U.S. patent application number 16/137454 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-24 for systems and methods to deter theft of commercial products.
The applicant listed for this patent is Walmart Apollo, LLC. Invention is credited to Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly, Bruce W. Wilkinson.
Application Number | 20190025831 16/137454 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62107831 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190025831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mattingly; Todd D. ; et
al. |
January 24, 2019 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETER THEFT OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Abstract
In some embodiments, autonomous product delivery systems and
methods are provided herein useful to deter theft of commercial
products via an autonomous ground vehicle ("AGV"). In some
embodiments, systems are provided to deter theft of commercial
products, and may comprise: an AGV configured to transport
commercial products to delivery locations that includes control
circuits, which are communicatively coupled to sensors, container
storage areas housing commercial products for delivery, defensive
elements positioned proximate to the commercial products and
configured to physical alter the commercial products and render
them unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. The control
circuits can determine the presence of unknown third parties
positioned next to the AGV and, in response thereto, determine
occurrences of adverse events associated with the AGV. Some
embodiments, in response to determining the occurrence of adverse
events, the control circuits can activate the defensive elements to
physically alter the one or more commercial products.
Inventors: |
Mattingly; Todd D.;
(Bentonville, AR) ; Wilkinson; Bruce W.; (Rogers,
AR) ; High; Donald R.; (Noel, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Walmart Apollo, LLC |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62107831 |
Appl. No.: |
16/137454 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15813911 |
Nov 15, 2017 |
10120383 |
|
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16137454 |
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62423110 |
Nov 16, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 13/00 20130101;
F41H 9/00 20130101; G05D 1/0088 20130101; G06Q 50/28 20130101; F41H
7/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05D 1/00 20060101
G05D001/00; F41H 7/00 20060101 F41H007/00; G06Q 50/28 20060101
G06Q050/28; F41H 9/00 20060101 F41H009/00; F41H 13/00 20060101
F41H013/00 |
Claims
1. An autonomous product delivery system to deter theft of
commercial products, comprising: an autonomous ground vehicle
("AGV") on a commercial product delivery route and configured to
transport a commercial product to a delivery location comprising: a
control circuit; a container storage area communicatively coupled
to the control circuit and housing therein one or more commercial
products for delivery; a sensor communicatively coupled to the
control circuit and configured to transmit sensor data to the
control circuit; a defensive element communicatively coupled to the
control circuit, positioned proximate to the one or more commercial
products, and configured to physically alter the one or more
commercial products and thereby render the one or more commercial
products unsatisfactory for their intended purpose; and the control
circuit configured to: determine, using the sensor data, an
occurrence of an adverse event associated with the AGV; and
activate the defensive element when the occurrence of the adverse
event is determined to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adverse event comprises a
loss of wireless communication capability by the AGV for a
predetermined time period.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the adverse event comprises a
loss of primary power to the AGV for a predetermined time
period.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the adverse event comprises
detecting an unauthorized attempt to gain access to the AGV.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the defensive element comprises a
reservoir storing a chemical, and a dispenser coupled with the
reservoir, wherein the activation of the defensive element
comprises activating the dispenser to dispense the chemical from
the reservoir onto a surface of or within the one or more
commercial products to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the defensive element comprises
an expanding component, and wherein the activation of the defensive
element comprises activating the expanding component to at least
partially compress the one or more commercial products to
physically alter the one or more commercial products.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the defensive element comprises a
projectile discharging system, and wherein the activation of the
defensive element comprises activating the projectile discharging
system to discharge one or more projectiles into at least a portion
of the one or more commercial products to physically alter the one
or more commercial products.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the defensive element comprises a
material having a high potential energy, and wherein the activation
of the defensive element comprises activating the material to cause
the material to undergo an event selected from the group consisting
of: a detonation and a deflagration.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further
configured to: receive a notification to disarm from a third party;
and deactivate the defensive element in response to receiving the
notification to disarm.
10. A method of autonomous product delivery to deter theft of
commercial products, comprising: determining, using sensor data
from a sensor of an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) on a commercial
product delivery route, an occurrence of an adverse event
associated with the AGV, the AGV comprising a container storage
area and a defensive element positioned proximate to the container
storage area, the container storage area housing one or more
commercial products therein, the defensive element configured to
physically alter the one or more commercial products and thereby
render the one or more commercial products unsatisfactory for their
intended purpose; determining, using the sensor data and through
the AGV, an occurrence of an adverse event associated with the AGV;
and activating, using the sensor data and through the AGV, the
defensive element when the occurrence of the adverse event is
determined to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the
occurrence of the adverse event comprises processing, using the
sensor data through the AGV, an image captured within a threshold
distance relative to the AGV; and detecting, through the AGV, the
presence an unknown object included in the captured image, the
unknown object comprising a threshold relationship to predefined
parameters defining a biological entity or an autonomous
vehicle.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the
occurrence of the adverse event comprises detecting, through the
AGV, a loss of wireless communication by the AGV for a
predetermined time period.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the
occurrence of the adverse event comprises detecting, through the
AGV, a loss of primary power to the AGV for a predetermined time
period.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the
occurrence of the adverse event comprises detecting, through the
AGV, an unauthorized attempt to gain access to the AGV.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of activating the
defensive element comprises dispensing, through the AGV, a chemical
on to a surface of or within the one or more commercial products to
physically alter the one or more commercial products.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of activating the
defensive element comprises at least partially compressing, through
the AGV, the one or more commercial products to physically alter
the one or more commercial products.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of activating the
defensive element comprises discharging, through the AGV, one or
more projectiles into at least a portion of the one or more
commercial products to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of activating the
defensive element comprises causing, through the AGV, a high
potential energy material to undergo an event selected from the
group consisting of: a detonation and a deflagration.
19. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving, through
the AGV, a notification to disarm from a third party; and
deactivating, through the AGV, the defensive element in response to
receiving the notification to disarm.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a Continuation Application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/813,911, filed Nov. 15, 2017, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/423,110, filed
Nov. 16, 2016, which are all incorporated by reference in their
entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to deterring theft of
commercial products.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Delivering commercial products via autonomous or
semi-autonomous vehicles to customers typically requires less time
compared to traditional (i.e., manned) delivery services. Such
decreases in delivery time can potentially aid merchants in
providing psychologically beneficial shopping events to their
customers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and
methods pertaining to deterring theft of commercial products. This
description includes drawings, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a system to
deter theft of commercial products, in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary process of deterring
theft of commercial products, in accordance with several
embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary system for use in
implementing methods, techniques, devices, apparatuses, systems,
servers, sources and deterring theft of commercial products, in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0008] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and
clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,
the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements
in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to
help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present
invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are
useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often
not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these
various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions
and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of
occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such
specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The
terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical
meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons
skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where
different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] In some embodiments, autonomous product delivery systems are
provided to deter theft of commercial products, and may comprise:
an AGV on a commercial product delivery route and configured to
transport one or more commercial products to one or more delivery
locations. The AGV may include one or more control circuits, one or
more container storage areas communicatively coupled to the one or
more control circuits and housing therein one or more commercial
products for delivery, one or more sensors communicatively coupled
to the control circuit and configured to transmit sensor data to
the control circuit, and one or more defensive elements
communicatively coupled to the one or more control circuits. The
one or more defensive elements may be positioned proximate to the
commercial products and configured to physically alter the one or
more commercial products and thereby render the one or more
commercial products unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. The
control circuit(s) can determine the presence of one or more
unknown third parties positioned within a threshold distance
relative to the AGV. In response to determining the presence of the
unknown third parties, the control circuit(s) can determine
occurrences of one or more adverse events associated with the AGV.
Some embodiments, in response to determining the occurrence of an
adverse event, the control circuit(s) can activate the one or more
defensive elements to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
[0010] In some embodiments, methods of autonomous product delivery
are provided for deterring theft of commercial products. Some of
these methods determine, using sensor data from a sensor of an AGV
on a commercial product delivery route, a presence of one or more
unknown third parties positioned within a threshold distance
relative to the AGV. The AGV may include one or more container
storage areas as well as one or more defensive elements positioned
proximate to each of the container storage areas. Each container
storage area may be configured to house one or more commercial
products therein. The defensive element(s) may be configured to
physically alter the commercial product(s) and thereby render them
unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. When the presence of the
one or more unknown third parties is determined, the occurrence of
one or more adverse events associated with the AGV may be
determined using sensor data and through the AGV. One or more
defensive elements may be activated to physically alter the one or
more commercial products when the occurrence of the adverse
event(s) is determined.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a system
100 to deter theft of commercial products, in accordance with some
embodiments. The system, in some applications, includes one or more
autonomous ground vehicles ("AGVs") 110, and one or more computing
devices 130 configured to communicate over a computer and/or one or
more communication networks 140. Network 140 can be, for example, a
local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the
Internet, or a combination of the two, and includes wired,
wireless, or fiber optic connections. In general, network 140 can
be any combination of connections and protocols that can support
communications between computing devices 130 and AGVs 110, in
accordance with some embodiments. Computing devices 130 can
facilitate the delivery of commercial products. Computing devices
130 can each be a desktop computer, laptop computer, a thin client,
a wearable computing device, or a mobile device, including but not
limited to, smart phones, phablets, and tablets.
[0012] The computing devices 130 can be configured to transmit one
or more delivery orders to the AGVs 110, receive information
related to one or more adverse events associated with the AGVs 110
(e.g.,), receive geospatial information on the location of the AGVs
110, similar central control functionalities, or a combination of
two or more thereof. For example, delivery orders can include
information that instructs the AGVs 110 to deliver one or more
commercial products to one or more delivery recipients (e.g.,
customers, giftees, other AGVs, warehouses, distribution centers,
similar recipients, or a combination of two or more thereof).
Delivery orders include information associated with one or more
commercial products (e.g., product names, manufacturer name,
manufacture date, serial number, and/or similar commercial product
information), delivery destinations, commercial product pickup
locations, delivery recipients, routes, similar delivery
information, or a combination of two or more thereof
[0013] The AGV 110 is a vehicle configured to autonomously traverse
one or more intended environments in accordance with one or more
routes and/or determined paths, and typically without the
intervention of a human, while transporting commercial products. In
some instances, however, a remote operator may temporarily or
permanently take over operation of the AGV 110 using feedback
information from the AGV 110 (e.g., audio and/or video content,
sensor information, etc.) communicated to a remote navigation
center and/or central control system (e.g., via network 140 or
other similar distributed network). AGV 110 can comprise one or
more data stores 116, sensors 120, storage areas 122, and defensive
elements 124 each in communication with one or more control
circuits 118. In some embodiments, storage areas 122 and defensive
elements 124 are implemented together through a single device.
[0014] Further, an AGV 110 can include one or more propulsion
systems (e.g., motors, wheels, tank treads, etc.) that enable the
AGV to at least accelerate, deaccelerate, and/or traverse an
environment using a navigation coordinate system, such as GPS,
coordinate mapping information, beacon location information,
cellular signal triangulation, other navigation systems and/or
information, or a combination of two or more of such navigation
systems and/or information. Further, the navigation coordinate
system can be configured to provide location information, and in
some instances time information. In some embodiments, the AGV 110
is configured to operate in different weather conditions, and/or
can be readily modified depending on expected weather conditions
(e.g., wheels replaced with tank treads when it is anticipated that
the AGV 110 may encounter snow and/or ice). AGV 110 can, in some
applications, be further configured to communicate with other AGVs,
autonomous vehicles, transport vehicles, multiple different types
of computing devices, a remote central control system, other
computing devices, remote databases, and/or other such devices. The
AGV 110 typically includes one or more wired and/or wireless
transceivers enabling one or more different modes of communication
(e.g., cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.).
[0015] Storage areas 122 can be configured to store one or more
commercial products, in accordance with some embodiments. For
example, commercial products can include, but are not limited to,
one or more perishable products, non-perishable products,
pharmaceuticals, apparel items, chemical products, similar
commercial products, or a combination of two or more thereof.
Storage areas 122 are typically configured to secure the commercial
products stored therein. In certain embodiments, storage areas 122
can include one or more locking mechanisms communicatively coupled
to control circuits 118. For example, storage areas 122 can be
climate controlled (e.g., pressure, temperature, humidity, or a
combination of two or more thereof). Storage areas 122 can each
include one or more defensive elements 124 positioned proximate to
one or more surfaces of the storage areas 122. In embodiments
wherein a storage area 122 includes two or more defensive elements
124 positioned proximate thereto, the defensive elements 124 can
employ one or more types of defensive mechanisms. For example, the
defensive elements 124 can be configured to include one or more
reservoirs storing one or more chemicals, and one or more
dispensers coupled with the reservoirs, wherein activation of the
defensive element 124 causes activation of the dispensers to
dispense the chemicals from the reservoirs onto a surface of or
within the one or more commercial products included in the storage
area 122.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the defensive elements 124 can be
configured to include one or more expanding components, wherein the
activation of the defensive element 124 can include activating the
one or more expanding components to at least partially compress the
commercial products included in storage area 122. In other
embodiments, the defensive elements 124 can include one or more
projectile discharging systems, wherein activation of the one or
more defensive elements can include activating the one or more
projectile discharging systems to discharge one or more projectiles
into at least a portion of the one or more commercial products
included in the storage area 122. Alternatively or additionally,
the defensive elements 124 can include one or more high potential
energy materials, wherein activation of the defensive elements 124
can includes activating the materials in a manner to cause the
materials to undergo a detonation or a deflagration proximate to
the one or more commercial products stored in the storage area
122.
[0017] The AGV 110 further typically includes one or more sensors
120. The sensors 120 can include substantially any relevant device
that provides information to the AGV 110 to be used in navigation,
customer detection, adverse event detection, distance measurements,
environment mapping, location determination, and/or other such
sensor information. In some embodiments, the sensor 120 includes
one or more devices that can be used to capture data related to one
or more objects located within a threshold distance relative to AGV
110. For example, one or more sensors 120 can be included and/or
cooperated with the AGV 110 that include, but are not limited to,
one or more sensors to detect an object within one or more
threshold or predetermined distances of the AGV 110, capture data
within a threshold distance relative to AGV 110, detect movement,
capture images and/or video (e.g., thermographic, infrared, and/or
multispectral images), capture images of entities attempting to
tamper with the AGV 110, capture acceleration data, capture
orientation data, generate geospatial data, capture sound (e.g., to
capture audible authentication codes and/or voice prints,
threatening language, verbal input from customers, verbal inquiries
from customers, etc.), capture distance data (e.g., laser sensors,
sonar sensors, sensors that measure distance by emitting and
capturing a wireless signal, which can comprise light and/or sound
etc.), scan 3D objects, other such sensors capabilities, or a
combination of two or more of such sensor capabilities.
[0018] For example, one or more sensors 120 can be communicatively
coupled to one or more access panels of the AGV 110 and/or
positioned adjacent to such access panels in a manner to detect
when such panels are tampered with. In some embodiments, one or
more data stores 116 provide an information repository that
typically stores programs 112 and files 114. The AGV 110 may, in
some embodiments, further access one or more programs 112, files
114 and/or other relevant information external to AGV 110 and
accessible via network 140. Files 114 can comprise information
transmitted by computing device 130, data captured by the sensors
120, customer information, customer identifier information (e.g.,
customer biometric data, authentication codes, similar identifying
information, or a combination of two or more thereof), product
information, customer order information, navigation and/or routing
information, location information, mapping information, AGV
identifier information, communication procedures, adverse event
information, sensor data, images, video, historic information,
and/or other such information, and/or other such information.
[0019] Files 114 can comprise predetermined biometric data
associated with one or more customers (i.e., delivery recipients),
which can be used for authentication purposes, and/or determining
adverse events. Applicable biometric data can include, but is not
limited to voice prints, iris-patterns, retina-patterns, hand
geometries, earlobe geometries, facial landmarks, thermographic
signatures, vascular patterns, skin texture data points, and/or
walking gate data points. Predetermined biometric data can include
data previously captured by the sensors 120, provided by customers,
external sensors, computing devices 130, and/or received from an
external central computing system.
[0020] As described above, the AGV 110 may further include programs
112 that are stored in the data store 116 and/or other memory, and
utilized at least by the one or more control circuits 118. In some
applications, one or more of the programs 112 are software that are
executed by the one or more control circuits 118 to facilitate the
operation, control, commercial activity, rendering one or more
commercial products unsatisfactory for their intended purpose,
detecting adverse events, and the like of the AGV 110. Adverse
events, for example, can refer to events that typically have a high
correlation with theft of commercial products. In certain
embodiments, adverse events can include the presence of one or more
unknown third parties positioned within a threshold distance
relative to the AGV 110, a loss of wireless communication
capability (e.g., with a central control system, computing devices
130, and/or similar computing devices) by the AGV 110, a loss of
primary power supply by the AGV 110, attempts to gain unauthorized
access to the AGV 110, similar adverse events, or a combination of
two or more thereof.
[0021] In some embodiments, the one or more control circuits 118,
invoking one or more programs 112, can use data generated by
sensors 120 to determine when one or more adverse events occurs
relative to the AGVs 110. The control circuits 118, invoking
programs 112, can activate the one or more defensive elements 124
when the occurrence of adverse events are determined. Additionally
or alternatively, control circuits 120, invoking programs 112, can
generate one or more types of biometric data (discussed above)
using data captured via sensors 120, and determine whether the
generated biometric data has one or more threshold relationships to
predetermined biometric data included in files 114. Here, generated
biometric data having the one or more threshold relationships to
predefined parameters identifying customers (i.e. a known parties)
and generated biometric data lacking such threshold relationships
typically identify unknown third parties (i.e., an adverse event).
For example, unknown third parties can include unknown persons,
biological entities, AGVs, or a combination of two or more
thereof.
[0022] For example, an AGV 110 can receive one or more commercial
products for storage in storage area 122 at a warehouse,
brick-and-mortar commercial entity, a distribution center, another
AGV, similar entities, or a combination of two or more thereof. The
AGV 110 can further receive, from computing device 130, one or more
delivery orders associated with the received commercial products
that include customer names, customer identification information
(discussed above), delivery routes, delivery destination
information, similar delivery details, or a combination of two or
more thereof.
[0023] During attempts to service the one or more received delivery
orders, the control circuits 118 can invoke the programs 112 to
deter the theft of the one or more commercial products. For
example, the AGVs 110 can traverse an environment to engage in
delivering one or more commercial products, picking one or more
commercial products up for return, retrieving one or more
commercial products to subsequently be delivered to a location or
customer, obtaining video content, obtaining one or more samples
through the application of one or more sensors, performing one or
more commercial activities, perform one or more other relevant
tasks, or combination of two or more tasks. As discussed above, the
safety and/or normal operation of the AGVs 110 typically
necessitates the need for the AGVs 110 to have situational
awareness of its immediate environment.
[0024] The control circuits 118, invoking programs 112, can
instruct the sensors 120 to capture data of objects positioned
within a perimeter having a predetermined threshold distance
relative to the AGV. The perimeter may reflect the radius at which
the AGVs 110 can identify unknown third parties and take one or
more evasive actions in response thereof, a radius that reflects
the extent of the operational range of the one or more sensors 120,
a radius that compensates for AGV 110 velocity and supports normal
AGV operation (for example, data generation by sensors 120 and
subsequent processing thereof) at velocities, or a combination of
two or more of the aforementioned tasks. In certain embodiments,
the perimeter can be set by a central control circuit, computing
device 130, AGV 110, the defensive element 124 requirements, or any
combination of two or more thereof. The control circuits 118,
invoking programs 112, can use data captured by sensors 120 to
detect adverse events. As discussed above, adverse events typically
reflect activities that can have a probability of resulting in the
unauthorized access to one or more storage areas 122 by unknown
third parties.
[0025] For example, the control circuits 118, invoking programs
112, can use data captured by sensors 120 to detect the presence of
one or more unknown third parties as discussed above, and activate
one or more defensive elements 124 in response thereto. In certain
embodiments, the control circuits 118, invoking programs 112, can
instruct sensors 120 to transmit and receive one or more wireless
signals (e.g., a test signal) to a central control circuit,
computing device 130, another AGV, similar computing entities, or a
combination of two or more thereof. Here, an inability to transmit
and/or receive wireless signals reflects that sensors 120 are not
capable of wireless communication. In response to determining that
sensors 120 are unable to communicate wirelessly, control circuits
118, invoking programs 112, can activate one or more defensive
elements 124. Although not shown, AGVs 110 can comprise one or more
primary electrical power sources that can energize the one or more
propulsion systems, storage areas 122, sensors 120, control
circuits 118, or a combination of two or more thereof.
[0026] Here, the control circuits 118, invoking programs 118, can
instruct sensors 120 to capture data that reflects whether the one
or more propulsion systems, storage areas 122, sensors 120, control
circuits 118, or a combination of two or more thereof are receiving
power from the primary electrical power sources (i.e. have lost
primary power). In response to determining that one or more of the
aforementioned components have lost electrical communication with
the electrical primary power sources, control circuits 118,
invoking programs 112, can activate one or more defensive elements
124. In other embodiments, the control circuits 118, invoking
programs 112, can receive one or more triggering events from
sensors 120 when the sensors determine that one or more access
panels of AGV 110 and/or storage areas 122 are tampered with, and
activate one or more defensive elements 124.
[0027] In response to detecting one or more adverse events, AGVs
110 can activate the defensive elements 124. For example, each
storage area 122 can be equipped with one or more defensive
elements 124. Defensive elements 124 can be separate components
affixed to storage areas 122 or may be integrated therein. Each
storage areas 122 can include one or more types of defensive
elements 124 (discussed further below). Defensive elements 124 can
be permanently or temporarily affixed to surfaces of the storage
areas 122. In certain embodiments the defensive elements 124 can
comprise one or more reservoirs storing one or more chemicals and
one or more dispensers coupled to the reservoirs. In response to
detecting one or more adverse events, control circuits 118,
invoking programs 112, can instruct the defensive elements to
activate the dispensers to dispense the chemicals from the
reservoirs onto one or more surfaces of or within the commercial
products stored in the associated storage area 122.
[0028] The chemicals, for example, can include, but are not limited
to, saline, water, chlorine, caustic chemicals, noxious chemicals,
pungent chemicals, similar chemicals, or a combination of two or
more thereof. Here, dispensing the chemicals onto the surfaces of
the commercial products can result in the discoloration of the
commercial products, partial or complete disintegration of the
commercial products, olfactionally repelling the unknown third
party away from the commercial products, similar activities, or a
combination of two or more thereof.
[0029] In certain embodiments, the defensive elements 124 can
comprise one or more expanding components. In response to detecting
one or more adverse events, control circuits 118, invoking programs
112, can instruct the defensive elements 124 to activate the
expanding components to at least partially compress the commercial
products stored in the storage area 122. Here, for example, the
expanding components can be configured to compress, squash, crush,
break, perform similar structural activities, or a combination of
two or more thereof. For example, activating the expanding
components can render the commercial products operationally
inoperative, non-functioning, and/or inconsumable.
[0030] In other embodiments, the defensive elements 124 can
comprise one or more projectile discharging systems. In response to
detecting one or more adverse events, control circuits 118,
invoking programs 112, can instruct the defensive elements 124 to
activate the projectile discharging systems to discharge one or
more projectiles into at least a portion of the one or more
commercial products. The projectiles, for example, can include one
or more metallic materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, alloys,
tin, tungsten, lead, similar metals, or a combination of two or
more thereof). The projectiles can have a shape that is circular,
oblong, polygonal, similar geometric shapes, or a combination of
two or more thereof. In certain embodiments, the projectiles can be
frangible projectiles formed using one or more metallic powders
(e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, brass, zinc, tungsten, similar
metal, or a combination thereof) bound in one or more binders
(e.g., an adhesive, a wax, a polymer, similar materials, or a
combination thereof).
[0031] The use of frangible projectiles may reduce the probability
that components of the AGV 110 positioned beyond the storage areas
122 (e.g., any components of the AGV 110) may be compromised by the
projectiles when the projectile discharging systems are activated.
Alternatively or additionally, the use of frangible projectiles can
reduce the probability that pedestrians, unknown third parties,
similar individuals, or a combination of two or more thereof that
may be positioned proximate to the AGV 110 are injured by the
projectiles when the projectile discharging systems are activated.
In some embodiments, the projectile discharging systems can utilize
chemical energy and/or pressurized gas (e.g., air, CO.sub.2,
nitrous, O.sub.2, similar gases, or a combination of two or more
thereof) to discharge the projectiles. In certain embodiments,
activating the projectile discharging systems renders the
commercial products included in the storage areas 122 operationally
inoperative, non-functioning, inconsumable, similar structural
states, or a combination of two or more thereof.
[0032] Defensive elements 124 can be chosen to render particular
types of commercial products to be stored in storage area 122
unsatisfactory for their intended purpose when activated. For
example, the use of chemical dispersants may be suitable for
commercial products that can be deemed unsatisfactory for their
intended purpose when at least partially diluted, coagulated,
discolored, shrunken, disintegrated, emitting unpleasant odors,
similar physical abnormalities, or a combination of two or more
thereof (e.g., apparel items, perishable food items, non-perishable
food items, pharmaceuticals, similar commercial products, or a
combination of two or more thereof). The use of expanding
components, for example, may be suitable for commercial products
that may be deem unsatisfactory for their intended purpose when at
least partially compressed, broken, chipped, dented, bent, twisted,
similar structural phenomena, or a combination of two or more
thereof (e.g., perishable food items, non-perishable food items,
pharmaceuticals, products comprising polymers, products comprising
metals, similar commercial products, or a combination of two or
more thereof).
[0033] The use of projectile discharging systems or high potential
energy materials may be suitable for commercial products that may
be deemed unsatisfactory for their intended purpose when at least
partially ripped, sheared, shattered, cracked, burned, sintered,
incinerated, splintered, fragmented, mangled, penetrated, similar
physical phenomena, or a combination of two or more thereof (e.g.,
perishable food items, apparel, equipment, products comprising
rigid structures, similar commercial products, or a combination of
two or more thereof). For example, the results of activating the
defensive elements can be immediate (e.g., occur in one second or
less) or may occur within a predetermined time period, which may
allow the defensive elements to be disarmed. In certain
embodiments, control circuits 118, invoking programs 112, can
receive a notification to disarm the activated defensive elements
124 from customers, central control circuits, computing devices
130, law enforcement agents or authorities, similar entities, or a
combination of two or more thereof. In response to receiving the
notification, control circuits 118, invoking programs 112, can
deactivate the defensive elements.
[0034] For example, control circuits 118, invoking programs 112,
can capture one or more audio signals via sensors 120 and compare
the captured audio signals to one or more deactivation audio
signals included in files 114. In response to determining that the
captured audio signals has one or more threshold relationships to
the one or more deactivation audio signals included in files 114,
control circuits 118, invoking programs 112, can deactivate the
defensive elements 124.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary process of enabling
delivery of commercial products, in accordance with several
embodiments. The process of FIG. 2 may be performed by one or more
of the components of the system of FIG. 1 and/or other systems.
Program 112 monitors adverse events associated with the AGV 110
(step 200). If program 112 fails to detect an adverse event ("no"
branch decisional 205), program 112 proceeds to step 200. If
program 112 detects an adverse event ("yes" branch decisional 205),
program 112 causes the defensive element to be activated (step
210).
[0036] Further, the circuits, circuitry, systems, devices,
processes, methods, techniques, functionality, services, servers,
sources and the like described herein may be utilized, implemented
and/or run on many different types of devices and/or systems. FIG.
3 illustrates an exemplary system 300 that may be used for
implementing any of the components, circuits, circuitry, systems,
functionality, apparatuses, processes, or devices of the AGV 110,
the control circuit 118 of the AGV, the computing device 130,
and/or other above or below mentioned systems or devices, or parts
of such circuits, circuitry, functionality, systems, apparatuses,
processes, or devices. For example, the system 300 may be used to
implement some or all of the AGV, the AGV control circuit 118, one
or more other control circuits and/or processing systems of the AGV
(e.g., video processing systems, image processing systems, sensor
data processing systems, emitter system, and the like), one or more
control and/or processing systems of the computing device 130, one
or more remote central control systems, and/or other such
components, circuitry, functionality and/or devices. However, the
use of the system 300 or any portion thereof is certainly not
required.
[0037] By way of example, the system 300 may comprise a control
circuit or processor module 312, memory 314, and one or more
communication links, paths, buses or the like 318. Some embodiments
may include one or more user interfaces 316, and/or one or more
internal and/or external power sources or supplies 340. The control
circuit 312 can be implemented through one or more processors,
microprocessors, central processing unit, logic, local digital
storage, firmware, software, and/or other control hardware and/or
software, and may be used to execute or assist in executing the
steps of the processes, methods, functionality and techniques
described herein, and control various communications, decisions,
programs, content, listings, services, interfaces, logging,
reporting, etc. Further, in some embodiments, the control circuit
312 can be part of control circuitry and/or a control system 310,
which may be implemented through one or more processors with access
to one or more memory 314 that can store instructions, code and the
like that is implemented by the control circuit and/or processors
to implement intended functionality. In some applications, the
control circuit and/or memory may be distributed over a
communications network (e.g., LAN, WAN, Internet) providing
distributed and/or redundant processing and functionality. Again,
the system 300 may be used to implement one or more of the above or
below, or parts of, components, circuits, systems, processes and
the like.
[0038] The user interface 316 can allow a user to interact with the
system 300 and receive information through the system. In some
instances, the user interface 316 includes a display 322 and/or one
or more user inputs 324, such as buttons, touch screen, track ball,
keyboard, mouse, etc., which can be part of or wired or wirelessly
coupled with the system 300. Typically, the system 300 further
includes one or more communication interfaces, ports, transceivers
320 and the like allowing the system 300 to communicate over a
communication bus, a distributed computer and/or communication
network 140 (e.g., a local area network (LAN), the Internet, wide
area network (WAN), etc.), communication link 318, other networks
or communication channels with other devices and/or other such
communications or combination of two or more of such communication
methods. Further the transceiver 320 can be configured for wired,
wireless, optical, fiber optical cable, satellite, or other such
communication configurations or combinations of two or more of such
communications. Some embodiments include one or more input/output
(I/O) ports 334 that allow one or more devices to couple with the
system 300. The I/O ports can be substantially any relevant port or
combinations of ports, such as but not limited to USB, Ethernet, or
other such ports. The I/O interface 334 can be configured to allow
wired and/or wireless communication coupling to external
components. For example, the I/O interface can provide wired
communication and/or wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, cellular, RF, and/or other such wireless communication),
and in some instances may include any known wired and/or wireless
interfacing device, circuit and/or connecting device, such as but
not limited to one or more transmitters, receivers, transceivers,
or combination of two or more of such devices.
[0039] In some embodiments, the system may include one or more
sensors 326 to provide information to the system and/or sensor
information that is communicated to another component, such as the
central control system, a delivery vehicle, etc. The sensors can
include substantially any relevant sensor, such as distance
measurement sensors (e.g., optical units, sound/ultrasound units,
etc.), cameras, motion sensors, inertial sensors, accelerometers,
impact sensors, pressure sensors, and other such sensors. The
foregoing examples are intended to be illustrative and are not
intended to convey an exhaustive listing of all possible sensors.
Instead, it will be understood that these teachings will
accommodate sensing any of a wide variety of circumstances in a
given application setting.
[0040] The system 300 comprises an example of a control and/or
processor-based system with the control circuit 312. Again, the
control circuit 312 can be implemented through one or more
processors, controllers, central processing units, logic, software
and the like. Further, in some implementations the control circuit
312 may provide multiprocessor functionality.
[0041] The memory 314, which can be accessed by the control circuit
312, typically includes one or more processor readable and/or
computer readable media accessed by at least the control circuit
312, and can include volatile and/or nonvolatile media, such as
RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory and/or other memory technology.
Further, the memory 314 is shown as internal to the control system
310; however, the memory 314 can be internal, external or a
combination of internal and external memory. Similarly, some or all
of the memory 314 can be internal, external or a combination of
internal and external memory of the control circuit 312. The
external memory can be substantially any relevant memory such as,
but not limited to, solid-state storage devices or drives, hard
drive, one or more of universal serial bus (USB) stick or drive,
flash memory secure digital (SD) card, other memory cards, and
other such memory or combinations of two or more of such memory,
and some or all of the memory may be distributed at multiple
locations over the computer network 140. The memory 314 can store
code, software, executables, scripts, data, content, lists,
programming, programs, log or history data, user information,
customer information, product information, and the like. While FIG.
3 illustrates the various components being coupled together via a
bus, it is understood that the various components may actually be
coupled to the control circuit and/or one or more other components
directly.
[0042] In some embodiments, autonomous product delivery systems are
provided to deter theft of commercial products, and may comprise:
an AGV on a commercial product delivery route and configured to
transport one or more commercial products to one or more delivery
locations. The AGV may include one or more control circuits, one or
more container storage areas communicatively coupled to the one or
more control circuits and housing therein one or more commercial
products for delivery, one or more sensors communicatively coupled
to the control circuit and configured to transmit sensor data to
the control circuit, and one or more defensive elements
communicatively coupled to the one or more control circuits. The
one or more defensive elements may be positioned proximate to the
commercial products and configured to physically alter the one or
more commercial products and thereby render the one or more
commercial products unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. The
control circuit(s) can determine the presence of one or more
unknown third parties positioned within a threshold distance
relative to the AGV. In response to determining the presence of the
unknown third parties, the control circuit(s) can determine
occurrences of one or more adverse events associated with the AGV.
Some embodiments, in response to determining the occurrence of an
adverse event, the control circuit(s) can activate the one or more
defensive elements to physically alter the one or more commercial
products.
[0043] In some embodiments, methods of autonomous product delivery
are provided for deterring theft of commercial products. Some of
these methods determine, using sensor data from a sensor of an AGV
on a commercial product delivery route, a presence of one or more
unknown third parties positioned within a threshold distance
relative to the AGV. The AGV may include one or more container
storage areas as well as one or more defensive elements positioned
proximate to each of the container storage areas. Each container
storage area may be configured to house one or more commercial
products therein. The defensive element(s) may be configured to
physically alter the commercial product(s) and thereby render them
unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. When the presence of the
one or more unknown third parties is determined, the occurrence of
one or more adverse events associated with the AGV may be
determined using sensor data and through the AGV. One or more
defensive elements may be activated to physically alter the one or
more commercial products when the occurrence of the adverse
event(s) is determined.
[0044] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety
of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be
made with respect to the above described embodiments without
departing from the scope of the invention, and that such
modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as
being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
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