  or the extendable members  25 , such as in an area analogous to the chest or pelvis of the robot  30 . 
     Referring, once again, to  FIG. 1 b   , when deployment of the robot  30  is desired, the lift gate  15  is raised and the extendable members  25  extend in order to position the robot  30  fully outside the rear of the vehicle  10 . In certain embodiments, the robot  30  then extends its legs  35  to the ground and disengages itself from the extendable members  25  by pushing its legs  35  against the ground to raise its torso  37  off the members  25 . 
     In certain other embodiments, the manner of extension of the extendable members  25  includes the employment of a mechanism like a drawer slide or other non-actuated telescoping mechanism that the robot employs by pushing itself away from the assembly  20  with its arms, for example. In alternative embodiments, such as is illustrated and discussed more fully in relation to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the extendable members  25  are mechanically actuated. 
     In still other embodiments, the extendable members  25  are comprised of a linkage, such as a 4-bar linkage, that will deploy the robot  30  through an arc trajectory, lifting slightly from the resting place in the vehicle  10 , and then bringing the robot  30  down towards the ground outside of the vehicle  10 . In such an embodiment, the robot  30  would not need to be bipedal or have feet that can be extended. Instead, the robot could be wheeled or even quadrupedal, for example. 
     For the robot  30  to board the vehicle  10 , essentially the reverse would occur: the robot  30  autonomously navigates to the rear of the vehicle and positions itself in a predetermined orientation and location relative to the rack, assuming the lift gate  15  is open. In embodiments where the extendable members  25  are actuated, the robot  30  then sends a wireless signal to the assembly to extend the extendable members  25  using one or more member actuators. In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle or assembly  20  can detect that the robot is in position and extend the extendable members  25  without any prompt from the robot  30 . If the lift gate  15  is not already open, either the robot  30  or the assembly  20  sends a message to the vehicle  10  to open the liftgate  15 . Then, the members  25  would extend in order to receive the robot  30 . After the robot  30  either connects to the extendable members  25  or places itself in position, depending on the embodiment, it lifts its feet so the members  25  support the robot&#39;s weight, and either pulls itself into the vehicle  10  with its own arms and fastens a safety latch or triggers the extendable members  25  to retract in embodiments. In other embodiments, such as a 4-bar lifting mechanism, the deployment mechanism will lift the robot up and into the vehicle after it is engaged. In either case, the robot  30  is effectively stowed on the assembly  20  and either the assembly  20  or the robot  30  sends a signal or message to the vehicle  10  to close the liftgate  15 . As disclosed herein, the docking of the robot  30  to the extendable members  25  occurs autonomously and without human intervention or assistance. In embodiments, the deployment assembly  20  and the robot  30  coordinate the best docking approach, which may be: walk to location; orient appropriately; settle into place and latch; lift legs once positive engagement is confirmed; retract inside of vehicle 
     In certain embodiments, once stowed, the robot  30  is contained inside an enclosure that is constructed as part of the deployment assembly  20  so that, optionally, it cannot be seen from outside the vehicle  10 . Another benefit of storing the robot  30  in an enclosure inside the vehicle  10  is to ensure it is secured in case of vehicle accident. Further, a portion of the enclosure may be mounted to the rear door of the vehicle, making contact with the robot, so that the vehicle door serves as the latching mechanism that secures the robot in place for transport. 
     In embodiments, the deployment assembly  20  may be configured with one or more electrical connections to enable charging of a battery in the robot  30  while it is docked to allow use of a lighter and less expensive battery. In certain embodiments, these electrical connections are metal plates on the deployment assembly  20  located where the assembly engages with the robot  30 , which may be slightly spring-loaded to ensure electrical contact with metal contacts on the robot  30 , with a positive electrical connection at one side and a negative electrical connection at the other, such that it may charge any time the robot  30  is in the deployment assembly  20 . The electrical connection can also, in embodiments, comprise a data connection point for data exchange between an external data source and the robot. In other embodiments, the deployment mechanism may contain an inductive charging coil, which will transmit power to a corresponding induction coil in the robot where the surfaces will be in close proximity, such as the chest area of the robot and a surface of the deployment mechanism. The data connection, in this case, may be wireless. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , certain other embodiments of the assembly  20  employ extendable members  25  that can extend and retract without the robot  30 . In these embodiments, a motor  60  drives a plurality of gears  62  that are connected to a cable pulley system  64  that actuates the extendable members  25 . This would have the advantage of enabling the members  25  to self retract so the lift gate  15  can be shut when the robot  30  is delivering a package. While a cable pulley system is illustrated, those of skill in the art will recognize that there are other known drive mechanisms for extending and retracting the members  25 . 
     In certain embodiments, then, the deployment assembly  20  communicates with the vehicle  10  to cause the lift gate  15  to open and close in appropriate circumstances. To accomplish this, the assembly  20  may have pressure sensors that identify the presence of the robot  30 . In other embodiments, the assembly  20  may be in data communication with the vehicle to confirm when the vehicle has arrived at the delivery destination and has been placed in park in anticipation of the deployment process. This data communication may be either a physical connection to the robot or a wireless data connection using existing wireless communication technology such as bluetooth, wifi based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, cellular networks, or other radio communications. In embodiments, the robot deployment mechanism will have a computer onboard that controls its actuators and any latches or sensors, controls the charging of the robot, and interfaces to the vehicle power. It may also interface to a vehicle computing system if coordinating with the vehicle sensors, and contain the wireless communications to the robot. 
     One important role for a robot to be deployed from a vehicle will be delivering packages; and in certain embodiments, the packages may be piled or stacked in the rear of the vehicle, adjacent to the robot deployment assembly, and the robot may select and grasp a package as a human would in a similar situation. In other embodiments, a package deployment dispenser would contain the individual packages, with a known location for each package, and dispense each individual package to the robot. The dispenser may have a clearly known location for package pickup, may communicate wirelessly with the robot to indicate a package is ready to lift, and have convenient visual and physical features to allow the robot to identify the specific orientation and location of the package and to grasp and lift it reliably. In yet other embodiments, the package deployment mechanism places the package in the robot&#39;s grasp prior to robot deployment, such that the robot is already holding its package when deployed from the vehicle, and spends the minimal amount of time making a delivery. 
     Another important role for a robot to be deployed from a vehicle will be to do a job outside of the vehicle other than package delivery, such as neutralizing an improvised explosive device without exposing humans to the associated danger. The robot may deploy from an armored vehicle, or from an autonomous vehicle, walk to an already-identified suspicious device, and either place a disposal charge on the device or dismantle it manually, then walk back to the vehicle and be brought inside before activating the charge to dispose of the suspicious device. 
     While various illustrative embodiments incorporating the principles of the present teachings have been disclosed, the present teachings are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present teachings and use its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which these teachings pertain.