DE102018001345A1 - Method and device for selecting a delivery mode for transporting at least one item - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for selecting a delivery mode (16, 18) for transporting at least one item (10) from a start location (12) to a destination (14), in which: at least one ambient value is determined by means of an electronic computer (24) characterizing an environment (26) of the destination (14) and / or starting location (12); and a delivery mode (16, 18) for transporting the at least one product (10) from the start location (12) to the destination location (14) by means of the electronic computing device (24) as a function of the determined ambient value from a plurality of delivery modes (16, 18). is selected.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for selecting a delivery mode for transporting at least one product.

The delivery and thus the transport of goods, in particular to respective end users, plays an increasingly important role in modern logistics, since by modern sales methods such as shopping on the Internet goods from end users can be ordered at least almost anytime from anywhere on earth , Therefore, a fast delivery and thus a fast transport of the goods to the end users are desired. However, this desire is usually opposed by a steadily growing volume of traffic, especially in cities. However, new delivery or transport methods are always being developed in order to meet the above-mentioned desire cost-effectively. A product which is transported and delivered, in particular to an end user, is also referred to as a consignment.

In addition, the reveals DE 10 2007 063 011 A1 a navigation system for a vehicle, having an input unit and an output unit, and having an intermediate memory and data processing module, the weather data, position data of the vehicle and terrain data of a predeterminable area each from at least one information source receives. Depending on the request by the input unit, a visualization of the desired data takes place at the output unit.

Object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus by means of which goods can be transported time and cost and in particular delivered.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and by a device having the features of patent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

The method according to the invention for selecting a delivery mode for transporting at least one item of goods or a consignment from a start location to a destination comprises a first step in which at least one ambient value which characterizes an environment of the destination and / or the starting location is determined by means of an electronic computer. In other words, the environment characterized by the environmental value includes the starting location and / or the destination. The inventive method further comprises a second step, wherein by means of the electronic computing device depending on the determined ambient value from a plurality of delivery modes, in particular exactly, a delivery mode for transporting the at least one product from the starting location is selected to the destination.

The invention is thus based on the idea that in principle several delivery modes are available, which in principle are suitable for transporting the at least one product from the starting point to the destination and thereby deliver it, for example, to an end user staying at the destination. In this case, the method according to the invention makes it possible to select the delivery mode from the multiple delivery modes dynamically, time-consuming and cost-effectively, since in the selection of the respective delivery mode the ambient value and thus the environment, in particular at least one current situation prevailing in the environment and / or at least one in the environment or ruling event. Thus, depending on the situation and thus dynamic as well as time and cost from the multiple delivery modes that delivery mode can be selected by means of which, based on the available delivery modes, the at least one item can be transported, for example, the time and / or cost of the starting point to the destination ,

The electronic computing device determines and / or obtains the ambient value, for example, from data that characterize the environment. In this case, for example, the electronic computing device receives the data via a data connection, for example from a different with respect to the electronic computing device, further electronic computing device, the electronic computing device, for example, can receive the data via the Internet. Thus, the data is actual data characterizing the environment in its current state. Thus, the ambient value characterizes or describes, for example, a current or current state of the environment, in particular a situation currently prevailing in the environment and / or a current event occurring or prevailing in the environment, so that the delivery mode can be selected dynamically, specifically and as needed.

The method according to the invention can, for example, assist a person in the selection of the respective delivery mode, or else the selection of the delivery mode can be carried out automatically, in particular fully automatically, by the method according to the invention. As part of the Assistance of the person in the selection of the delivery mode, it is thus necessary that the person with the assistance of the inventive method selects the respective delivery mode, without the person even in the selection of the delivery mode in the environment or has knowledge about the environment. Thus, the individual does not have to select the respective delivery mode on the basis of habits and / or outdated information alone, but the person can select or set the delivery mode based on the method and thus based on the current environment value, so that the delivery mode can be selected as needed and dynamically , As a result, the at least one product can be transported according to the situation and thus time and cost.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the delivery modes differ in their respective means of transport for transporting the at least one product from each other. This means, for example, that a first of the delivery modes comprises a first transport for transporting the at least one product, while a second of the delivery modes comprises a second transport for transporting the at least one product. In this case, the first means of transport is different from the second means of transport or vice versa. The respective means of transport is in principle able, in terms of its size and / or its capacity, to transport the at least one product, the means of transport being based, for example, on mutually different technologies for transporting the at least one product. Depending on the environment, that is, depending on the environmental value and thus in particular depending on the situation prevailing in the environment and / or in the environment occurring event one of the means of transport is better than the respective other means of transport to transport the at least one commodity particularly time and cost to be able to. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to be able to dynamically select the respective means of transport depending on the situation or the situation, in order, for example, to be able to realize a particularly advantageous compromise between cost-effective and time-efficient delivery of the at least one product.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the first means of transport is a ground-based or ground-based robot, by means of which the at least one commodity can be earthbound and transported automatically. The terrestrial robot is, for example, a walking robot or an earth-bound or ground-based vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which can automatically or autonomously transport at least one product within the framework of an automatic or autonomous operation. By means of the earth-bound robot, the at least one product can be transported and delivered, for example, particularly time-consuming and cost-effective, especially when the weather in the area is bad and there is little or no traffic.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the second means of transport is an unmanned aircraft, in particular a drone, by means of which or by which the at least one product can be transported by air and automatically by the at least one product can be flown by means of the aircraft , By means of the aircraft, the at least one product, for example, then be delivered particularly time and cost, if there is good weather in the area, so that a flight of the drone is not unduly affected. The aircraft or the drone is particularly advantageous for realizing a timely delivery, for example, prevail in the environment on respective transport routes or transport roads high traffic and congestion, so that the delivery by means of a terrestrial robot, especially vehicle, not or only very time consuming is possible.

The invention is based in particular on the following finding: Flying objects or aircraft such as drones or earthbound robots can act increasingly autonomously, orient themselves in the terrain and control a destination and thus also be used for the delivery of goods. The invention now proposes to make the decision as to whether the at least one commodity is to be transported and delivered by drone or robot, depending on the environmental value and thus on at least one environmental condition or on several environmental conditions. In particular, the selection of the delivery mode and thus of the means of transport depends, for example, on a traffic volume on at least one road in the environment. Furthermore, the invention assumes, for example, that earthbound delivery vehicles exist, which are supported in particular by automatic robots and / or automatic drones, or a respective product can be delivered automatically by means of a robot or by means of a drone. You can choose between different delivery modes, that is, between different delivery types. This means, for example, that a person can deliver a commodity, such as a package, or the person can help a drone of a robot, possibly parallelized to deliver respective packages. The person is, for example, a driver of a delivery vehicle, a bicycle courier or another person for delivering at least one product. A multilevel route planning is conceivable in which several delivery options or delivery modes are taken into account. Usually, however, the choice of the delivery mode is statically predetermined and takes place for example on the basis of human knowledge. In contrast, the method according to the invention makes it possible to dynamically select the respective delivery mode and thus to dynamically decide, for example, whether the at least one item is to be delivered by drone or by ground-based robot.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one different from the respective transport of the selected delivery mode transport element is selected by means of the electronic computing device depending on the environmental value, which is carried along with the means of transport of the selected delivery mode during transport of at least one product. The transport element is, for example, the respective transport mode of the delivery mode, which was not selected. In this way, it is possible, for example, to equip the aforementioned terrestrial robot, in particular the terrestrial vehicle, also called a delivery vehicle, with the aforementioned drone so that, for example, the delivery vehicle can be supported airborne during transportation by the drone, in particular during navigation or route planning.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the selected delivery mode characterizing, optical signal on an electronic display, that is, on an electronic screen, output. The background of this embodiment is, for example, that the respective delivery mode is automatically selected, but not necessarily set automatically. By way of example, a person can be informed of the delivery mode selected by the computing device, wherein, for example, the decision as to whether the delivery mode selected by the computing device is actually used to transport the at least one product is made in the first instance by the person, for example ,

In particular, for example, a selection option is provided on the electronic display, by means of which the person decides, by means of an input to the electronic computing device to be effected by the person, whether the delivery mode selected by the computing device is actually used to transport the at least one product or not.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the ambient value characterizes at least one traffic situation and / or at least one weather situation in the environment. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that situations or events such as traffic situations and weather situations can significantly affect the transport and delivery of goods and in particular extend them. Since it is now provided according to the invention to select the delivery mode and thus the means of transport dynamically as a function of the traffic situation and / or the weather, the means of transport can be selected according to the situation and need so that, in particular, a timely and cost-effective delivery can always be guaranteed.

A further embodiment is characterized in that by means of the electronic computing device at least one route along which the at least one product is to be transported from the starting location to the destination is automatically determined as a function of the ambient value. The invention is based in particular on the fact that it may depend on current environmental conditions such as the weather, in particular the wind, whether the delivery of goods by drone or robot is advantageous. If, for example, there is a traffic obstruction on a road which would prevent or greatly slow down the delivery which would otherwise be time-consuming and cost-effective by means of the delivery vehicle, the delivery by drone can be considerably more cost-effective and, as a consequence, more cost-effective.

If, for example, a route is planned along which the at least one product can be transported, in particular by means of a delivery vehicle, it is determined, for example based on the ambient value, that unfavorable, high traffic volume is present along this route, then, in particular by means of the aforementioned signal Person or a user of the method will be issued a recommendation which of the delivery modes is advantageous in order to transport the at least one commodity despite the high volume of traffic time and cost from the starting place to the destination.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the current environmental value, which takes into account, for example, a traffic volume on a road or on a route, is taken into account in an automatic planning or determination of a route. In other words It is preferably provided that at least one route along which at least one product is to be transported from the starting location to the destination, in particular by means of the aforementioned delivery vehicle, is automatically determined and thus planned as a function of the ambient value by means of the electronic computing device. In this way, a decision can be made in favor of the delivery vehicle with low traffic. If there is a traffic jam along the route, the decision may be in favor of a delivery by threat, and this decision can be made automatically via a tour and route planning.

In a further embodiment, it is possible that by means of the method is decided, for example, whether a drone or a robot is to be carried in the delivery vehicle, which thus can be detected early and, for example, the vehicle selection in particular facilitates and / or affects the entrained transport, if not All vehicles can be combined with drones or robots.

It can be advantageous if the current ambient value is supplemented by statistically historical data. In other words, it is preferably provided that the electronic computing device takes into account statistical historical data when selecting the delivery mode. Thus, it is possible, for example, to make a prognosis in order to be able to make an early assumption that there is an increased risk of stowage at an intended delivery time, in particular delivery day, and / or at a delivery location, in particular at the destination, and thus in the early planning already another delivery mode, for example, can be selected and displayed by drone.

The invention also includes a device or a system which is or is designed to carry out a method according to the invention. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention and vice versa.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the scope of To leave invention.

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm zum Veranschaulichen eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• 2 schematische Darstellungen von unterschiedlichen Auslieferungsmodi; und
• 3 eine Vorrichtung zum Durchführen des Verfahrens.

The drawing shows in:

• 1 a flowchart illustrating a method according to the invention;
• 2 schematic representations of different delivery modes; and
• 3 an apparatus for carrying out the method.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

1 shows a flowchart, based on which in the following a method for selecting a delivery mode for transporting at least one commodity 10 ( 2 ) from a starting location 12 ( 3 ) to a destination 14 is explained. As in synopsis with 2 can be seen, for example, are basically two different delivery modes 16 and 18 available to the at least one commodity 10 , which is, for example, a package, from the start location 12 to the destination 14 transport and thus be able to deliver. Out 2 It can be seen that the delivery mode, also referred to as the first delivery mode 16 at least or exactly a first means of transport 20 has, which is designed for example as a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle is earthbound and designed, for example, as a terrestrial robot, since the delivery vehicle automatically or autonomously along at least one route and thus, for example, from the starting location 12 to the destination 14 can drive. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the delivery vehicle can be driven manually and thus by a person.

The delivery mode 18 is also referred to as a second delivery mode and includes a second means of transport 22 in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle, which is also referred to as a drone. For example, the drone can be remotely controlled from the starting location automatically and / or manually by a person 12 to the destination 14 fly. The respective means of transport 20 respectively 22 is, in particular in terms of its performance and / or size, in principle, capable of at least one product 10 from the starting point 12 to the destination 14 to transport. Thus, for example, the goods 10 by means of the delivery vehicle earthbound, in particular road bound, along a route from the starting place 12 to the destination 14 driven and thus transported. By means of the drone can the goods 10 for example, from the starting point 12 to the destination 14 flown and thus transported and delivered by air.

Order now the goods 10 transport and deliver particularly time and cost, the process includes a first step S1 , At the first step S1 is by means of an electronic computer 24 ( 3 ) determines at least one environmental value which is an environment 26 of the destination 14 and / or the starting point 12 includes. How out 3 recognizable and shown schematically there, includes the environment 26 both the starting place 12 as well as the destination 14 so that the environmental value, for example, at least one in the environment 26 prevailing situation or at least one in the environment 26 describes or characterizes a dominant or occurring event.

In a second step S2 of the method is by means of electronic computing device 24 depending on the determined environmental value from the multiple delivery modes 16 and 18 a delivery mode 16 respectively 18 for transporting the at least one commodity 10 from the starting point 12 to the destination 14 selected.

If, for example, it is ascertained on the basis of the ambient value that there is a high volume of traffic, in particular a traffic jam, along at least one or more routes that are basically passable by the delivery vehicle, so that a desired timely delivery of the goods is possible 10 by means of the delivery vehicle is not possible, so is the electronic computing device 24 for example, the delivery mode 18 or the drone selected to the goods 10 to transport by means of the drone. This allows a timely delivery of the goods 10 be guaranteed, so that, for example, an advantageous compromise of time and cost delivery can be guaranteed.

However, it is determined, for example, based on the environmental value, that along at least one of the starting location 12 to the destination 14 extending and drivable by the delivery vehicle route or little traffic is present, so that the at least one route from the delivery vehicle can be driven quickly and thus time and cost, for example, by the electronic computing device 24 the delivery mode 16 or the means of transport 20 selected to the goods 10 to transport, since then a particularly timely and cost-effective delivery can be guaranteed.

Has the electronic computing device 24 For example, the delivery vehicle selected, it will continue, for example, depending on the ambient value by means of electronic computing device 24 selected the drone as different from the delivery vehicle transport element to equip the delivery vehicle with the drone, so that, for example, the delivery vehicle in his drive from the starting place 12 to the destination 14 can be supported by the drone and thus airborne.

The final decision on whether the selected delivery mode 16 respectively 18 actually to transport the goods 10 is not used, for example, by the electronic computing device 24 but by a person and thus by a user of the electronic computing device 24 met. For this purpose, for example, on an electronic display 28 the electronic computing device 24 at least one optical signal 30 which shows the selected delivery mode 16 respectively 18 characterizes or describes, that is illustrated. For example, by at least one input from the person to the computing device 24 or in a computing device 24 comprehensive device 32 causes and of the device 32 or from the computing device 24 For example, the person may select and determine whether the electronic computing device is being captured 24 selected delivery mode 16 respectively 18 actually final for the transport and delivery of the goods 10 is used or not.

The ambient value characterizes, for example, at least one traffic situation and a weather situation in the environment 26 because weather conditions and traffic situations can affect the respective transport by delivery vehicle or by drone.

One of the aforementioned, from the starting point 12 to the destination 14 Leading and of the delivery vehicle in general passable routes is in 3 shown and designated 34 there. In particular, it is possible that by means of the electronic computing device 24 the route 34 along which the goods 10 from the starting point 12 to the destination 14 can be transported by means of the delivery vehicle, automatically determined in dependence on the ambient value and thus planned, so that, for example, the goods 10 by means of the delivery vehicle time and cost along the planned route 34 transported and thus can be delivered.

Overall, it can be seen that the method and the device 32 make it possible from the multitude of available delivery modes 16 and 18 Depending on the situation and demand, and thus dynamically the delivery mode 16 respectively 18 which, given the current environmental value and thus at least one current situation in the environment 26 a timely and cost-effective delivery of the goods 10 allows. This allows the goods 10 overall delivered particularly time and cost and thus transported in particular to an end customer.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102007063011 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

A method of selecting a delivery mode (16, 18) for transporting at least one item (10) from a start location (12) to a destination (14), wherein: - By means of an electronic computing device (24) at least one ambient value is determined, which characterizes an environment (26) of the destination (14) and / or the starting location (12); and a delivery mode (16, 18) for transporting the at least one product (10) from the starting location (12) to the destination (14) by means of the electronic calculating device (24) as a function of the determined ambient value from a plurality of delivery modes (16, 18) is selected. Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the delivery modes (16, 18) in their respective transport means (20, 22) for transporting the at least one product (10) differ from each other. Method according to Claim 2 , characterized in that a first of the delivery modes (16, 18) at least one earthbound robot (20) as a first of the transport means (20, 22), by means of which the at least one commodity (10) is earthbound and automatically transportable. Method according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that a second of the delivery modes (16, 18) at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (22) as a second of the transport means (20, 22), by means of which the at least one commodity (10) by air and automatically transportable. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that by means of the electronic computing device (24) depending on the ambient value at least one of the transport means (20, 22) of the selected delivery mode (16, 18) different transport element (20, 22) is selected, which with the means of transport ( 20, 22) of the selected delivery mode (16, 18) is to be carried during the transport of at least one product. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the selected delivery mode (16, 18) characterizing, optical signal (30) on an electronic display (28) is output. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ambient value characterizes at least one traffic situation and / or at least one weather situation in the environment (26). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the electronic computing device (24) at least one route (34), along which the at least one product (10) is to be transported from the starting location (12) to the destination location (14), is determined automatically depending on the ambient value. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic computing device (24) takes into account statistical historical data when selecting the delivery mode (16, 18). Device (32), which is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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