Transportation network utilizing autonomous vehicles for transporting items
US9786187B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/0832
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A transportation network is provided that utilizes autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) for identifying, acquiring, and transporting items between network locations without requiring human interaction. A travel path for an item through the transportation network may include a passing of the item from one autonomous vehicle to another or otherwise utilizing different autonomous vehicles for transporting the item along different path segments (e.g., between different network locations). Different possible travel paths through the transportation network may be evaluated, and a travel path for an item may be selected based on transportation factors such as travel time, cost, safety, etc., which may include consideration of information regarding current conditions (e.g., related to network congestion, inclement weather, etc.). Autonomous vehicles of different sizes, carrying capacities, travel ranges, travel speeds, etc. may be utilized for further improving the flexibility and efficiency of the system for transporting items.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.