Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for monitoring packages in transit within a network to determine which packages are at risk of being delivered after a stated commit time. In general, package fingerprints that define events expected to occur for the package while in transit and define thresholds for those events are generated from historical data of events occurring in the logistics network for packages in transit. Those thresholds may be applied to packages in real time as the events for the packages are occurring while the packages are in transit to then determine a level of risk for any package that has an event that occurs after the threshold for the event. Attention can be given to those packages that are at a sufficient level of risk.
Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for providing enhanced automated access to a dispatched personal delivery device that can transport a shipment item within the device according to a dispatched logistics transaction. External sensors (e.g., cameras, proximity sensors, microphones) on the delivery device detect a person outside the dispatched personal delivery device. A controller on the delivery device authenticates that the detected person is an authorized participant to the dispatched logistics transaction based upon sensor data generated by the external sensors. An actuator on the dispatched personal delivery device provides access to within the dispatched personal delivery device to permit the dispatched logistics transaction by the detected person when the detected person has been authenticated to be the authorized participant to the dispatched logistics transaction. The delivery device may then auto-confirm the transaction using internal sensors, and interact with a server, which may instruct the delivery device with corrective actions.
An improved system detects an environmental anomaly in a shipping container and initiates a mediation response through a generated layered alert notification. The system includes sensor-based ID nodes associated with packages within the container, and a command node mounted to the container communicating with the ID nodes and an external transceiver on a vehicle transporting the container. The command node is programmed to detect sensor data from the ID nodes; compare the sensor data to package environmental thresholds in context data related to each ID node; detect the environmental anomaly when the comparison indicates an environmental condition for at least one package exceeds its environmental threshold; responsively generate a layered alert notification identifying a mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon the comparison; and transmit the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the mediation action.
An improved auto-chocking enabled cargo dolly that is towable by ground support equipment. The dolly has a frame, wheels attached to the frame that support the frame and rotate to allow movement of the frame, a tow bar, a linkage in communication with the tow bar and that actuates when the tow bar is raised, and a wheel engagement chocking system fixed to the dolly frame and disposed to selectively engage at least one of the wheels attached to the dolly frame. The wheel engagement system is responsive to a position of the linkage, where the wheel engagement chocking system applies pressure directly to at least one of the wheels to hold the wheel(s) in place when the linkage is actuated by the tow bar.
B60D 1/36 - Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers
B60D 1/26 - Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for remote control, e.g. for releasing
B60T 1/02 - Arrangements of braking elements, i.e. of those parts where braking effect occurs acting by retarding wheels
B60T 7/12 - Brake-action initiating means for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger
B60T 7/20 - Brake-action initiating means for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger specially adapted for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of trailer
B60T 8/17 - Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking
5.
IMPROVED UNIT LOAD DEVICE AND PANEL ENHANCEMENTS FOR A UNIT LOAD DEVICE
A replaceable charging panel is provided for a unit load device having a plurality of walls. The replaceable charging panel may have a base member that is configured to removably attach to a first wall of the plurality of walls of the unit load device; and an electrical charging device mounted to the base member. A unit load device is also provided that has a plurality of walls and a replaceable charging panel.
An improved cargo dolly for transporting cargo is described having a mobile dolly frame, a main shaft on the frame, a lever proximate to a first part of the frame (where the lever is movable relative to the frame and in responsive communication with the main shaft), a first set of transfer sprockets mounted to the main shaft, a secondary shaft rotatably disposed at a second part of the frame (where the first part is remote from the second part), a second set of transfer sprockets mounted to the secondary shaft, a chain disposed about the first set of transfer sprockets and the second set of transfer sprockets, and a locking pin having a first end fixed to the secondary shaft and a second end configured as an angled latch. Rotation of the lever responsively causes the locking pin to remotely rotate at the second part of the frame.
B60P 1/00 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
B60P 3/00 - Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
B60P 7/00 - Securing or covering of load on vehicles
B62B 3/00 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
B62B 3/02 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
B62B 5/04 - Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
B62D 21/00 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
7.
ENHANCED SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED AUTOMATED AND AUTONOMOUS OPERATION OF LOGISTICS GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
An improved retrofit assembly for ground support equipment providing autonomous operation of the logistics ground support equipment (GSE). The assembly has a refit control system attached to the GSE (with a vehicle dynamics control processor and a data preprocessing control processor), retrofitted proprioceptive sensors coupled to the vehicle dynamics control processor monitoring operating parameters and characteristics of the GSE, retrofitted exteroceptive sensors coupled to the data preprocessing control processor that monitor an exterior environment of the GSE, and refit actuators for different control elements on the GSE and to autonomously alter motion of the GSE. The refit control system programmatically receives sensor data from the proprioceptive sensors and exteroceptive sensors; optimizes a path for the GSE based upon the different sensor data; and activates at least one of the actuators according to the optimized path for the GSE.
G01C 21/36 - Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
8.
A MODULAR AUTONOMOUS BOT APPARATUS ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSPORTING AN ITEM BEING SHIPPED
A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.
B60P 1/02 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element
B60P 1/16 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading with a tipping movement of load supporting or containing element actuated by fluid-operated mechanisms
B60P 1/44 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load supporting or containing element
B60P 1/64 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading the load supporting or containing element being readily removable
9.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED COLLISION AVOIDANCE ON LOGISTICS GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT USING MULTI-SENSOR DETECTION FUSION
Enhanced systems and methods for collision avoidance of a high value asset with reflective beacons around it using multi-sensor data fusion on a mobile industrial vehicle. The system has a sensing processing system with a LiDAR and camera sensors, and a multi¬ processor module responsive to the different sensors. The sensing processing system fuses the different sensor data to locate the reflective beacons. A model predictive controller on the vehicle determines possible control solutions where each defines a threshold allowable speed for the vehicle at discrete moments based upon an estimated path to a breaching point projected from the reflective beacons, and then identifies an optimal one of the control solutions based upon a performance cost function and associated with an optimal threshold allowable speed. The system has a vehicle actuator configured to respond and alter vehicle movement to avoid a collision when the vehicle exceeds the optimal threshold allowable speed.
B60Q 1/26 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
B60Q 1/48 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for parking purposes
G01S 15/00 - Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
G01S 15/93 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
G05D 5/02 - Control of dimensions of material of thickness, e.g. of rolled material
10.
SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR SELF-ADJUSTING A BROADCAST SETTING OF A NODE IN A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK
Methods, apparatus and systems that are directed towards a tangible wireless node-based implementation for self-adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network. In general, the node (such as an ID node, a master node, or container-related node) detects a broadcast modification event (such as a time-based event, an association-based event, a location-based event, and/or a sensor-based event). In response to this detection, the node then accesses a broadcast profile stored within the node to determine an updated value for the broadcast setting of the node based upon the detected broadcast modification event. Pursuant to the broadcast profile, the updated value may be a modified RF transmission output power level setting, a modified frequency setting, and/or a timing setting that changes how the node broadcasts messages. Once the updated value is determined, the node then self-adjusts the broadcast setting from a current value to the updated value.
Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for enhanced monitoring for an event candidate within a wireless node network. Such a system, for example, may include a server at a top level within the wireless node network, an ID node disposed at a low level within the wireless node network, and a master node disposed at a middle level within the wireless node network. The master node, which separately communicates with the server and the ID node and executes event detection code stored on its memory storage, is operative to detect a first and a second advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over a communication path with the ID node, compare an observed parameter of each of the first and second advertising signal (such as signal strength), identify the event candidate based upon the comparison, and use a second communication path to report the identified event candidate to the server.
Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for quantifying space within a container using a removable scanning sensor node. In general, the removable scanning sensor node identifies a type of the container, uses at least one depth sensor on the removable scanning sensor node to scan the space within the container to generate scan data, where the removable scanning sensor node is temporarily mounted within the container and above the space within the container, and where the depth sensor is oriented to scan the space within the container from above the space and within the container. The removable scanning sensor node then determines an unoccupied amount of the space within the container based upon the scan data.
Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for managing logistics information related to a container using a container interface display apparatus. The container interface display apparatus may comprise a mountable housing, a display screen, a memory, a scanner, and a wireless communication interface. The housing is coupled to the container to permit the scanner to identify an item being loaded for shipment within the container. The scanner identifies the item, and the apparatus records an association in memory as part of managed logistics information that reflects an established and tracked relationship between the container and the item. The apparatus increments package count information (another part of the managed logistics information) to reflect that the item is loaded within the container. The apparatus generates electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen to include at least a portion of the managed logistics information related to the container.
Methods, apparatus, and systems that enhance delivery management of an item being shipped using a mobile node-enabled logistics receptacle are described that involve improved release control of the item and corrective delivery notifications related to the item. For example, a method for enhanced delivery management may a mobile node-enabled logistics receptacle identifying an intended delivery location associated with the item, detecting a current location of the mobile node-enabled logistics receptacle, and selectively releasing the item from the mobile node-enabled logistics receptacle based upon the detected current location of the mobile node- enabled logistics receptacle and the identified intended delivery location. Further detected conditions may be used when selectively releasing the item, such as successfully establishing a validation connection to a particular node in order to confirm or authorize release of the item or detecting signals from nodes associated with the intended delivery location.
Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting a security threat. The methods and systems comprise detecting that a first device is coupled with the first I/O interface, responsive to the detection that the first device is coupled with the first I/O interface, temporarily disabling data communication between the first and second I/O interfaces, acquiring a file from the detected first device via the first I/O interface, determining whether the acquired file poses a security threat, and responsive to a determination that the acquired file does not pose a security threat, enabling the data communication between the first and second I/O interfaces.
Methods of operation and systems are described for node communication within a hierarchical wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes on a first level, a master node on a second level, and a server at a third level. A first of the ID nodes associates with the master node. The first ID node cannot self-determine its location while the master node is adapted to self-determine its location via location circuitry. The first ID node captures relevant node information, such as profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and/or sensor data. The relevant node information may be captured from another ID node. The first ID node begins operating in a pseudo master node mode so that it can transmit the relevant node information to the server without using the master node as an intermediary to the server.
A system for tracking at least one object configured to be transported by at least one vehicle may include at least one computer system. The at least one computer system may be configured to determine at least one location of the at least one vehicle and determine at least one location of the at least one object. The at least one computer system may be further configured to determine at least one location of at least one geofence adjacent the at least one vehicle based on the at least one location of the at least one vehicle. Also, the at least one computer system may be configured to determine whether the at least one object is located within the at least one geofence to determine whether a load of the at least one vehicle includes the at least one object.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06K 17/00 - Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups , e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
G01S 13/74 - Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
18.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING SHIPMENT OF AN ITEM USING A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK
Methods and systems that manage shipment of an item using a wireless node network are disclosed having at least one ID node, a plurality of master nodes, and a server. The server receives shipping information that registers the ID node and the item. The ID node may be associated to a first master node prior to pick-up, with association information sent to the server. The ID node may be disassociated from the first master node when it associates with another master node along a predicted path traveled by the item and ID node. The disassociation/association information is reported to the server, which tracks the ID node associations and location. The ID node may be disassociated from the second master node when it associates with a final master node along the predicted path traveled by the item and ID node and after a drop-off event of the item.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
Methods and systems are disclosed for managing shipped physical objects. The methods and systems comprise receiving data associated with a journey of the shipped object and determining, using a processor, alert conditions based on the received data. Alert conditions are representative of risk of damage, loss, or delay associated with the shipped object. In addition, the methods and systems comprise transmitting one or more alternative options for mitigating the alert condition to a user, receiving a selection of one of the alternative options, and modifying the journey based on the received selection.
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for resolving a risk associated with a shipped physical object. The methods and servers comprise associating a time with a geographical region. The methods and servers also comprise receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object. In addition, the methods and servers comprise, determining that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region. The sensor devices report location data to a server at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region. The sensor devices also receive an indication of a panic mode. In addition, the sensor devices also report location data to the server at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.
A method of management of a communication device in an aircraft may include transitioning the communication device from a normal mode to a disabled mode based on a calculated device sleep time based on data associated with transportation information of the device. One of these modes may be a state of the device in which a transceiver of the device is deactivated and the other mode may be a state of the device in which the transceiver is activated. Therefore, the device sleep time determines when the wireless device's transceiver may not be activated.
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for verifying integrity of a cluster. The methods, systems, and computer-readable media may receive data identifying a first set of packages at a first location and generating a cluster based on the received data. Thereafter, additional data identifying a second set of packages at a second location may be received and the integrity of the cluster at the one or more additional locations may be verified. The integrity of the cluster may be verified based on a comparison of a verification cluster that is generated based on the received data at the second location with the originally generated cluster.
There is disclosed a method of providing information about a package in transit. The method involves receiving environmental data collected by a sensor associated with the package during transit and identifying contextual data about the package that is associated with the environmental data. The method also involves selectively providing access to the environmental and contextual data together as elements in an information feed to a plurality of parties, wherein the contextual data comprises at least one comment made by a party on an element in the information feed, and wherein one or more elements in the information feed are listed in chronological order beginning at a start time of the transit of the package.
G08B 25/10 - Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using wireless transmission systems
24.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY SIGNING FOR A DELIVERED PACKAGE
There is disclosed a method. The method includes identifying, using a mobile device, an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination. The electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party. The method also includes electronically signing, using the mobile device, for the at least one physical package. This includes initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party. For example, the mobile device may possess a corresponding private key of the particular party. The private key may be able to undo the encryption of the token that was performed using the public key. Thus, the mobile device may be able to decrypt the encrypted electronic token to determine the original electronic token. The mobile device may return the decrypted electronic token verifying that a party in possession of and/or accompanying the mobile device is authorized to receive the package.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
25.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GEO-STAGING OF SENSOR DATA THROUGH DISTRIBUTED GLOBAL (CLOUD) ARCHITECTURE
There is disclosed a method of staging real-time data in proximity to a mobile device. The method includes determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device and identifying a storage device located in proximity to the determined geographic location. The method also includes enabling real-time data published by the mobile device or provided to the mobile device to be stored on the identified storage device.
There is provided a method for distributing sensor data. The method includes receiving, from a requesting device, a request to access first sensor-collectable data associated with at least one package. The requesting device is authenticated to access the first sensor-collectable data. And when second sensor-collectable data is associated with a predetermined value, the method also includes denying the request for access.
The present disclosure relates to an information gathering method. The information gathering method includes identifying a location of a package, the location associated with one or more location-based restrictions on collecting data. The information gathering method also includes restricting access to sensor-collectable data associated with the package in accordance with the or more location-based restrictions.
patents
