Patent Application
20240407580
The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mailbox for receiving and delivering parcels that can work autonomously and automatically, for receiving parcels from an also autonomous means and store them until they are collected by a user.
Another object of the invention consists of a system for delivering and collecting parcels comprising the mailbox, as well as an aerial vehicle that can interact with said mailbox, and a method for delivering parcels between said mailbox and aerial vehicle.
The invention therefore falls within the sector of temporary storage of products and more specifically within the sector of automatic receptacles for mail, as well as within the sector of autonomous transport of said products.
Today, the services sector is faced with the ongoing challenge of meeting the increasingly demanding needs of the population, one of said needs being the supply of products, with a reduced delivery time, in very specific places, and as close as possible to the places where they are, in order to avoid or reduce the collection time.
For this, many technologies aimed at reducing production, storage, management and delivery times have been developed in recent times, thereby generating additional collapse problems in the usual transport system that are not prepared for said changes, generating drawbacks and delays that directly harm the user in general.
One of the most recent technologies used that has been proposed for the dispatch of elements is that which uses autonomous aerial vehicles, known as “drones”, which are able to fly without requiring a pilot, following a previously established route, transporting with them a product of limited weight and size.
In theory, this novel technology enables a greater dispatch efficiency, greater reliability and shorter delivery time of the product, resulting in cost reduction and ultimately achieving a more competitive product.
In addition, this type of vehicle provides a solution to the problems that many sectors have in relation to the immediate shipping of products, as well as providing locations that are hard to access using the usual transport means.
This process is also a very good alternative to take care of the environment since “drones” do not emit polluting gases, as usual transport means do, most of them being propelled by electrical energy.
However, one of the biggest drawbacks of this dispatch system is the collection of said parcels, in many cases requiring iteration with a user, to prevent the product from being exposed to third parties.
Some dispatch systems with “drones” comprise a technology configured so that the “drone” delivers the parcel only when the user is available, which causes the greatest number of trips to be concentrated in specific hours of the day, making it impossible to use other time slots, and wasting useful delivery time.
For this reason, the need arises for a technology that is capable of interacting with this type of autonomous vehicles, and capable of retaining a product safely, for a limited time, until it can be collected by a user, without requiring that the user travels long distances from their usual location.
The present invention consists of an electronic mailbox for receiving parcels comprising a rigid structure wherein said mailbox comprises:
Said control processor is configured to activate the electronic opening means of the first door when the signal receiver receives an activation signal.
The size and shape of the rigid structure is not limited to a specific range, being able to be larger or smaller depending on the needs of the user, as well as the place of installation. However, in a preferred embodiment, the mailbox has a standard size of 1 metre long, 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres tall, comprising a rectangular prismatic shape, so that said measurements are adapted to the most common requirements for storing parcels and to the available spaces, such as a locker.
In one embodiment, the visual code is a code selected from a barcode, a BIDI code, an alphanumeric code, and a combination of the above. Said visual code must be located in a position visible from a greater height with respect to said electronic mailbox, so that it can be captured, for example, by capture means, such as a camera, located at a greater height of the mailbox, at a specific distance.
The internal cavity of the mailbox enables the parcel to be retained for a required time, until it can be collected, so it must have a suitable size and shape for said use. Being internal means that it is usually located inside the rigid structure, especially when the parcel is delivered.
To avoid unauthorised access to the parcel when it is located inside the internal cavity, the mailbox has a first door, which can be automatically opened and closed, by means of the automatic opening and closing means that comprise at least one linear actuator and/or electromagnets. These means do not require a user for the internal cavity to be accessible or not, and they are compatible with different forms of opening, such as longitudinally or transversely sliding the cover with respect to the rigid structure, rotating it by means of a hinge, or combining both movements.
Preferably, the first door of the internal cavity is located on an upper surface of the electronic mailbox, so that the opening of the internal cavity, when the first door is open, is on said surface, preferably horizontal. In this way, a product can be introduced into the internal cavity, taking advantage of the effect of gravity, releasing it from a greater height.
Since, preferably, outdoor access to the mailbox can be provided, it is possible that the rigid structure and the first door are exposed to external, weather or wear effects; therefore, in one embodiment, said components are protected with an antioxidant coating that increases the useful life of the product.
In one embodiment, the signal receiver is configured to receive wireless signals selected from laser, radio frequency, Bluetooth, WIFI signals, and a combination of the above, so that an emitter of an external device can emit a signal that is captured by said receiver, which commands the opening of the first door, and that the internal cavity be accessible.
In one embodiment, the mailbox comprises at least one power generating, preferably photovoltaic, solar panel, fixed to the rigid structure of the mailbox, wherein said panel, or panels, are configured to electrically power the electronic mailbox, being able to store part or all of the electrical energy captured in batteries, also comprised in the mailbox, or transfer it to the grid. Specifically, said panels are configured to supply electrical energy to the components that require electricity to operate, such as the opening and closing means, the communication module, as well as other unmentioned elements that may be present in the mailbox, such as illumination means or other electronic elements.
These electrical components can operate with a voltage of 380 V in three-phase AC or 220 V in single-phase AC and, in addition to being able to be connected to solar panels comprised in the mailbox, they can also be connected to the electrical grid, so that the power supply is guaranteed when the solar panel is not working, or when the battery is empty.
In the same way, the electronic mailbox can also be connected, in addition to, or instead of, to said panels, to wind turbines located in the vicinity of the mailbox, to avoid consuming electricity from the grid in periods of solar energy scarcity.
In one embodiment, the communication module comprises a signal emitter configured to emit wireless signals, selected from laser, radio frequency, Bluetooth, WIFI signals, and a combination of the above. This signal emitter would be connected to the control processor and would enable the mailbox to connect to an electronic device of a user in order to inform about the collection or delivery of a parcel. In other words, in this embodiment, the mailbox not only receives signals, but can also emit them, in order to report on its status.
In one embodiment, the geolocation device comprises a location system using RTK technology. This Real-Time Kinematic or RTK technology is an advanced satellite positioning system that uses a ground station as a secondary position reference to provide accurate data to within one centimetre.
In this way, the RTK signal is obtained from a base antenna or antenna array with known coordinates, which can be placed in the mailbox, and can send a corrected signal to a vehicle receiver through radio systems. In this way, a vehicle receiver can receive a satellite signal and that of the RTK antenna, thus giving it centimetre accuracy.
This technology is especially suitable for the mailbox to interact with autonomous vehicles, such as aerial vehicles or “drones”, so that they can deposit the parcels in the internal cavity with high accuracy, without the need for a user to control said vehicle.
In one embodiment, the rigid structure of the mailbox is fixed, said rigid structure being rigidly attached to an external support. This external support can be the facade and/or the roof of a building, as well as a floor or a stable structure of another type of structural element. Since the rigid structure is attached, with a rigid attachment, to the external support, it cannot be moved from the position in which it has been installed, said position being preferably at a certain height with respect to the possible access by an unauthorised user, and without elements of the surroundings that could impair the movement of a “drone” when approaching or moving away from the mailbox.
In this embodiment, it is necessary that both the vehicle that delivers the parcel and the user who receives it have easy access to the internal cavity of the mailbox.
In a different embodiment, the rigid structure of the mailbox is moveable; and the mailbox comprises movement means connected to said rigid structure, wherein said means are configured to physically move the rigid structure upon being activated.
Preferably, said means only enable the rigid structure to be moved between two positions; a parcel reception position with respect to the aerial vehicle, also called the initial delivery position, and a user delivery position, also called the final delivery position. In this way, in the initial delivery position, the user may not have easy access to the rigid structure, but an aerial vehicle can more easily deliver a parcel, this position being able to be, for example, on the rooftop of a building. In the same way, in the final delivery position, it is easier for the user to access the rigid structure where the internal cavity with the parcel is located, but it is more difficult to access by an aerial vehicle, this position being able to be, for example, on the facade of a building, next to a hole like a window.
In one embodiment, the mailbox comprises a moveable frame comprising the internal cavity of the mailbox, and movement means connected to said moveable frame, wherein said means are configured to physically move the moveable frame with respect to the rigid and fixed structure of the mailbox upon being activated.
Preferably, the moveable frame is configured to be extracted and inserted into an interior of the rigid, fixed structure, through a second door.
Thus, in this embodiment, the mailbox comprises at least two openings, a first and a second door, the first preferably being on an upper surface, leaving a horizontal opening, and the second door on a lateral surface.
Preferably, the movement means of the frame would operate just as the movement means of the entire structure, i.e., moving the frame between two positions, the initial delivery and final delivery positions.
By means of this embodiment, it is not necessary to move the entire rigid structure, with all the components that it may have, it being sufficient that only the internal cavity located in the frame be moved, said movement being performed when the user requests it, sending a signal to the signal receiver of the mailbox, by means of an emitting device.
In one embodiment, the movement means comprise at least one rail and rolling elements, connected to the internal cavity, moveable along said rail, such that said elements can be connected to the rigid structure or to the frame, depending on the element that is moved, according to the embodiment.
Preferably, the rail or rails are configured to be fixed to the facade of a building, and the rolling elements comprise a plurality of wheels that can be coupled to said rail or rails, such that only the movement between the end positions of the rail is enabled.
In the event that the rail is installed on a rooftop and facade of a building, said rail may have different branches to be able to connect to the different holes in said building.
In one embodiment, the electronic control processor is configured to activate the movement means when the signal receiver receives an activation signal of said means. In this way, when the user sends a wireless signal by means of an electronic device, and it is received by the signal receiver, the movement means can move the internal cavity to the final delivery point, making it easier for said user to access the parcel.
In one embodiment, the movement means are configured to move the internal cavity of the mailbox along a facade of a building.
In one embodiment, the mailbox comprises a plurality of individual internal cavities for storing parcels; wherein each cavity comprises a third door for individual access to said internal cavity.
Preferably all the individual third doors are on a front or forward portion of the electronic mailbox, while the first door is on an upper surface.
The operation of this embodiment is similar to that of a set of lockers, so that each third door can only access the corresponding internal cavity, all cavities being aligned and connected.
In one embodiment, the mailbox comprises a single first door for the plurality of internal cavities comprised in said mailbox. Furthermore, the plurality of internal cavities is communicated by a movement system configured to move parcels between said cavity of the plurality of individual cavities.
In this way, an aerial vehicle can deposit a parcel through the first door and the movement system can place it in a specific internal cavity to be collected by a user, thus multiplying the storage capacity of the mailbox. Said movement system can comprise a series of conveyor belts, rollers, or lifts, as well as any usual element for this type of system.
To make it easy to use, the electronic control processor can inform the user about the location of the parcel to be collected by sending a wireless signal, and/or the mailbox can have a control screen that enables the user to view, access and control said mailbox.
Another portion of the invention consists of a system for collecting and shipping parcels, comprising at least one autonomous aerial vehicle for delivering and collecting parcels, such as a “drone” and an electronic mailbox as defined in any of the preceding embodiments.
In one embodiment of the system, the aerial vehicle comprises means for depositing and collecting a parcel from a surface of an internal cavity of the mailbox; and it is configured to move said parcel from a dispatch reception position to an initial delivery position.
In this way, the “drone” can have support and grip elements for the parcel and can be configured to search for the position of the electronic mailbox using RTK with the indicated technology, in the same way that it can have a location system or small radio beacon, to locate it in the event of impact or fall.
Another portion of the invention consists of a method for delivering parcels comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment of the method for delivering parcels, the step of moving a parcel comprises the steps of:
In one embodiment of the method for delivering parcels, said method comprises the steps of:
The automatic closing of the first door can be scheduled at a specific time after said first door has been opened, or after the parcel has been placed in the internal cavity, although it can also be performed when the signal receiver of the mailbox receives a closing signal by means of the aerial vehicle.
In one embodiment of the method for delivering parcels, said method comprises the steps of:
Moving the internal cavity can entail moving the entire rigid structure of the mailbox or just moving a moveable frame.
In one embodiment of the method for delivering parcels, said method comprises the steps of:
With this embodiment, the embodiment wherein the mailbox comprises a plurality of third doors and internal cavities is required.
With regard to the embodiments of the methods for delivering parcels, it should be mentioned that the parcel can go the other way, i.e., from the user to the aerial vehicle, for example, when a return is to be made.
Thus, it may comprise the steps of depositing the parcel by means of a user to be collected by an aerial vehicle.
The aerial vehicles or “drones” that can be used in the defined system and method can have a series of features that make them suitable for said use. For example, preferably, they must have autonomous control and be monitored by means of computer software. They must be able to withstand adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind over 40 knots, and have an obstacle detector, being able to move at a speed of about 100 km/h, with a durability of 60 minutes of autonomy, as well as quick-charging batteries, maintaining a low noise level, and being capable of carrying parcels of different sizes and a maximum weight of up to 18 kilos.
Furthermore, also preferably, said vehicles must be equipped with parachutes for emergency situations. In the same way, they must have a system of floats in the lower portion that can be immediately inflated upon colliding with an obstacle, cushioning the possible fall, and preventing further damage upon impact.
Moreover, they can also be equipped with analysis software, which makes it possible to plan the most optimal route, enabling the flight to be fully scheduled. However, they can also be controlled by qualified personnel who can control their path and verify the correct operation of the system.
The terms Fig., Figs., Figure, and Figures are used interchangeably in the specification to refer to the corresponding figures in the drawings.
With the intention of helping to better understand the system developed and in relation to a practical and preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, a series of drawings is offered where the following has been represented:
A list of the references used in the figures is provided below:
As can be observed in the figures, especially in
In this way, said mailbox (1) is specially adapted for receiving and delivering parcels (3), by means of a vehicle, which can also be autonomous, especially by means of an aerial vehicle (2), such as a “drone”, i.e., it can also work without being driven or piloted by a user.
Therefore, together with the autonomous mailbox (1) and the aerial vehicle (3), they can comprise a system for collecting and shipping parcels (3) that does not require the presence of any user for the operation thereof.
Moreover, the mailbox (1) can also operate without interacting with an aerial vehicle (2), but rather users are the ones who directly deliver and collect the parcels (3), like an automatic locker.
As can be distinguished from
On said first door (4), as well as on one side of the rigid structure (12), the mailbox (1) comprises a visual code (5) in the form of a barcode, which enables said mailbox (1) to be identified by means of image capturing means, provided that said means is located at a greater height than said mailbox (1), at an appropriate distance for correct viewing.
In addition to the visual code (5),
Although they are not visible in the figures, the mailbox (1) also comprises a geolocation device, which enables an external electronic device to detect the position of said mailbox (1), a communication module comprising a receiver and a signal emitter, said module configured to receive and send wireless signals, such as laser, radio frequency, Bluetooth, WIFI signals, or a combination thereof, to other devices comprising communication modules, and an electronic control processor connected to the opening and closing means of the first door (4), to the communication module, as well as to any electronic element of the mailbox (1), enabling said processor to control and manage the operation thereof.
By having these features and elements, the mailbox (1) can work automatically when interacting with the aerial vehicle (2) which can also be automatic, in order to be able to receive and store a parcel (3) without requiring the action of a user. In this way, the operation of the mailbox (1) would consist of receiving, by means of the signal receiver, a wireless signal emitted by a signal emitter of an aerial vehicle (2) carrying a parcel (3), a signal for opening the first door (4).
Once said first door (4) is opened, the aerial vehicle (2) could approach the mailbox (1) and release the parcel (3) in the internal cavity (10), to subsequently move away from the mailbox (1) and perform a new movement, while the first door (4) of the mailbox (1) automatically closes after a scheduled time with respect to the opening of the first door (4), with respect to the collection of the parcel (3), or when the signal receiver of the mailbox (1) receives a first door (4) closing signal.
Once the mailbox (1) has collected the parcel (3), it could send, by means of the signal emitter, a signal to a device controlled by a user indicating that the parcel (3) has been stored in the internal cavity (10), and that the user can collect it when convenient.
To make the delivery and collection of the parcel (3) easy, by means of the mailbox (1) and the aerial vehicle (2), the first door (4) is located on the upper surface of the rigid structure (12), so that the opening created when said first door (4) is opened is a horizontal opening.
In the same way, for the aerial vehicle (2) to approach and position itself with respect to the mailbox (1) as accurately as possible, both devices make use of RTK location technology, which provides centimetre accuracy, which is required for the method described.
Similarly, to enable the aerial vehicle (2) to determine and identify the specific mailbox (1) to which the moved parcel (3) is to be delivered, said aerial vehicle (2) captures, with image capturing means, the visual code (5) of the mailbox (1), such that possible problems of delivery in wrong mailboxes (1) are prevented.
The mailbox (1) can be installed or located in different ways, depending on the needs and characteristics of the user, as well as the available space.
For example, the mailbox (1) can be rigidly fixed to a floor of a sidewalk or a transited space, which the user can easily approach, for example, when a service to a venue or shop is to be provided. In this case, the mailbox (1) would be fixed by a lower surface to the ground, and should have an open flight space to enable access for an aerial vehicle (2).
Moreover, if the mailbox (1) is to be given a more personal and private use, without the need to occupy or invade public land, it can be installed on the outside of a building as shown in
For example, in
This system enables the mailboxes (1) to be fixed and each room with a window to have an individual mailbox (1).
Another way of installing or placing the mailboxes (1) is the one shown in
Each of these mailboxes (1) comprises a moveable frame (7) comprising the internal cavity (10) inside the mailbox (1) itself, which can be located inside the rigid structure (12), as well as be moved, by means of movement means (9), shown in
With this installation, the operation of the mailbox (1) would consist of, once the parcel (3) has been deposited in the internal cavity (10) and the first door (4) has been closed, and in the same way as the previously defined installation of
Once said moveable frame (7) has been extracted, it can move along the rail (92) arranged on the facade of the building (13) until it is positioned under the window of a user who can access the moveable frame (7) and collect the parcel (3).
These actions are performed when the signal receiver of the mailbox (1) has received an activation signal from the movement means (9), and the control processor thereof has given the command to extract and move said moveable frame (7).
As can be seen in the figures, the moveable frame (7) comprises a prismatic shape similar to that of the rigid structure (12) of the mailbox (1), being of a somewhat smaller size, enabling it to be extracted therefrom through a second door (8), arranged on one side, as shown in
This type of installation enables the mailbox (1) to be positioned on a rooftop or on a platform fixed to the roof of a building (13), reducing possible obstacles to the flight of an aerial vehicle (3), so that the rail system (93) enables one same mailbox (1) to be used for several users, without requiring the installation of one mailbox (1) per room, taking advantage of the mobility of the moveable frame (7).
Another type of embodiment and installation of this type of mailboxes (1) is that shown in
This mailbox (1) comprises, in addition to a single first door (4) for collecting and delivering parcels (3), ten individual third doors (11), arranged on a front surface, for each of the internal cavities (10) of said mailbox (1) such that the storage capacity is multiplied by ten, making it suitable for shared use. In the same way, the mailbox (1) also comprises a movement system that enables the parcels (3) located in said internal cavities (10) to be moved between them, as shown in the diagram of
In this way, an aerial vehicle (2) could leave a parcel (3) in an internal cavity (10), through the only first door (4) of the mailbox (1), located on an upper surface, and the movement system could position it in another specific internal cavity (10), until it is collected by a user.
In the same way, this mailbox (1) can also comprise a secondary internal cavity, as shown in
In addition to the mailbox itself (1) and the system comprised by the mailbox (1) and the aerial vehicle (2), the invention also comprises the method for delivering and collecting parcels (3), which has also been defined from the elements comprised in the mailbox (1) itself as well as in the system.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P202130961 | Oct 2021 | ES | national |
This application is the United States national phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/051881 filed Jan. 27, 2022, and claims priority to Spanish Patent Application No. P202130961 filed Oct. 13, 2021, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/051881 | 1/27/2022 | WO |
