FR3136749A1 - Package delivery system and method using a motorized, secure and communicating container. - Google Patents

Abstract

Parcel delivery system to a specific delivery location, in public space, in which a mobile container (1) comprises a motorized rolling base (4) comprising a cavity (6) housing a module (9) for managing the securing the container (1) capable of controlling the blocking of the rolling base (4) and the locking of the opening(s) (13) of the container (1) during a determined period of time during which the container (1) remains parked on the place of delivery, after unloading from the transport vehicle; said cavity (6) further housing a wave communication module (10) capable of transmitting an alert context and the position of the container (1) to said logistics platform and/or to an authorized recipient, said container (1) further comprising means (3) capable of broadcasting visual and/or audible alert signals. (Figure 1)

Description

Package delivery system and method using a motorized, secure and communicating container.

The present invention generally relates to the field of package delivery and relates more particularly to a delivery system and method implementing at least one container capable of containing packages previously loaded into the container; the container being temporarily placed in the public space until the packages are collected by the end customer(s).

This type of delivery is part of so-called “last mile” delivery.

Today, last mile delivery is mainly done using LCVs, an acronym for Light Utility Vehicles, sometimes called “vans” or even “vans”. This type of vehicle is suitable for transporting small containers, or “containers” in Anglo-Saxon terms, as close as possible to end customers. We also refer to “mini-containers” as containers typically having a width of 600 mm and a length of 800 mm (ground surface).

This type of container can be used by logistics platforms, from a warehouse, in which the packages are stored, to the delivery of the packages to or near the end customer or a drop-off location (store, drop-off center). packages, etc.). Such a delivery solution is interesting for, for example, avoiding the transfer of packages from one container to another.

Access to the contents of the container is conditioned by a code known only to the customer who has previously placed an order and which he must enter in order to collect his package(s).

By logistics platform, we mean a set of facilities making it possible to carry out all activities relating to business logistics (storage of goods, preparation of orders, delivery, etc.).

Securing the container, once it has been temporarily placed in the public space, can be done by a locked door but will not long resist a malicious act aimed at opening the container and/or moving it from its place of storage. origin, especially if the place of delivery is isolated and if, moreover, the provisional deposit period takes place at night.

The present invention aims to reinforce the security of the container when the latter has been placed in a public space, in front of or near the place of collection by the final customer, for example in front of a store while waiting for an employee or manager of this store does not store the container in a secure space attached to the store.

To this end, the present invention has as its first object, a system for delivering packages to a specific delivery location, in public space, said system comprising at least one mobile container capable of containing packages previously loaded into the container on a specific loading location of a logistics platform, and a transport vehicle transporting said container from the location of loading the packages into the container to the location of delivery of the packages, in which said mobile container comprises a motorized rolling base comprising a cavity housing a module for managing the security of the container capable of controlling the blocking of the rolling base and the locking of one or more openings of the container during a determined period of time during which the container remains parked at the place of delivery, after unloading from the transport vehicle; said cavity further housing a wave communication module capable of transmitting an alert context and the position of the container to said logistics platform and/or to an authorized recipient, in the event of detection of an attempted movement and /or unauthorized unlocking of said container during the determined period; and said container further comprising means capable of broadcasting visual and/or audible alert signals after confirmation of the alert by the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient.

According to one characteristic, the rolling base further comprises an arrangement of motorized and directional wheels retractable in compartments arranged in the cavity of the rolling base, following a blocking command issued by the container security management module for immobilizing the container on the ground.

According to another characteristic, in a variant, the rolling base comprises means for electromagnetic braking of the motorized wheels, housed in the cavity of the base, to block the wheels following a blocking command issued by the management module. securing the container for immobilization of the container.

According to one characteristic, the container comprises a set of sensors arranged on the container, capable of detecting an attempt at unauthorized movement and/or unlocking of said container during the determined period, chosen from a camera, one or more opening sensors/ closing of the opening(s), one or more anti-lifting sensors of the container; said sensors being coupled to the container security management module.

According to another characteristic, the container comprises at least one alert indicator, arranged on the container and capable of broadcasting an alert signal, chosen from a siren, a flash, a rotating beacon, a speaker broadcasting an audio message; said indicator being coupled to the container security management module.

According to another characteristic, the cavity of the rolling base houses an electrical energy store ensuring the electrical supply of the container.

The second object of the present invention is a mobile, secure and communicating container for a delivery system as described above.

The third object of the present invention is a parcel delivery method implemented by a system as described above, consisting of:

- to load packages into the mobile container at the loading location;

- to transport said container from the loading location to the delivery location;

- to immobilize and lock the container at the place of delivery until the recipient of the packages, duly authorized, has come to collect the container;

- to manage the security of the container by the container security management module, during said specific period during which the recipient has not come to collect the container; said consistent management, if an attempt at unauthorized movement and/or unlocking of said container, during the determined period, is detected by the container security management module, then:

- from the container, to inform the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient of the alert context and to broadcast alert signals after confirmation that the alert has been taken into account by the logistics platform and/or the recipient allowed.

According to one characteristic, the method consists of controlling the immobilization and locking of the container from a portable terminal comprising an application dedicated to the delivery of packages.

According to another characteristic, in the event of forgetting the blocking and/or locking command of the container, once the container has been placed in the public space, and at the end of a determined time delay, the management module of the securing the container automatically controls the locking of the opening(s) and the blocking of the rolling base.

Other advantages and characteristics may emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

illustrates, in a perspective view, an arrangement of a container implemented in a delivery system according to the invention; And

illustrates a flowchart of the main stages of a process implemented by the system according to the invention.

The present invention makes it possible to leave, temporarily, in a public place, a container with reduced surveillance means. In the event of a problem: detection of an attempted break-in/displacement of the container, it is the container which implements means aimed at triggering one or more alarm information on its own and alerting the logistics platform or other recipients authorized to receive an alert.

As illustrated in , a container 1 is advantageously equipped with a sensor for perception of its environment 2 such as, for example, a “fisheye” type camera or other. The container 1 is also equipped with visual and/or audible alarm means 3 such as, for example: a siren, a rotating beacon or flash, a loudspeaker broadcasting a dissuasive message, etc. or any combination of these different means .

The container 1 rests on a rolling base 4 while being physically linked to the base 4. For convenience, we will designate by the single term container, the inseparable assembly formed by the container 1 itself, in which the packages are contained, and its rolling base 4. The base 4 is capable of supporting different kinds of containers 1 of different heights for example, respecting the dimensions of the base (approximately 600mmx800mm) to be compatible with the European pallet system (or euro pallet).

The base 4 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped provided with an arrangement of four wheels 5 arranged in the vicinity of the four corners of the base 4. At least two of the wheels 5 are motorized and two are directional, pivoting (or even the four wheels). The rolling base 4 comprises a closed cavity 6, shown in dotted lines, inside which is housed an electrical energy store 7, symbolized by a battery, comprising for example one or more batteries (12, 36 or 48v). In one embodiment, the cavity 6 makes it possible to completely contain the wheels 5 when the latter are retractable by pivoting around a pivot axis offset relative to the axis of the wheels 5. Compartments, not shown, are then arranged so as to receive the wheels 5 when they are retracted into the cavity 6 as well as their pivoting mechanisms not shown. In a second embodiment where the wheels 5 are not retractable, we have shown, on the same , a wheel braking system 8 making it possible to block the wheels 5 to immobilize the container 1. When the wheels 5 are not retractable (or retracted), they remain contained within the perimeter of the base 4 so cannot be dismantled from the outside. Whatever the embodiment, the cavity 6 houses in addition to the electrical energy store 7, a module 9 for managing the security of the container 1 and a communication module by channel waves 10. One or more anti-lift sensors 11 are arranged under the base 4. The module 9 for managing the security of the container 1 is coupled to the wheels 5 and is directly connected to the communication module 10. The module 9 of security management is able to control in particular the blocking/unblocking of the motorized wheels 5. The blocking of the wheels 5 can be achieved using the braking system 8, for example by electromagnetic brakes, not shown. The braking of the wheels 5 causes the blocking of the rolling base 4 and therefore the immobilization of the container 1 which cannot therefore be moved from its storage space. In the embodiment where the wheels 5 can be completely retracted inside the base 4, the rolling base 4 rests on the ground by its own weight, thereby blocking the rolling base 4 and immobilizing the container. 1. As the rolling base 4 rests on the ground, lifting it from below becomes difficult and reduces the risk of the container 1 being moved by removal. The electrical energy store 7 is sized and sufficiently loaded to be able to autonomously supply all of the electrical consumers of the container 1 at least during the period of parking of the container 1 in the public space after its storage.

The base 4 is for example made from a mechanically welded structure forming a frame of steel or aluminum profiles, within which the cavity 6 is arranged. The rolling base 4 is therefore robust and capable of resisting acts of voluntary damage, within certain determined limits. Container 1 (the container itself and its base 4) also has a weight of around 50 to 100kg.

The module 9 for managing the security of the container 1 is able to also control means 12 allowing the locking/unlocking of the openings 13 of the container 1 for their closing/opening respectively. By opening 13, we mean any means of access (door, hatch, porthole, curtain, lid, etc.) allowing access to the interior of container 1 in order to be able to load the packages into container 1 then unload them. The locking means 12 comprise a mechanical or electromagnetic lock.

The openings 13 are also equipped with opening/closing sensors 14 of the magnetic type for example, or others, capable of triggering an alarm in the event of unauthorized opening either by break-in or by entering a wrong authentication code .

The motorized rolling container 1 thus equipped is therefore capable of self-managing to secure its contents and communicate with the outside world during the period during which it is parked in the public space.

Container 1 also includes a GPS receiver, not shown, allowing it to be permanently geolocated.

There illustrates, through a simplified flowchart, the main stages of a parcel delivery process implementing the delivery system as described above. The process consists of:

- to load 100 of the packages into the mobile container 1 at the loading location;

- to transport 200 container 1 from the loading location to the delivery location;

- to immobilize and lock the container at the place of delivery until the recipient of the packages, duly authorized, has come to collect container 1;

- to manage 400 the securing of the container 1 by the module 9 for managing the security of the container 1, during said determined period during which the recipient has not come to collect the container 1. The management of the security consists, if an attempt unauthorized movement and/or unlocking of said container 1 during the determined period is detected by the container security management module 9, then:

- from container 1, to inform 410 the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient of the alert context and to broadcast 420 alert signals after confirmation that the alert has been taken into account by the logistics platform and/ or the authorized recipient.

The delivery person, once the container 1 is parked at the delivery location, can remotely trigger the blocking of the rolling base 4 and the locking of the openings 13 of the container 1 from a portable terminal, for example of the smartphone type having 'an application dedicated to the delivery of packages, communicating with container 1 via its means of communication using various communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Wifi, NFC, etc. The employee or store manager, or the end customer, can order the unlocking of the rolling base 4 to be able to move the container 1 and bring it, for example inside the store, then order the unlocking of the openings 13 allowing the packages to be removed from the container 1. For this, they will have to obtain the access codes of container 1 to the logistics platform via a 3/4/5G communication protocol which can be managed by the communication module 10 of container 1.

Container 1, once emptied of its contents, is returned in front of the store, rolling base 4 blocked and openings 13 locked until a delivery person comes to collect container 1. The same container 1 can contain packages intended for several customers . In which case, container 1 has independent compartments with dedicated openings 13; each recipient of the packages having a dedicated access code for blocking/unblocking the rolling base 4 and for locking/unlocking the openings 13.

If the blocking and/or locking command for the container 1 is forgotten, once the container 1 has been placed in the public space, and at the end of a determined time delay, the module 9 for managing the security of the container container 1 automatically controls the locking of the openings 13 and the blocking of the rolling base 4.

Claims (10)

Package delivery system to a specific delivery location, in public space, said system comprising at least one mobile container (1) capable of containing packages previously loaded into the container (1) at a specific loading location a logistics platform, and a transport vehicle transporting said container (1) from the place of loading of the packages in the container (1) to the place of delivery of the packages, in which said mobile container (1) comprises a motorized rolling base (4) comprising a cavity (6) housing a module (9) for managing the security of the container (1) capable of controlling the blocking of the rolling base (4) and the locking of one or more openings (13) of the container (1) for a specific period of time during which the container (1) remains parked at the place of delivery, after unloading from the transport vehicle; said cavity (6) further housing a wave communication module (10) capable of transmitting an alert context and the position of the container (1) to said logistics platform and/or to an authorized recipient, in the event detection of attempted unauthorized movement and/or unlocking of said container (1) during the determined period; and said container (1) further comprising means (3) capable of broadcasting visual and/or audible alert signals after confirmation of the alert by the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient. System according to the preceding claim, in which the rolling base (4) further comprises an arrangement of motorized and directional wheels (5) retractable in compartments arranged in the cavity (6) of the rolling base (4), following a blocking command issued by the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1) for immobilizing the container (1) on the ground. System according to claim 1, in which the rolling base (4) further comprises an arrangement of motorized and directional wheels (5) and electromagnetic braking means (8) of the motorized wheels (5), housed in the cavity (6) of the base (4), to block the wheels (5) following a blocking command issued by the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1) for the immobilization of the container (1). System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the container (1) comprises a set of sensors (2, 11, 14) arranged on the container, (1) and capable of detecting an attempt at movement and/or unlocking not authorized container (1) during the determined period, chosen from a camera (2), one or more sensors (14) for opening/closing the opening(s) (13), one or more anti-lift sensors (11) of the container(1); said sensors being coupled to the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1). System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the container (1) comprises at least one alert indicator (3), arranged on the container (1) and capable of broadcasting an alert signal, chosen from a siren, a flash, a rotating beacon, a loudspeaker broadcasting an audio message; said indicator (3) being coupled to the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1). System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cavity (6) of the rolling base (4) houses an electrical energy store (7) ensuring the electrical supply of the container (1). Mobile, secure and communicating container (1) of a delivery system according to one of the preceding claims. Parcel delivery method implemented by a system according to claims 1 to 6, consisting of:
- loading (100) packages into the mobile container (1) at the loading location;
- to transport (200) said container (1) from the loading location to the delivery location;
- to immobilize and lock (300) the container (1) at the place of delivery until the recipient of the packages, duly authorized, has come to collect the container (1);
- to manage (400) the securing of the container (1) by the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1), during said determined period during which the recipient has not come to collect the container (1); said management consisting, if an attempt at unauthorized movement and/or unlocking of said container (1), during the determined period, is detected by the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1), then:
- from the container (1), to inform (410) the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient of the alert context and to broadcast (420) alert signals after confirmation that the alert has been taken into account by the logistics platform and/or the authorized recipient. Method according to the preceding claim consisting of controlling the immobilization and locking of the container (1) from a portable terminal comprising an application dedicated to parcel delivery. Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, in the event of forgetting the blocking and/or locking command for the container (1), once the container (1) has been placed in the public space, and at the end of a determined time delay, the module (9) for managing the security of the container (1) automatically controls the locking of the opening(s) (13) and the blocking of the rolling base (4).