Patent ID: 12254442

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to example implementations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following description is, therefore, merely exemplary.

Smart locker systems can provide package recipients with the ability to retrieve packages from package delivery distribution centers after-hours. Such systems can include one or more terminals into which a recipient can provide package information, e.g., by scanning a barcode. In response, the smart storage locker system can unlock a respective locker, and the recipient can retrieve their package therefrom. Smart locker systems are advantageous because they allow customers to obtain packages via a distribution center customer self-service area, which may be indoors or outdoors, 24 hours a day.

Agents in package delivery distribution centers, such as U.S. Post Office branches, have many responsibilities, including loading packages into smart lockers for retrieval by recipients. However, real-time customer demand at retail facilities can overburden agents and delay package loading into smart lockers. Particularly burdensome is the need to coordinate particular packages with particular lockers; for example, the need for an agent to obtain package information, enter it into a backend system that identifies a particular smart locker that is both vacant and sized appropriately for the package at issue, physically convey the package into the identified smart locker, and confirm placement of the package with the back end system. Accordingly, a system that could eliminate or reduce the need to identify particular smart lockers for loading packages would be advantageous and reduce or eliminate the problems identified above.

Some embodiments provide a robotic smart locker load system for a smart locker system installed inside a secure area of a post office or other package delivery distribution center. According to some embodiments, the smart locker load system includes a smart staging area onto, or into which, an agent can place a package for loading into a smart locker. According to such embodiments, the smart locker load system can automatically, or with little agent involvement, identify the package, identify the package size, and identify an appropriately-sized and vacant smart locker. Further, according to such embodiments, the smart locker load system includes a robot that automatically conveys the package from the smart staging area into the identified smart locker without requiring manual agent intervention. These and other features and advantages are described in detail herein.

FIG.1is an exploded view of a three-dimensional conceptual model of a robotic smart locker load system100according to various embodiments. Smart locker load system100includes smart locker system102and smart staging area110.FIG.1depicts smart locker system102and smart staging area110in exploded view; in an embodiment, smart locker system102would be close enough to smart staging area, as shown by dotted lead lines, for robot114to convey packages therebetween as described in detail herein. The face of smart locker system102may be situated in a publicly accessible area, e.g., a self-service area, at a package distribution center, post office, or in a retail location, such as in an enclosed mall or strip mall, according to various embodiments. The rear of smart locker system102, as well as smart staging area110may be located in a secure, publicly inaccessible area, e.g., a back office area, which may be separated from public areas by locked doors. The secure area includes robot114, which conveys packages from smart staging area110to smart lockers within smart locker system102as described in detail herein.

Smart locker system102includes a plurality of individual smart lockers, with open backs, so as to be accessible by robot114, and lockable doors in the front. Advantageously, the open backs allow for robot114to access each individual locker while remaining in the secure, publicly inaccessible area. Each lockable door has an individually controlled lock. The locks in the individual lockers are controlled, e.g., locked and unlocked, by a backend computer system of smart locker system102. For example, electronically controlled solenoids may be used to implement the locks on respective lockers. The computer system is communicatively coupled to terminal104, which may be one or a plurality of such terminals, situated within the publicly accessible area in which the face of smart locker system102is located.

The plurality of individual lockers of smart locker system102may include a plurality of lockers of various sizes in order to efficiently accommodate packages of varying sizes. As used herein, the term “package” includes boxes, parcels, envelopes, mailers, tubes (of any cross-sectional shape, not limited to circular cross sections), cartons, pouches, and any other container that can be mailed.

Customer106may retrieve package108from an individual locker of smart locker system102by providing package identification information to terminal104in any of a variety of ways. The package identification information may be a code, such as a graphical code or character code, associated with package108by a backend package tracking system. According to some embodiments, customer106scans a graphical code, such as a barcode or QR code, associated with package108using a scanner at terminal104. According to some embodiments, customer106enters a character code, such as a numeric or alphanumeric code, associated with package108through a keypad or touch screen of terminal104. Customer106may have obtained the graphical code and/or character code in any of a variety of ways. According to various embodiments, customer106obtains the graphical code and/or character code via email, text message, automated phone message, postcard, package tracking website, or other communication channel.

Once customer106provides the package identification information to terminal104, terminal104communicates with the smart locker backend computer system to identify the particular locker of smart locker system102in which the identified package is located. For example, the backend system may retrieve, e.g., from a database, an identification of the particular locker as stored in association with the package identification information. Terminal104provides an identification of the particular locker to customer106, e.g., by displaying and/or audibly. The backend system then sends a signal to the identified locker, causing the identified locker to unlock. Customer104may then open the identified locker and retrieve package108. The locker may be configured to automatically close, e.g., using a spring, and automatically lock after the package is retrieved and the door closes.

Smart staging area110accepts packages, such as package108, from agent112for robot114to load in lockers of smart locker system102for customer retrieval as described above. The pigeonholes of smart staging area110may be organized according to size, such that agent112may deposit appropriately-sized packages in their respective pigeonholes, and robot114retrieves and load them into correspondingly-sized lockers of smart locker system102. Other techniques by which robotic smart locker load system100determines package size are shown and described in reference toFIG.2. Although smart staging area110is depicted as a plurality of pigeonholes inFIG.1, embodiments are not so limited.FIG.2, for example, depicts a smart staging area in the form of a plurality of shelves. Further details of smart staging area110are shown and described below in reference toFIG.2.

Robot114conveys packages from smart staging area110to lockers within smart locker system102. Robot114as shown inFIG.1is installed on track116that provides positions of access to both smart staging area110and smart locker system102. Thus, robot114may swivel about its vertical axis in order to alternately access smart staging area110and smart locker system102. According to some embodiments, robot114may be free roaming, not restricted to a track such as track116.

FIG.2is a three-dimensional model of a smart staging area200of a robotic smart locker load system according to various embodiments. By way of non-limiting example, smart staging area200may be implemented, and is so described herein, as an alternative to smart staging area110of smart locker load system100. Thus, as shown inFIG.2, smart staging area200is accessible by robot114. Smart staging area200includes a plurality of shelves202,204, each of which may be configured as shelf202. AlthoughFIG.2depicts two shelves202,204, embodiments may include any number of shelves.

Smart staging area200includes sensor210disposed in various places about shelves202,204. More generally, sensor210may be attached to any fixture in smart staging area200. Sensor210may be implemented as any of a variety of sensors, such as by way of non-limiting examples, a barcode or QR code scanner, a camera, an RFID sensor, or an acoustic, optical, or weight sensor according to various embodiments, as described in detail below. Similarly, sensor212is attached to robot114, wherein sensor212may be implemented as any of a variety of sensors, such as by way of non-limiting example any of the aforementioned sensors, as described in detail below.

So that robot114places packages in appropriately-sized lockers of smart locker system102, embodiments of robotic smart locker load system100can determine a size of a package, e.g., package108, placed on a shelf202,204smart staging area200according to any of a variety of techniques, as shown and described in reference toFIG.2presently.

According to a first package size determination technique, shelves202,204are partitioned into areas corresponding to various package sizes. Such partitioning may be indicated to agents by way of visually apparent demarcations204. Each area may be labeled with a size limit, e.g., “max 12″×12″×12″”. Each shelf may have areas of a single dedicated associated size, or each shelf may have multiple different sized areas. According to some embodiments, particular size areas are arranged in vertical columns among the plurality of shelves. Robot114may be programmed with information indicating that packages on shelves202in particular demarcated areas are of particular maximum sizes. Robot114may utilize any of a variety of sensors, e.g., implemented as sensor212, to determine its position relative to the demarcated areas and thus determine the sizes of the packages it retrieves therefrom. For example, robot114may have a camera implementation of sensor212, coupled with computer vision algorithms, to determine the locations of the demarcations. Alternately, or in addition, robot114may include a position sensor, e.g., a sensor that determines the position of robot114on its track for embodiments that utilize a track such as track116. Thus, robot114, in concert with an agent who places packages onto appropriate partitioned areas of shelves202,204of smart staging area200, determines the sizes the packages in smart staging area200.

According to a second package size determination technique, a package size is determined by scanning a graphical code affixed to the package placed on a shelf202,204of smart staging area200. The graphical code may be a barcode or QR code according to various embodiments. The graphical code may have been previously affixed to the package at the time of package intake and associated with a package size in a backend computer system. For example, when a package is mailed, an agent at the receiving facility may measure the package and enter its measurements (or measurement category, such as small/medium/large) into such a backend computer system in association with a tracking number. The tracking number may be associated in the backend system with a code represented by the graphical code, which may be printed and affixed to the package at the receiving facility.

Further according to the second package size determination technique, the graphical code on the package may be scanned by a scanner attached to a fixture in smart staging area200. As shown inFIG.2, such a scanner may be a QR code or barcode scanner, such as a scanner implementation of sensor210. Such a scanner may be positioned so as to have a line-of-sight view of one or more sides, including the sidewalls and/or the top, of packages placed on shelf202. Upon placement of package108onto shelf202, the scanner may scan the graphical code affixed to package108, and the package size information may be retrieved from the backend system.

In addition, or in the alternative, according to the second technique, the scanner may be affixed to robot114. According to such embodiments, when robot114picks up the package for loading into a smart locker of smart locker system102, or beforehand, robot114scans the graphical code using a scanner implementation of its sensor212. As described above, the system may then retrieve the associated package size information from the backend system.

According to a third package size determination technique, the size of the package may be determined according to a bin, such as bin206, in which an agent places the package. Smart staging area200may have bins of a variety of sizes available for such usage. When an agent places a package on a shelf202,204in smart staging area200, they may visually select a bin sized to accommodate the package. Each bin may have an associated code that indicates its size, and by association, the size of the package therein. Such a code may be implemented by way of a graphical code, such as a barcode or QR code, affixed to the bin in a place that can be scanned by a scanner implementation of sensor212on robot114and/or a scanner implementation of sensor210affixed to smart staging area210. Alternately, or in addition, such a code may be implemented by way of an RFID, affixed to the bin, and sensed by an RFID sensor implementation of sensor210and/or an RFID sensor implementation of sensor212.

According to embodiments that utilize the third package size determination technique, instead of picking up the packages directly, robot114picks up bin206, and loads it into the appropriate locker of smart locker system102. Thus, bin206may include robot pickup points208that allow robot114to easily locate, pick up, remove, and handle bin206.

Further according to embodiments that utilize the third package size determination technique, bin206may lack one or more sides, so that a customer may retrieve the package from within a locker of smart storage locker102whilst the bin remains in the locker. As shown inFIG.2, bin206lacks a left side and a side facing away from robot114; however, any side or sides may be omitted according to various embodiments. Further, according to various embodiments, when inserted into a smart locker of smart locker system102, a back wall (from the customer's perspective) of bin206may act as a seal to prevent customer access to the secure area. According to some embodiments, there may be a small lip on the sides of bin206to prevent sliding out and partial insertions of packages. The smart lockers of smart locker system102may remain locked unless bin206is fully in place and the interior of the smart locker is encapsulated by the rear wall of bin206. Further, bin206may be configured with a large robot-facing side that is too big to fit entirely though a smart locker of smart locker system102, so that bin206cannot be removed, or even partially removed, from the customer side of the smart locker by a customer. Alternative designs for bin106include a floor-only design, e.g., where robot114lifts the package from underneath, and a configuration where the package is dropped in from the side or top.

Designs of bin206that lack one or more walls are particularly advantageous because, when present on a shelf202,204in smart staging area200, the side of bin206facing an agent is open so that the agent can quickly and easily load packages onto bin206. Advantages of the third technique in general include that it makes the packages effectively regular-sized from the perspective of robot114, with specific and registerable pick-up points208for the robot to home in on and grab or otherwise physically interface with. Further, usage of bin206prevents loading packages that are too big for the smart lockers. Yet further, the usage of bin206allows for loading multiple packages per smart locker.

According to a fourth package size determination technique, the size of the package may be determined using a size sensor implementation of sensor210of fixtures of smart staging area200and/or a size sensor implementation of sensor212present on robot214. Such sensor implementations may be of any suitable sensor for determining size information, including, by way of non-limiting example, acoustic sensors, infrared sensors, optical robotic vision sensors, and other sensor types. According to such embodiments, when a package is placed on a shelf202,204of smart staging area200, the sensor or sensors determine the size and convey the information to the backend computer system.

After the size of the package is determined, robot114determines whether an appropriately sized customer accessible repository, such as a locker in a smart locker system, e.g., smart locker system102, is available to accept loading of the package. For example, a backend computer system may store an electronic record of smart lockers that are occupied, in association with package identification information for the packages located therein, as well as smart lockers that are unoccupied. The backend system may update the record each time a package is loaded into a smart locker or removed from a smart locker. According to some embodiments, each smart locker includes a sensor, such as an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, an infrared sensor, or a weight sensor, that is used to determine whether the smart locker is occupied. Such sensors may be used instead of, or in addition to, the loading and removal record updating.

If a smart locker that is large enough to accept the package is unoccupied, robot114may proceed to load the package therein. Otherwise, robot114may wait until an appropriately sized locker becomes available for loading.

FIG.3is a flow diagram of a method300for loading a customer accessible repository, such as a smart locker, to provide a package for retrieval by a recipient according to various embodiments. Method300may be implemented using robotic smart locker load system100ofFIG.1, with smart staging area110, or with smart staging area200ofFIG.2.

At302, a package is received for delivery to a recipient. The package may be received at a post office or other package delivery distribution center, for example. The package may have been sent through the mail and received at a location for “last mile” delivery. Delivery of the package to the recipient may have previously been attempted, without success. Alternately, the package may have been intended for delivery to the recipient directly through a smart locker.

At304, an agent or other person places the package in a smart staging area, such as smart staging area110as shown and described herein in reference toFIG.1, or smart staging area200as shown and described herein in reference toFIG.2. The placement may be inside of a pigeonhole, on a shelf, or at, on, or in a different configuration of a smart staging area.

At306, the size of the package is determined using a sensor. The size of the package may be determined according to the first package size determination technique as disclosed herein, the second package size determination technique as disclosed herein, the third package size determination technique as disclosed herein, the fourth package size determination technique as disclosed herein, or a different package size determination technique.

At308, the package is retrieved from the smart staging area by a robot, such as, by way of non-limiting example, robot114as shown and described herein. The robot may retrieve the package by directly handling the package, e.g., with pincers or a different gripping, scooping, or lifting mechanism, or may be retrieved by the robot by being present in a bin, e.g., bin206as shown and described herein, which is lifted or otherwise conveyed by the robot.

At310, the robot conveys the package to a customer accessible repository selected according to the size of the package as determined at306. The customer accessible repository may be a smart locker of a smart locker system, such as smart locker system102as shown and described herein. The robot may convey the package through a first, customer inaccessible, side of the customer accessible repository, where the package is retrievable by the customer through a second, customer inaccessible, side of the customer accessible repository.

At312, the system performing method300electronically stores an identification of the customer accessible repository in association with package identification information. Such information may be stored in a database of a backend system, e.g., as described herein in reference toFIG.1.

At314, the system performing method300receives package identification for the package, e.g., at a terminal in a customer accessible location proximate to the customer accessible repository. For example, according to some embodiments, the package identification information is received at a terminal, such as terminal104as shown and described herein in reference toFIG.1. The package identification may be conveyed in the form of a code, such as a graphical code (e.g., a barcode or QR code) or character code (e.g., a numeric or alphanumeric code).

At316, the customer accessible repository is unlocked in response to receiving the package identification at312. For example, according to some embodiments, the system may unlock a smart locker that contains the package identified by the package identification. Once unlocked, the recipient may retrieve their package through the second side of the customer accessible repository.

Certain embodiments can be performed using a computer program or set of programs. The computer programs can exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive. For example, the computer programs can exist as software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, object code, executable code or other formats; firmware program(s), or hardware description language (HDL) files. Any of the above can be embodied on a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, which include storage devices and signals, in compressed or uncompressed form. Exemplary computer readable storage devices include conventional computer system RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable, programmable ROM), and magnetic or optical disks or tapes.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments without departing from the true spirit and scope. The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. In particular, although the method has been described by examples, the steps of the method can be performed in a different order than illustrated or simultaneously. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.