GB2507561A

GB2507561A - Apparatus for transportation and storage of items

Info

Publication number: GB2507561A
Application number: GB201219859A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Hudson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-05
Filing date: 2012-11-05
Publication date: 2014-05-07
Also published as: GB201219859D0

Abstract

An apparatus allowing automated induction, internal movement (Figure 5), internal storage, expulsion and exchange of an item or items between and/or among nodes. There are at least two nodes and at least two of those nodes are mobile and usable in a public area, with such exchange coordinated with any other nodes. The apparatus may move an item from a collecting point (11, Figure 7) to a delivery point (12, Figure 7) by way of nodes, other stops and exchanges. The apparatus can vary the time taken to move an item between locations by means including flexible routing and retention of an item in a node or nodes. The apparatus supports postal operations. The apparatus supports positioning of items near their point of utility. The apparatus facilitates and simplifies bilateral and multilateral trade, in which transportation and/or storage of items is fulfilled through the apparatus.

Description

TITLE

Apparatus for Transportation and/or Storage of Items

BACKGROUND

The field of application of the disclosed invention (hereafter, invention') is the transportation and/or storage of items.

This includes but is not limited to the express parcel industry; in the interest of clarity in exposition many examples herein relate to said industry, however this should not be taken as limiting the application of the invention to that field only, nor is the invention limited to road and/or land transportation, nor is the invention limited to goods transportation, nor is the invention limited to any transportation mode, nor is the invention limited with regard to any location or locations of activity or use. Those skilled in the art in other fields of transportation and/or storage will recognise additional obvious applications and improvements, and such obvious applications and improvements are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The prior art of the express parcel industry is built around consolidation of parcels into loads of maximum possible size, as in the prior art the per parcel cost of movement across geographical distance decreases with the number of parcels in a consolidated load.

This follows from the cost of use of transporting vehicles rising more slowly that the increase in capacity of vehicles; as a prior art example, a lorry may have eight times the load capacity of a van but may cost only three times as much per mile as the van to operate.

The basic prior art structure of collection vehicle -> depot -> hub -> depot -> delivery vehicle follows from this imperative for consolidated movement over distance. This structure can also be expressed as collection -> local movement -> consolidation -> distance movement - > deconsolidation/sorting/reconsolidation -> distance movement -> deconsolidation -> local movement -> delivery.

Although there are variants to this structure in prior art use, such as a depot consolidating parcels into a load directly for another depot, or a collection of a large number of parcels being moved directly to a hub, or multiple hubs being used, or a depot or depots serving a hub function, or more or less sortation being performed at a hub due to upstream sub-consolidation of items into cages or other containers, or delivery of a large number of parcels being made directly from a depot or hub and other variants besides, these variants are used as improvements within the basic collection vehicle -> depot -> hub -> depot -> delivery vehicle structure.

is The prior art structure does not minimize the distance each parcel travels; the prior art goal is to increase the degree to which the consolidated loads run full. Almost all parcels travel excess distance above the raw distance from collection point to delivery point, both in local movements and consolidated loads. A parcel may move from one depot to a nearby depot through a hub hundreds of miles away; within the prior art operating structure this can be the most efficient practice. However, the excess distance travelled also greatly increases the time taken to move a parcel to delivery compared to the time required for the raw distance.

Two functional components of the prior art structure often used are: local collection and delivery (C&D) vehicles operating out of each depot, with the other assets supporting the movement of parcels between customer and depot and vice versa, and trunking vehicles and hub and other assets supporting the movement of loads between depots and hubs.

In the prior art these components link together in a daily schedule, in which C&D vehicles must move collected parcels to the depot (normally in the evening) for consolidation in time for the scheduled movements of the loads, and in which at the end of the trunking and hub component (normally at night), the loads must be deconsolidated at the depot in time for the parcels to move out on the C&D vehicles (normally in the morning) for delivery.

The coordination between elements of the operating structure is achieved primarily through fixed scheduling of events, generally in a daily routine. Within this structure there is little operational flexibility.

The two prior art functional components, C&D and trunking/hub, broadly use two sets of assets. Though practitioners of the prior art generally seek to maximize cross-utilization of assets between these two functional components, this is achieved only to a limited degree in limited cases (such as where a two-day or slower service is acceptable) and it is common for C&D assets to be unproductive during the night and for trunking and hub assets to be unproductive during the day. For example, a large sortation hub can be a major capital expenditure but might be used at full capacity for only a small number of hours in the night.

Where a prior art operation is tasked to perform storage, the timing of release of parcels from storage is limited by the daily schedule of the prior art operating structure. For cost-effective operation, a request for forward movement from storage cannot be executed the same day if the scheduled event required for that forward movement has passed on that day. For example, a parcel that is stored in a delivery depot requiring booking-in before delivery cannot normally be delivered on the same day if arrangements for booking-in are completed after the C&D vehicles have departed that day.

The operating cycle of the prior art operating structure limits the speed of movement of parcels from collection to delivery. Excepting one extremely limited scenario outside of prior art operating procedure, in which a parcel collected is to be delivered within the same area covered by the collecting C&D vehicle and to a location within that area to which that C&D vehicle can cost-effectively travel in the same day, it is not feasible for an item to be delivered sooner than the next day.

Another prior art assumption is that items are in packaging, often a cardboard box. Packaging consumes time and resources.

Some problems of the prior art include:

1) operations are scheduled and relatively inflexible 2) parcels often travel significant excess distance 3) a functional component split often limits asset utilization 4) onward movement of stored parcels is limited by scheduled events 5) operations are not able to deliver faster than next day 6) parcels presented for movement are in packaging The invention solves the problems above by using nodes and equipment of a new type within a coordinating system.

Node' is herein defined as anything able to fulfil the functional requirements of a node as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 herein. As a limited illustrative example a building could be equipped to function as a node, as could any suitable transport mode, as could a natural person. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Item' is herein defined as a physical article, examples of which include the below, though the embodiments are not limited in this context: -a unit or units of goods (or of a single good) -a unit load device (ULD) of any size, including but not limited to aircraft ULDs, including ULDs for hanging garments, temperature controlled movement, bulk liquid or other bulk material, livestock, recycling, rubbish and others -a collapsible ULD is -an ISO intermodal shipping container -a functional module -a unit or units of equipment -a parcel or parcels -a unit or collection of post -a unit of groceries and/or milk -a take-away meal or meals -an object fully or partly covered by a protective covering -anode -an item within an item Examples of functional modules include but are not limited to: -an induction/expulsion module containing an induction/expulsion area and equipment to fulfil the induction/expulsion role -a mobile shop -a market stall -aburgervan -a compartment suitable for conveyance of a natural person or natural people -equipment for disaster relief -a generator -a water pump and water storage for fire fighting

-a portable toilet

-a device to perform an input-transformation-output process -a component of a larger prefabricated structure User is herein defined as any individual, party, agent and/or agency using the invention, including the operating agency of the invention, and including any agent or agency (independent of the operating agency of the invention) operating a node or nodes of the invention.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention comprises an apparatus for the transportation and/or storage of items. The apparatus avoids many disadvantages of the prior art across the fields within transportation and/or storage and provides additional new advantages.

The key inventive step is that the apparatus provides automated induction, internal movement, internal storage, expulsion and exchange of an item or items between and/or among nodes where at least two of those nodes are mobile and usable in a public area, with such exchange coordinated with any other nodes.

Further features within the invention include: -the possible use of additional less capable and/or less automated nodes -the ability to specify a target area' for an item or items, which allows an item or items to be transported and/or stored so that the user or users can request the item or items be moved to a location or range of locations at a time or range of times as requested by the user or users -the ability to specify that an item is moved to the location of a specified location-transmitting device, an example of which could include but is not limited to a GPS-enabled smartphone -the ability of the apparatus to move an item or items without user-supplied packaging, wherein an item or items can be fully or partially enclosed in a reusable container or containers and where said container or containers are able to be inflated or otherwise fully or partly filled -the ability of the apparatus to move an item or items under temperature control without user-supplied packaging, wherein an item or items can be fully or partially enclosed in a reusable container or containers and where said container or containers are able to be inflated or otherwise fully or partly filled with any material or combination of materials conducive to the maintenance of the item in a desired temperature range -an interface or interfaces to facilitate bilateral and/or multilateral trade in which transportation and/or storage of items is fulfilled by means of the invention. The embodiments are not limited in this context or any of the above listed contexts.

The invention is not obvious to those skilled in the prior art of transportation and/or storage of items, as across the various fields within transportation and/or storage of items it involves one or more non-obvious inventive steps including but not limited to the following: -the use of automation of item handling and exchange in mobile nodes able to operate in a public area -the movement of items over significant geographical distance without consolidation into loads -the removal of reliance on the prior art hub and spoke' concept

-the removal of many prior art physical assets

-coordination without fundamental necessity for fixed schedules -free and flexible integration of storage with transportation -free interoperability of nodes across transport modes -the removal of the prior art requirement for item packaging, for example packaging in a cardboard box -unified, combined transportation of goods, natural people and other items. The embodiments are not limited in this context or any of the above listed contexts.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of the invention, both compared to the prior art and new, can include but are not limited to: -more direct movement of items being available, allowing reduction in excess distance travelled -quicker movement of items, primarily from the reduction in excess distance travelled and from the elimination of time an item may have had to wait for prior art scheduled events to have moved the item forward; this quicker movement in turn can in some cases allow items to be moved, within the time required by a user, by a transport mode that is slower and potentially cheaper or more resource-efficient -elimination of a functional component split in some fields of the prior art, potentially reducing under-utilization of assets -removal of limitations inherent in the prior art daily operating cycle, one example being where in some fields of transportation and/or storage a user of the prior art structure is required to present items for transportation and/or storage by a set daily cutoff time after which other items presented will not move forward for another day; the elimination of said prior art operating cycle and cutoff time ultimately allowing a user to employ a productive capacity in the user's own operation that is smaller and therefore potentially less capital-intensive by employing that productive capacity for more hours per day, through gaining the ability from the apparatus to present items for transportation and/or storage at any time of day, with the aforementioned quicker movement of items more than compensating for later presentation of items than the time of the

prior art cutoff

-interoperability of nodes among transport modes -unified transportation of goods, natural people and other items -flexibility, efficiency and potential for mobile sorting support use as a realistic means of collecting, sorting and delivering post -flexibility in types of nodes used -the ability to use target area functionality, which among other possible applications can allow a user or users to store an item as near as needed to the point of utility of said item, so that the user can request the item be moved to the point of utility or a range of locations encompassing potential points of utility at a time or range of times when the item is intended to be utilized -the ability to specify that an item is moved to the location of a specified location-transmitting device, in addition to potential use of one or more obvious practice or practices for definition of location, including but not limited to addresses, postal codes, post office boxes, two or three-dimensional geocodes, methodologies for location of items in storage and/or in other items, or any means of location also integrating a time component -the use within the apparatus of a reusable inflatable or otherwise fillable container or containers, avoiding prior art packaging -the use within the apparatus of a reusable inflatable or otherwise fillable container or containers which provide a means of control of the temperature of an item or items, avoiding the need for prior art packaging and/or allowing transportation and/or storage of temperature-sensitive items -potential ability of the apparatus to provide competitive, cost-effective market rates while avoiding inefficiency and duplication of resource and coverage inherent in competition -facilitation and simplification of bilateral and multilateral trade, in which transportation and/or storage of items is fulfilled by means of the apparatus, decreasing supply chain length and complexity. The embodiments are not limited in this context of in any of the above listed contexts.

INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS

Drawings show basic embodiments of nodes, of the process of exchange and an illustration of the functioning of the apparatus; the drawings are simplified representations and the embodiments are not limited in this context.

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a node.

Figure 2 illustrates the same node, from a top view.

Figure 3 illustrates the same node, from a front view.

Figure 4 illustrates the same node, from a rear view.

Figure 5 illustrates a top view of two such nodes parked nose to tail, with items in position immediately before items are moved in an exchange and with items to be exchanged denoted with arrows.

io Figure 6 illustrates the same top view of the two nodes of Figure 5, with the exchanged items in the new positions after the exchange.

Figure 7 illustrates the physical travel of an item through the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

is In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of: a coordinating system or systems (embodiments of which could include but are not limited to a central computing system, and/or a distributed computing system or systems, and/or a protocol or set of protocols) which has available the necessary information about the necessary node or nodes (examples of which information could include but do not necessarily include, and are not limited to, location, item or items currently carried, current activity, available cube and weight capacity, fuel range remaining and others) and has available the necessary information about the necessary current and/or anticipated item or items (examples of which information could include but do not necessarily include, and are not limited to, location, size, weight, destination, required delivery time window, environmental maintenance needed and others) and has available the necessary information about the environment in which the nodes operate (examples of which information could include but do not necessarily include, and are not limited to, physical/political maps of the area of operation in any form or format electronic or otherwise, fuelling locations available, weather conditions and others) performing a calculation or calculations and/or application of protocol or protocols to determine, in a preferred embodiment, the set of node and item routing(s) and exchange(s) that moves the set of item(s) the aggregated minimum distance within time and other parameters specified by a user or users, and directing a node or nodes as necessary to execute that set of routing(s) and exchange(s), with this operation repeated as necessary and/or desired, examples of potential necessitation and/or desirability of repetition of some or part of said calculation or calculations and/or application of said protocol or protocols possibly including but not being limited to items moving out of storage, new items entering or being anticipated to enter the apparatus from collections, items moving into storage or being delivered, and/or any other changes in circumstances internal or external to the apparatus, with user-generated instructions for said collection, release from storage, introduction of items into storage, delivery and/or any other user requests and/or provision of information to, from, between or among a user or users about the status, activity or any other information concerning the apparatus and/or a user or users' interaction therewith being facilitated by an interface or interfaces which allow a user or users means to interact with the apparatus and/or with another user or users. The embodiments are not limited in this context or any of the above listed contexts.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus may be comprised as above but instead to apply the set of node and item routing(s) and exchange(s) that moves the set of node(s) the aggregated minimum distance within time and other parameters relating to an item or items specified by a user or users. In a further embodiment, different optimisations or combinations of optimisations may be applied. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Where the term storage' and its variants are used herein, the term is is used so as to aid explanation of the purpose and functioning of the apparatus. Within the apparatus and its interface or interfaces, considering the ability of said apparatus to vary the time taken to move an item between locations by means of a flexible routing or routings, and/or to use other means of delay such as but not limited to retention of an item in a node or nodes, it is often unnecessary for there to be a functional or other type of distinction between transportation and storage, and the use of the term storage' and its variants herein is to be interpreted in this way. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a node is as represented in Figures 1 to 4, wherein the node is implemented as a road vehicle of 3.5t maximum gross weight, length of 5m, width of 2m, overall height of 2.5m and load height of 1.2m. In this embodiment, an item or items are positioned on an automatically controlled powered rolling floor 1 possessing the ability to move and rotate items across two axes in a manner similar to a k-loader as used in prior art aircraft loading, with an automatically opening door at the front 2 and at the rear 3. To ensure smooth exchange between the powered rolling floors of the two nodes, air suspension 4 automatically adjusts the height of the front and rear using positioning sensors 5, 6. To allow driver visibility while driving, a nearside side window 7 is used and items are not stored in this area while in transit. A deployable bulkhead 8 may be automatically positioned on completion of an exchange.

In a preferred embodiment, the execution of the exchange function between nodes of the apparatus may consist of the following steps, as represented by two nodes of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, with illustration of the exchange in Figures 5 and 6: -prior to the exchange, items such as a large item 9 and/or a small item 10 and others as required are moved internally on the powered rolling floor within each node in coordination with the other node in order that the number of moves of items (which may be as effectively conceptualised as moves of void spaces) required in the exchange is minimised, the coordination having already ensured that there are no impossible movements to execute, leaving the items in the positions shown in Figure 5 -on arrival at the exchange (synchronised through coordination), the two nodes are parked, in this example nose to tail -items are then automatically exchanged in the coordinated sequence, resulting in the items being in the new positions shown in Figure 6. Embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, particularly where required by combinations of items, sizes and positions that do not allow all items to be exchanged in one exchange, a second exchange may be performed in which the nodes swap positions; a third or further such exchange is not generally desirable but is possible. Embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, a node may be similar in function to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 and may be implemented as a road vehicle of 32t maximum gross weight, having four axles, a length of 12m (with legal overhangs acceptable), a width of 2.55m, a height of 4m, and an implementation of the position of the driver allowing the driver to be positioned under a powered roller floor covering the entire footprint of the node, with air suspension allowing a load height of 1.2mm or less but also allowing a running height sufficient to raise the driver eye level to at least 1.05m above the road surface, this positioning of the driver allowing the node to handle ISO shipping containers through exchanges from front or rear as well as other items, with the node being additionally equipped with suitably positioned automatically operated twistlocks. In another embodiment, an articulated road vehicle may be used. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In the embodiments given which reference the drawings herein, an implementation of a node as a road vehicle is given by way of example. A preferred embodiment encompasses multiple types of vehicle, multiple types of nodes, multiple orientations of exchange, multiple transport modes, multiple physical locations and multiple scales of operation. In a preferred embodiment, nodes of different transport modes are able to exchange directly where feasible. In various embodiments where such exchange is not feasible other types of nodes may be equipped to perform an intermediate exchange. The embodiments are not limited in this context It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the representation of a node in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 is a simplified functional representation, and those skilled in the art will appreciate obvious improvements to the embodiments shown, including but not limited to the use of additional decks of fixed or variable height and/or position, the use of pneumatic or other types of arms for suction gripping, the use of one or several means to maximise cubic utilisation by loose loading items, the use of alternate node positions of exchange and many others. These and all other obvious improvements are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, the basic functioning of the apparatus may is be represented as illustrated in Figure 7, in which an item for movement from collection point 11 to delivery point 12 may be routed and exchanged as follows: -collecting node travelling on path 13 collects item from collection point 11 -collecting node completes unrelated delivery stop 14 -collecting node reaches exchange point 15 and item moves to second node on new path 16 -collecting node continues away -second node makes three unrelated stops -second node reaches exchange point 17 and item moves to third node on new path 18 -second node continues away -third node makes two unrelated stops -third node reaches exchange point 19 and item moves to fourth node on new path 20 -third node continues away -fourth node reaches delivery point 12 and delivers item -fourth node continues away The basic representation in Figure 7 is given to communicate the basic functioning of the apparatus; the embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, the functioning of the apparatus with regard to one particular item may consist of the following steps: -a user makes a request for collection through an interface, specifying location and time of collection and giving all necessary information about the item including but not limited to destination, time required at destination, size and weight, means of payment and agreement of terms -a coordinating system determines which node should make the collection and directs that node to the collection point -the coordinating system determines the probable next routing step for the item and factors it into future calculations -on arrival of the collecting node, the user brings the item to the induction area of the node, which may be within an induction/expulsion functional module carried by the node -having calculated the requirements based on the size and weight of the item, using automated measuring equipment integrated in the induction area if necessary, the induction/expulsion module employs a compressor to partially inflate a re-usable inflatable container of a suitable size and shape and expels it for access to the user -the user encloses the item in the container and places it in the induction/expulsion area, using an inflation device installed in the node to inflate the container further as necessary -hereafter, the user is able to monitor the progress of the item through an interface -on induction, the node downloads the item information to a near-field communication (NFC) device embedded in the reusable inflatable container, as well as linking the item information to an identifying code unique to the reusable inflatable container -the node communicates the item information with a coordinating system, and the coordinating system updates the node's instructions for the node's next travel or exchange activity if necessary -the reusable inflatable container being of a shape and composition compatible with the automated handling equipment with which the node is equipped, the item is automatically moved to a position within the node by means of a powered rolling floor, where that position has been calculated so best to facilitate the next planned exchanges performed by the node and the internal movements required for those exchanges -when appropriate for the routing of the item, the item is automatically exchanged with another node, this process being repeated as necessary for movement of the item to destination -shortly before arrival at destination, using information provided at the collection request the node automatically contacts the receiving user via SMS to confirm the time and place of delivery -on arrival of the node at delivery, the node moves the item to the expulsion area of the induction/expulsion functional module, where the receiving user removes the reusable inflatable container and places it in a receptacle from which the induction/expulsion module can deflate it and return it to storage -the receiving user confirms receipt of delivery by signature and takes the item -the node continues with other activities Those skilled in the art will appreciate that simplifications are made herein, and those skilled in the art will appreciate the obvious possible extensions to, expansions of, and possible omissions of the steps or sub-steps described in the above embodiment. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, an item may require maintenance at a lower temperature than ambient. In such embodiments, the inflatable container may be of an insulating construction and may be filled with an inert substance such as nitrogen at low temperature. The inflatable container may be fitted with a device to monitor item temperature and transmit that information through the embedded NFC device to the node. The node may be equipped automatically to expel the substance and renew the low-temperature substance in the event that the temperature of the item increases over time. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, part of the user interaction with the node is facilitated by a human agent or other autonomous or semi-autonomous agent acting on behalf of the node; in such an embodiment the activities of induction and/or expulsion may also be arranged so that while the agent is facilitating the induction or expulsion process, the node is free to travel separately and may return to the agent at an appropriate time to complete further activity.

The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, the node records one or more images of the item at induction and again at expulsion. In some embodiments, these and other records may be used to supplement or replace signatures as proof of delivery and/or collection.

In a preferred embodiment, a human user or users may travel by means of the apparatus. In various embodiments, the functioning of the apparatus may involve a node presenting the user or users with a compartment of suitable size and appointment for the conveyance of a natural person or natural people, with suitable equipment for safety and comfort. Once the user or users are safely in the compartment, the compartment may be inducted into the node and travel as an item through the apparatus to the desired location. Various alternative embodiments may involve such a compartment owned by the user or users. Various alternative embodiments may involve a compartment additionally equipped for sleeping. In various embodiments, where a node has the facilities for conveyance of a natural person or natural people independent of a compartment, having a conventional seat or seats for example, travel by a natural person or natural people may be made by means of the apparatus, using such facilities. In various embodiments, means for the transportation of a natural person or natural people through the apparatus may be employed to transport a human operator or operators or agent or agents of nodes from and to a home, base or other location. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a node can be implemented as: -a road vehicle -a land vehicle capable of use off-road -a land vehicle used off the public highway -a rail vehicle, above or below ground -a human powered vehicle -a snowmobile -a barge -aship -aboat -a submarine -a heavier than air aircraft -a lighter than air aircraft -a neutrally buoyant aircraft -a spacecraft able to operate in or outside of Earth orbit -a vehicle capable of mixed mode travel, for example amphibious -a natural person -a directed pack animal -a building -an item within a node -anything able to fulfil the functional requirements of a node as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 herein. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, nodes operate as near as possible to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, with only minimum down time when unavoidable. In various embodiments, nodes may available only at more limited times. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

A preferred embodiment is implemented using nodes operating in a fully autonomous manner and able to exchange items while in motion.

In one such embodiment, and here illustrated in the context of a road vehicle but not being limited to such, a node may be implemented as an automated guided vehicle (AGV), such an embodiment naturally being limited in use to areas in which such an embodiment would conform to law, allowing fully autonomous operation. Various embodiments may employ a vehicle platooning system which may be in conjunction with a human driver to allow exchanges while in motion to be made. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, a node may use an automatically moveable heavy object or substance as a counterweight to offset precisely the shifts in node centre of gravity due to internal item movements and exchanges while the node is in motion.

In various embodiments, a node may receive larger items for induction from a fork-lift truck or other prior art equipment for materials handling.

The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, nodes implemented as road vehicles and/or other implementations may conform to a load height of 1.2m to match the prior art standard lorry load height. In various embodiments, nodes implemented as road vehicles may use an adjustment of air suspension to achieve a specific load height. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In any embodiments involving a transport mode subject to security controls such as aviation, a preferred embodiment involves the integration of such equipment as necessary for security into a node or item to allow items for travel by said transport mode to be secured.

A preferred embodiment involves a node or nodes operating within a node, in which inner nodes may exchange items between or among each other and may induct items from the outer node or expel items to the outer node. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, information which may be available to the coordinating system regarding a node or nodes can include but is not limited to: -node location -node speed -node direction -node height -node total weight capacity -node current weight capacity available -node location-specific weight capacity and current loadings, to ensure acceptable axle loadings and centre of gravity location -node total cubic capacity -node current cubic capacity available -node configuration with regard to exchange mechanism -location of item or items within node -location of void spaces within node -location, activity and future activity of node or nodes within node -remaining range of node before refuelling -times of any required node operator or agent rest periods -any future times node will be unavailable -any time at which the node must be at a specified location -estimated time required to complete currently planned activities -estimated future locations based on currently planned activities -other anticipated future activities of node and anticipated effect of those activities on the parameters above In a preferred embodiment, such node information is collected through a telematics system installed in a node capable of real-time remote information exchange with the coordinating system or systems. In various embodiments, a reduced set of information may be input by voice or other suitable means to a computing application running on a mobile communication, geolocation and computing device such as a smartphone, allowing exchange of information with the coordinating system or systems and communication of instructions or other information from said system or systems back to the operator of the node. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, tracking of location of nodes is achieved by means of a satellite-based global positioning system. In various embodiments, other means of navigation such as maps in any form or format, electronic or otherwise, reference to landmarks including terrestrial or astronomical features, and/or recording of distance moved relative to a location may be used. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

is In a preferred embodiment, information which may be available to the coordinating system regarding an item or items can include but is not limited to: -item destination, target area, or specific location-transmitting device to which to deliver item -item time or range of times to be available at destination or target area -receiving user details -item collection location and user details -item current location, geographical and position within node -item dimensions -item weight -ownership details of the item -type of item (goods, post, natural person, node etc.) -special requirements if natural person -special handling requirements of item (e.g. dangerous goods) -environmental requirements of item (e.g. temperature control) -best before date and/or time information In various embodiments, information may be incomplete; one such example may be the distribution of unaddressed mail. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, information about an item or items may be captured when a user makes a request through an interface or interfaces for collection of an item or items by the apparatus. In various embodiments, a user may submit a request along with necessary information concerning the item or items to the apparatus by means of an interface which may be implemented through the user employing a computing device connected to the Internet or World is Wide Web; any fuaher information required may then be gained from the physical item at induction. In various embodiments, a user interface or interfaces may be implemented as an SMS-based service, or as a telephone-based service, or a smartphone messaging service.

The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, where items are transported over national borders such that they become subject to Customs or other such regulatory oversight, all necessary information including images of the commercial invoice and of any other necessary documents is stored on an NFC device travelling with each item, and the data and images held are used in electronic communication with Customs authorities to expedite item movement and facilitate appropriate payment of duty, tax or other fees. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a user or users may specify a larget area' for an item or items, which allows an item or items to be transported and/or stored so that the user or users can request the item or items be moved to a location or range of locations at a time or range of times as requested by the user or users. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a user can to specify that an item is moved to the location of a specified location-transmitting device, such as a smartphone. In various embodiments, a user may provide information to the apparatus on anticipated future locations, to avoid inefficient situations such as a user getting on a train to another area while an item is in transit to a location-transmitting device carried by the user. This preferred embodiment is in addition to various embodiments which may involve one or more obvious practice or practices for definition of location, including but not limited to addresses, postal codes, post office boxes, two or three-dimensional geocodes, methodologies for location of items in storage and/or in other items, or any means of location also integrating a time component. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, the capacity of nodes with regard to size

of items accounts for the specifications of:

-the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) dimensions of intermodal shipping containers and pallets -European standard Europallet and Eurocrate sizes thereby defining the preferred embodiment with regard to size capacity of nodes as being able to deal with items of: -width: 200mm or 300mm or subdivisions or multiples thereof, with ability in some embodiments to accommodate at least 2600mm, -height: 200mm or 300mm or subdivisions or multiples thereof, with ability in some implementations to accommodate at least 2440mm, 2591mm and/or 2900mm, and -length: 200mm or 300mm or subdivisions or multiples thereof, with ability in some implementations to accommodate at least 17068mm. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments a different set or sets of sizes may be delineated. Those skilled in the art in automated sortation of small items will appreciate the possibility for sorting devices to be implemented in a functional module format, allowing use as a node.

In various embodiments, implementations may operate on smaller scales (including but not limited to micro-and/or nano-scales), may operate on larger scales, and/or may have no defined standards at all allowing complete flexibility with regard to size of items. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, a given implementation of a node or nodes is not limited to fixed sizes. In various embodiments the height of a node may be variable, for example by means of telescopic roof supports, or by the absence of a roof. In various embodiments an item or items may overhang the footprint of a node. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a node or nodes may be operated by an agent or agency independent of the operating agency of the apparatus and/or independent of the operating agent or agency of another node or nodes. In this preferred embodiment, the operating agency of the apparatus operates on a market-independent basis, implementations of which may include a not-for-profit, state-controlled or charitable implementation. In this preferred embodiment, laws of supply and demand apply to the provision of nodes for the apparatus.

In this preferred embodiment, market behaviour among nodes supports the provision of cost-effective operation, while still allowing aggregation of transportation and/or storage activity into one efficient apparatus, thus providing the benefits of a competitive market without inefficient duplication of resource and overlapping of coverage.

In a preferred embodiment, a private vehicle or other independent agent or agency resource may be used as a node, wherein the capacity and capabilities of that node may be made available to the apparatus at the times and locations of the actual, pre-determined and/or apparatus-directed travel of that private vehicle; one example being when a private motorist performs a daily commute. Various embodiments may involve the use in a private vehicle of some or all of the full node functionality as described in claim 1. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, an estimation of time and resource required for all activities is a potential output of any calculations relating to the activities of nodes. In various embodiments this output may be used directly or indirectly to inform the price charged to users for use of the apparatus, as well as to inform the payment for services provided to nodes operated by an agent or agency independent of the operating agency of the apparatus, with these prices and payments further able to vary with internal or external circumstance or considerations. In various embodiments, said prices and payments may be set by means of a bidding process through an interface or interfaces of the apparatus. In various embodiments, the practice of discounting based on volume may be avoided. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, particularly applicable to a user or users in geographically remote areas, the coordinating system will identify the time at which a collection, delivery or other activity is most likely to place minimum demand on the resource of the apparatus and thus be cheapest; this information can be shared with a user or users through the interface, even in a limited SMS interface embodiment. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, payment made regarding a node or nodes operated byan agent or agency independent of the operating agency of the apparatus is proportional at least in part to the degree to which recently requested functions of said node or nodes have been is correctly discharged. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, a user feedback and/or review system is employed. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, all payment of all kinds is made at the time of agreement of the transactions. In various embodiments, payment is not limited to currency; an agent or agency operating a node or nodes, for example, may be paid with an agreed amount of use of the apparatus. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, information regarding past and current activity of the apparatus is used alongside information from current and anticipated external conditions (including but not limited to weather, public holidays and sports events) and other relevant information to create detailed time and location-specific demand and activity forecasts, which are factored into current and near-term routing and exchange calculations, with gaps between forecast and actual demand analysed and used to improve the accuracy of future forecasts, with the nature of the feedback also accounted for to avoid the feedback itself creating errors, and with a potential for further error always recognised. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum amount of computational power economically available is used with the minimum amount of protocols or computational short-cuts to calculate the most efficient routings and exchanges that meet user requests. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, planning of coordinated activity may be accomplished using protocols in part or in whole, or mathematical and/or computational shortcuts used, to reduce the complexity of the mathematical and/or computational problem of co-ordination, or computing activity distributed across multiple systems. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, planned item movement may default to the node already planned to travel in a direction nearest that of the item destination, with further protocol or calculation steps as necessary.

In various embodiments, calculations may be made less frequently.

In various embodiments, priority in calculation may be given to items requiring soonest movement, based on their current distance to destination and time required compared to time remaining before the committed delivery time; the routing of other items may then follow protocols or less intensive calculations.

In various embodiments, the geographical area served by the apparatus may be divided into sub-areas, the borders between sub-areas being selected for a relatively low number of item or node movements being made across them, the border areas being coordinated with protocols or other calculating methods; the reduction in size of a single calculation serving to reduce exponential increase in complexity with size.

In various embodiments, the nodes in operation may be divided into sub-groups, the borders between sub-groups being selected for a relatively low number of item or node movements being made across them, the border areas being coordinated with protocols or other calculating methods; the reduction in size of a single calculation serving to reduce exponential increase in complexity with size.

In various embodiments, the items within and anticipated to enter the is apparatus may be divided into sub-groups, the borders between sub-groups being selected for a relatively low number of item or node movements being made across them, the border areas being coordinated with protocols or other calculating methods; the reduction in size of a single calculation serving to reduce exponential increase in complexity with size.

In various embodiments, sub-groups of areas, nodes and/or items may be created based by dividing them by priority, by geography, arbitrarily or otherwise into multiple sets, then performing calculations sequentially on the sets, the reduction in size of a single calculation serving to reduce exponential increase in complexity with size, and where the earlier calculations may create a simplified or aggregated result and therefore reduce further the complexity of subsequent calculations. The embodiments are not limited in this context or the several above contexts.

In various embodiments, modelling, prediction, control and analysis of the functioning of the apparatus may be performed using principles of fluid dynamics. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, users may place items in the keeping of the operating agency of the apparatus, with instructions to the operating agency of the apparatus to sell the items on behalf of the user. In this embodiment, title may still only be held by one party at a time, for the avoidance of development of instruments such as promissory notes or of fractional reserve banking based on goods in storage. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In a preferred embodiment, an interface to the apparatus facilitates exchange of information and suitable media content to allow negotiation and agreement of bilateral and/or multilateral trade among users, in which the physical movement and/or transfer of ownership of items agreed in said transactions is completed through said apparatus. In this preferred embodiment, producers and consumers may deal directly with each other, avoiding long and/or complex supply chains. In this preferred embodiment, the use of currency is not a prerequisite in these transactions; multilateral barter for example is supported, the interface serving as a clearing house for such transactions. In this preferred embodiment, the design and logic of said interface is determined to support human needs for communication, trust and friendship along with the creation of mutual economic benefit. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Claims

CLAIMS1 An apparatus for transportation and/or storage of items, being comprised of: two or more nodes to perform automated induction, internal movement, internal storage and expulsion of physical items, and to perform automated exchange of physical items between and/or among said nodes, with two or more of said nodes being able to travel between geographical locations including those within and/or separated by public areas; and one or more system or systems to coordinate the movements and operations of said nodes.
2 The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus contains one or more additional nodes such as the nodes described in claim 1 except that these additional nodes lack automation and/or capability for some or all functions of induction, internal movement, internal storage, expulsion or exchanging.
3 The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, in which one or more interfaces provide a user or users, or a potential user or users, with a means to interact with said apparatus.
4 The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a user or users have the option to select that an item or items be available to a specified target area.
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a user or users have the option to select that an item or items are moved to the location of a specified location-transmitting device or devices.
6 The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an item is fully or partially enclosed by a reusable container or containers and where said container or containers are able to be inflated or otherwise fully or partly filled.
7 The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an item is fully or partially enclosed by a reusable container or containers and where said container or containers are able to be inflated or otherwise fully or partly filled with any material or combination of materials conducive to the maintenance of the item in a desired temperature range.
8 The apparatus according to any claims 3 to 7, in which an interface or interfaces facilitate exchange of information, negotiation and agreement of bilateral and/or multilateral trade among users, in which the physical movement and/or transfer of ownership of items agreed in said transactions is completed through said apparatus.