WO2022182644A9

WO2022182644A9 - Mobile and or stationary micro-fulfilment method for automated packages delivery by humans and or autonomous vehicles ground vehicles or aerial drones

Info

Publication number: WO2022182644A9
Application number: PCT/US2022/017282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Itay Tayas ZAMIR; Jonathan Globerson
Original assignee: Zamir Itay Tayas; Jonathan Globerson
Priority date: 2021-02-26
Filing date: 2022-04-12
Publication date: 2023-04-13
Also published as: WO2022182644A2; WO2022182644A3

Abstract

A payload unit known as an Organizational box (OB) may comprise one or multiple units of cassettes. The OB may be connected to a drone, an autonomous vehicle, or a standalone unit, where each cassette can hold one or multiple parcels and/or packages for delivery.

Description

Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery by humans and or Autonomous Vehicles ground vehicles or aerial drones

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to robotic and computerized systems for automation of the shipping of goods in commerce for the last mile delivery sector. More particularly, the invention relates to a robotic and computerized automated and autonomous logistics system - ASRS - Automated Storage and Retrieval System, for managing and integrating various aspects of order processing, order fulfillment and goods transportation and tracking done by a mini storage and dispensing system either deployed in a Last Mile delivery Truck , which delivery couriers, such as UPS and DHL are using, or deployed in a trailer which is hauled by a last mile delivery truck , or being as a standalone unit deployed near the delivery area. The parcels can be delivered by the driver and or any other personal or with the use of drones and/or any other autonomous ground or aerial autonomous vehicles. In the shipping process, the journey's final leg's cost represents more than half of the total delivery expenses. As per industry reports, last- mi le delivery is one of the most complex and inefficient steps in the supply chain. This problem is even worse when the delivery is needed within the same day.

A comprehensive review of the logistics industry: shipping and delivery show that one of the emerging solutions for the last mile delivery challenges is delivery by drones. But delivery drones for the last mile service are still not efficient enough because they are being performed by a single drone delivering a single package, additionally they are manually loaded with the parcels making the reloading process very cumbersome and time consuming. More options include the operation of one or two drones as a last-mile delivery method, which is also expensive. Thus, there is a need for a solution which will not only involve multiple drones delivering simultaneously and autonomously packages directly to the customer. Moreover, there is a need for an innovative way to enable the loading and reloading of drones with packages in an automatic and autonomous way as part of a mobile unit or stationery.

The present invention is aimed at revolutionizing the last-mile delivery market by enabling the most effective and cost-efficient solution for the last-mile delivery industry.

The present invention would include Mobile and/or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages integrated with an option to integrate multiple units of autonomous vehicles such as drones and or ground autonomous delivery vehicles which will swarm out of the delivery truck, and or from a separate attached trailer vehicle and or a storage location, delivering more packages per hour - this will enhance delivery efficiency, increase delivery area per vehicle, reduce cost and reduce amount of drivers needed. Operationally, the present invention would enable any last-mile truck or local logistics/distribution/micro fulfillment center to carry, launch, and operate more efficiently with its integrated ASRS system and a swarm of drones or vehicles (robots) autonomously - through this approach; the courier company, will cover more ground, reducing amount of trucks and drivers needed, deliver faster, and save money for the last mile delivery company and the end consumer. The present invention would utilize the substantial unused space in current courier trucks. When observing prior art of last mile delivery trucks of couriers such as UPS and Fedex, one can observe that the boxes are organized on the left and right of the storage space, leaving the middle aisle empty for the driver to walk through and look for the boxes they need to deliver for each stop. This method is wasteful in unused space for storage, which is used for the driver to walk through. Furthermore, it also takes a substantial amount of time for the driver to search and locate the packages they need per stop. The present invention comes to solve this, by filling up the middle aisle with delivery boxes as well, automating the searching and locating of the boxes. The system would recognize the delivery truck's location and the location of the route and would prepare the next delivery box to be either brought forward to the driver for manual delivery or will automatically load the delivery boxes to the drone and or autonomous vehicles, prior to the next stop. So once the truck stops at the next stop, The delivery boxes are already ready to be deployed to its destination, whether it is manually delivered by the driver, or automated by the drones and or mini autonomous delivery vehicles.

The present invention provides a high-performance, cost-effective logistics system which is readily adaptable to a wide variety of different scenarios- a mobile unit which will be connected to a delivery truck or integrated into the delivery truck and or a stationary unit that will be located next to a retail store or micro-fulfilment center or any logistic center. The system consists of a unique box/payload - The Organizational Box which would be described from now on as the OB. The OB will consist of a single or multiple cassettes or cartridges. Each cassette will hold one or several parcels which are the last mile delivery company's packages. The OB will be able to connect exclusively to the system's drones or autonomous robots. Multiple drones or autonomous robots will be stored ready to be deployed in the system's container. Each drone or autonomous robot can be attached to one or more of the system's Organizational Boxes. Once attached, each drone or autonomous robot will be launched from the container with an OB filled with cassettes. Each cassette will contain the last mile courier's package or multiple packages. Each drone will fly or each robot will autonomously or will be remote controlled to the delivery destination and deliver the specific package to the end consumer. When using a drone, delivery of the package will be done by either landing on the ground and releasing the package or packages from the cassette or lowering the cassette on a cable -using a winch system, while the drone is hovering above ground and then releasing the courier's package from the cassette. When using a ground robot, delivery of the package will be done by sliding the package out of the vehicle, and placing it on the ground or placing the courier's package into a designated delivery box or locker. Once all cassettes are empty and all packages are delivered, the drone ur autonomous robot will return back to the micro fulfillment center, land and connect to a new organizational box, loaded with a new set of packages, A management software will control and manage the operation. The system's organizational boxes and cassettes, together with an innovative set of components will enable an automatic and autonomously drones' or autonomous robots' loading of packages to be delivered according to the truck or drones' or robots' container location.

The organizational box would be equipped with an on-board battery, so when the organizational box is loaded into the drone or autonomous robots, it also connects the drone or autonomous robot with a fully powered battery pack for it, to have sufficient power to complete its mission. The drone or autonomous robot is also pre-equipped with an internal smaller battery or capacitor, so it could stay powered on during the time of landing and battery swapping from an old empty organizational box to a new one. This way a drone or autonomous robot would not need to turn off and lose time reinitialized during this cargo and battery hot swapping process.

Unique Winch System

Each organizational box would have an internal mechanism which would move a zipline mechanism on an X axis to reestablish its position above the cassette that needs to be lowered to the delivery. This unique mechanism will allow using a zipline mechanism even when the drone is carrying multiple packages, unlike the current technology which allows connecting only one zipline system to one package.

The system's unique inventory code uses either a QR and/or Bluetooth and/or NFC and/or RFID and/or any other inventory code management and tracking system as follows: the Courier's Shipping Box has its own barcode for inventory code. The courier's inventory code would have to be pre-scanned and entered into the cassette. The cassette has its own inventory code that would be scanned. Now the system has registered a specific courier's box inside a specific cassette. Next the cassette would be entered into the organizational box into a specific placement, the system registers the cassette now entering into the organizational box in a specific placement. For example the cassette now is registered as the 3^rd cassette location inside the organizational box. The Drone or autonomous robot itself also has an inventory code, so when the Organizational Box is entered into the drone or autonomous robot, the scanned organizational box is now registered in the system to be inside a specific drone or autonomous robot. Each micro delivery unit also has an inventory code, so every OB registered to which micro delivery unit it is located in. When the drone flies to make its deliveries, the cassettes are seen by the sensor in the drone to verify the right cassette is lowered at the right location. Once the cassette is lowered, the cassette opens its door and the courier shipping box is then placed on the ground, the drone's zipline cable which is equipped with a CCD camera and scanner, snapshots the courier shipping box label, to verify it was delivered as proof of delivery, and the scanner scans the QR label on the courier's package. In the event that the courier company requires a signature of customer to validate delivery, the system will send a text message or a phone call or an email to the customer, prior to the drone's or autonomous robot arrival notifying them that they need to step outside and sign on their own smartphone on a designated website or app that they are ready to receive the package the drone will then lower the cassette to the customer.

Return package operations: An additional innovative feature in the present invention, is a system that enables the drone or autonomous robot to pick up a package intended to be returned. To return a package, a drone or autonomous robot would deliver an empty cassette to the customer prior to the return time - for example a few hours, a day or two days before the pick up date, the customer would place the courier's package box inside the cassette. When using a drones, the drone at the time of pick up would lower an electromagnetic cable or zipline with electromagnetic connector attachment. In order to enable the drone or autonomous robot to validate that the right package was inserted to the cassette, a scanner inside the cassette will scan the package's QR label and will send a transmission through the electromagnetic cable or via RF to the drone or autonomous robot and from the drone or autonomous robot to the software. Additionally, the customer will be able to scan through a mobile device using an app or website the QR label on the package and the inventory code on the cassette and send it through the app or website to the management system. Additionally, in order to make sure that the drone's zipline lowers the zipline accurately to the right location on ground, the electromagnetic attachment would have QR codes on it, this way the drone would be able to perform a real time image processing when lowering the electromagnetic attachment to align it to the cassette to be able to pick it up accurately and connect the electromagnetic attachment to the cassette and then lifting the cassette back to the organizational box.

The Present invention's mini storage unit would have multi layers of omnidirectional conveyor belts with an elevator connecting between the different layers. Each layer of omnidirectional conveyor belts stores multiple organizational boxes on it. This would allow the system to reorganize the boxes in accordance to the system's need of shipping and receiving of Organizational boxes as some deliveries have higher priority or on the first stops, compared to others hence the system would align them to be placed first to exit for drone or autonomous robot or driver delivery missions. The system would also have an inventory code reader at the entrance, driver's exit and next to drone or autonomous vehicle loading dock „ each OB entering the mini storage unit would be scanned, so the system would memorize its location within the facility. If a box needs to be relocated and moved to a different position the system would know logically how to reorganize the organizational box in order to have better delivery efficiency. One example is if there is a delivery that needs to be made in an earlier stage the organizational box could be moved to a position inside the storage so it could be delivered first.

The Present invention would also have an option to be operational without the use of drones or small autonomous vehicles. The micro fulfillment system would be able to automatically organize the OB inside of it according to priority of delivery. The system would recognize the micro fulfillment delivery location en route according to a GPS integrated within. The system would bring forward to the driver's booth the OB that needs to be delivered at the next delivery stop. This way the system increases the efficiency of both saving the unused space compared to the prior invention, and also the time for the driver to go to the back of the vehicle, search, locate and pick up the box for the delivery stop. With the present invention the OB containing the courier's boxes are brought forward to the driver so when they arrive to the designated delivery stop, they simply pickup the courier boxes from the OB that is next to them, and deliver it at that location, Once they start driving the old OB moves back into the ASRS and a new OB for the next stop is brought forward for the next delivery and so on, until all the deliveries are made. The driver could also pick up return courier boxes and place them in an empty OB for returning them to the main logistics center for further fulfillment.

The system solves a challenge in operating drones or autonomous robots in delivery scenarios: batteries' life cycle management, and/or replacing batteries. For example, today, a drone's battery life enables not more than 20-30 min flight, and when carrying a payload, even less, depends on the drone’s or autonomous robot total weight, weather conditions and other parameters. This limited flight time causes a real challenge for drone or autonomous robot delivery operators. Limiting the distance they can cover in their flight and/or the weight of the packages they can carry. Today, when operating a fleet of drones, the operator needs to have a batteries' charging system. Including batteries' management system to ensure an optimal and safe batteries’ charging process. Managing the batteries' charging sequence is a very complicated and expensive task. Installing such a system in a truck or a trailer, makes it even more complicated and even dangerous.

The present invention consists of a unique method to solve this problem. The system consists of an organizational storage box, which contains not only the courier's packages but also a built-in battery, which when a drone or autonomous robot connects to, it supplies energy to the vehicle. The box is used once per shift, hence the battery always being connected to the drone when fully charged. The drone carries the organizational box, delivers all courier packages and comes back to the launching mobile unit. Then, the drone or autonomous robot removes the old OB and connects to a new organizational box with a fully charged battery and a new set of packages to deliver. I he drone or autonomous robot carries the new organizational box, delivers packages, then flies back to the launching unit and unloads the OB and connects again to a new organizational box. In this way there is no battery limitation and no flight time limitation. The launching unit contains enough boxes to store the needed to be delivered packages.

The system's software will pre-calculate the flight pattern to optimize the delivery of packages in the fastest and most efficient routes and takes into consideration the maximum flight time for the drone or the driving distance and route for the autonomous robot is able to work without emptying it’s batteries on delivery missions. In the main logistics center the system would organize the cassettes inside the organizational box according to the algorithm and calculations of the logic described above. So when the organizational box is loaded into the drone or autonomous robot it would already be optimized accordingly.

Cassettes - This invention solves a challenge that current drone delivery systems have the following;

1)Today, delivery drones can carry 1-3 packages simultaneously. When using drones for last mile delivery, this challenge becomes even more problematic, as each delivery truck can carry hundreds of packages that need to be delivered during a driver's shift (8 hours) . When a drone can take only 1-3 packages at a time it makes the delivery process inefficient. This invention solves this problem by introducing a cassette system. Each exterior box that the drone is consists of a set of cassettes, each cassette can store one courier box or envelope or multiple number of packages. Thus, any given drone can deliver more courier boxes in a number of cassettes per mission.

2) Reverse logistics- Using the above-described method, will enable a drone to collect/pick-up a package from the ground and take it back to the Micro Fulfillment unit. By enabling this, it will be the first time that a drone will perform a return procedure of a package from a customer and not only a delivery. Moreover, it will enable drones to pick-up parcels from companies that wish to work with the courier companies but don't have enough volume of business to do so. Today the smaller businesses (Moms and Pops) can't work with the couriers because they don't have enough volume of parcels to ship. By using our invention, drones will pick up the parcels from those smaller businesses, because it will cost much less for the courier companies to do so.

Multi-packages' zipline system- the present invention solves a challenge of how to use one zipline system to deliver multiple packages. Currently, zipline or winch systems installed on delivery drones are able to lower one to three packages at a time. The present invention solves this problem, by enabling one zipline/winch system lowering multiple cassettes to the ground.

Logistics unit with drones' commissioning and launching capabilities- the present invention solves a challenge with the last mile delivery operations as being done today. Today, the truck's driver is responsible for picking up the right package from the truck and delivering it to the address, or when using a drone, the driver is responsible for picking the package and loading the drone manually. This is an inefficient and very costly process. The invention consists of a mobile and/or stationary logistics unit where the packages are being stored in the system's unique cassettes and organizational boxes. The truck's driver does not need to load and/or reload the drones or autonomous robots with new packages, the system does it automatically. Each drone or autonomous robot is being loaded with packages with no need for human intervention.

Here is a general workflow of the present invention in regards to software to hardware general logic.

Batch file of Shipments with package size, weight, delivery time and destinations is imported into the software system. An algorithm organizes packages logically of how to split the courier boxes into organizational boxes according to ultimate shipping routes, weights, package sizes and other factors. The system then outputs lists of how to organize the courier boxes to which organizational boxes. Inside the courier's distribution center the OBs' batteries are getting charged while they are still empty. At that point the courier packs all courier packages in the cassettes manually or automatically. Each courier package is scanned and registered with a corresponding cassette using its inventory code. Each cassette is then placed in its designated OB according to logic created earlier by the algorithm. Each cassette registers in the Database as into which organizational box it was loaded into by using the inventory code system. At this point the OBs are being loaded into the mini storage, registering which OB goes into which mini storage unit according to the logic created earlier by the algorithm. It is being registered using the inventory code system described earlier. The logic created by the algorithm would suggest how to load the organizational boxes into the mini storage in accordance with the designated stops. Each OB is scanned by a scanner in the entrance and the system registers the location of the OB to know later how to dispense it per stop. Once the mini storage unit is delivered to the destination site, the operator turns on the system. The system would send an SMS to the receiver in case they want to be present at delivery if valuables are received, notifying them of the approximate time of delivery. The Organizational Boxes get loaded into the drone or to the autonomous vehicle through the omnidirectional or standard conveyor belts. The system scans the inventory code of the organizational box to verify it is the correct one, then moves it into the conveyor belt and into the drone or autonomous vehicle or to the driver. The inventory code of the OB and drone or autonomous vehicle gets scanned to verify which organizational box loaded into which drone or autonomous vehicle. The drone launching pad gets raised up and or the autonomous vehicle gets lowered down. The drone launches into the air to begin its mission, and or the autonomous vehicle starts driving to its mission. The drone or autonomous vehicle gets to the first delivery area verifies the ground is clear for delivery. The system sends another SMS to the receiver delivery is about to arrive. The Organizational Box scans the cassette that matches to the delivery location. In the Drone an electromagnetic attachment with zipline attaches to the corresponding cassette for the delivery. The cassette gets unlocked from the organizational box. And the cassette gets lowered using the zipline. The camera sensor in the drone or organizational box aligns the delivery especially if there is wind dragging the lowered cassette by the QR codes on it and adjusts the drone position accordingly. The cassette gets down to ground level and a mechanical or electrical sensor verifies the arrival to the ground - ready to deliver. The cassette opens its hinged door to soft drop the shipping box to the ground. The zipline gets winded back up, with the empty cassette. The drone snapshots an image of the delivered courier box, as proof of delivery. The drone or autonomous vehicle continues the delivery missions. The drone returns to the hover above the storage unit. The Empty Launch Pad lifts up. The drone lands on the launch pad, The Launch pad gets lowered into a storage unit, The empty organizational box gets downloaded, and gets stored in the ASRS. A new organizational box gets loaded to the drone

For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the drone's (18) system with a set of horizontal sensors 20) and vertical sensors (22). attached to the system's unique organizational box (2) which has QR code (12) on it and a built-in battery (16), which is located inside the organizational box, and will make contact to the drone through the organizational box (2) and would supply it the required energy to complete its mission. The organizational box stores a set of cassettes as shown in the 1^st cassette (4) or several sets of cassettes (4,6,8). Each of the cassettes (4,6,8) stores internally inside of them the courier's packages. Each cassette is identified by a unique QR code (14) to enable identification and tracking of the specific Cassette which stores inside of it the shipping courier's shipping box; Each Cassette is gets connected to a zipline when it is lowered for delivery, with zipline (10), this enables the lowering of a cassette to the ground, while the drone is hovering above ground. At the connection between the cable and the cassette there is an electromagnetic attachment (11) which holds and releases the cassette with electromagnetic power as needed.

FIG. 2 is a view of one of the system's drones (18), with an Emergency Parachute (26) incase of emergency. The drone (18) is carrying an organizational box with multiple cassettes, as depicted in the above Fig 1 description. The drone is hovering above a delivery site and lowering one of the cassettes (4) on a cable known as a winch or zipline (24). The QR code (25) attached to the cassette identifies the cassette and the QR code on the courier box (30) identifies the package itself, while the QR code (27) on the organizational box identifies the box. In this way the system always keeps track of the packages' delivery and ensures that every package goes to the correct address. When reaching the correct height above ground, the software sends a command to the cassette's door (29) to open, the hinge (28) is turned open and the courier's package (34) is released to the ground.

FIG. 3 is a floor diagram depicting an aerial view of the mobile/stationary container of the storage operation assembly (100), which can be a vehicle, a trailer and/or an indoor storage facility.

The organizational boxes are stored (36) on both sides (40) of the storage operation assembly container (100). A conveyor belt (38) is responsible to move the organizational boxes from their storage to the drones’ commissioning area (37), where a drone (42) will be attached to the specific organizational box it is assigned to. In the front of the container, there is a drone storage area (44), including an area for hanging drones (46).

FIG. 4 is a inner cut view of the storage unit, illustrating an organizational box (54) moving out (52) of the organizational boxes’ storage to be place on the conveyer conveyor belt (56); When the box leaves its space, the empty space (50) is being filled immediately with another box that goes (51) from the above storage spot (49) down to the lower storage spot. This box's movement is kept till there are no more boxes stored on the specific column (55). Each organizational box has a built-in drone battery (16). The drone-battery connector (53) is placed on the top of the box, so it can be connected to the bottom of the drone's body. As shown in Fig.3 the drones' loading area (37), drones (42) are waiting to be loaded with organizational boxes. As shown in Fig. 4 A QR code reader (62) is reading each QR code, on the organizational box (64) and on the QR code on the drone (66) to log which organizational box was matched to which drone, and so the system can log to which address the drone has sent to with which organizational box. In each organizational box there are cassettes which store the courier packages.

FIG.5 is a semi sectional of the storage facility illustrating a standalone organizational box (81) moving out of the organizational boxes' storage (80) to be place on the conveyer conveyor belt (68); The organizational boxes are stored in the storage slot unit (80) where the boxes are arranged in vertical way, one on top of the other as seen organizational box (78) is on top of the organizational box (76). The first box to leave the storage is always the bottom inside the organizational boxes' storage (80). The organizational box (81) moved internally on the storage conveyor belt (72) to the exterior conveyor belt(68). Once the bottom space is empty

(73), the Box storage vertical conveyor (74) moves the next box from the storage box (76) above the bottom space down to the bottom space. When on the Box storage vertical conveyor

(74), the organizational box (81) is moved to the storage conveyor belt in the direction (70 and 84) towards as seen on Fig. 3 to the drone commissioning area (37). Underneath space 73 there might be a space for another organizational box, or empty space so two boxes or more could be stored below the conveyor belt, this way if an organizational box which is located higher needs to be rearranged to be shipped urgently, you can move it down to the conveyor belt, using the xtra space underneath to push the prior boxes down.

FIG 6. Is an illustration presenting the storage assembly unit in a mobile configuration on a storage trailer/vehicle (86). The vehicle's roof (88) can open to enable drones launch (87) from the unit. A back side door (90) will enable loading of drones, storage boxes and equipment to the unit. The trailer vehicle is connected (92) to a courier delivery company's truck (94).

FIG 7. Is an illustration presenting the drone launching mechanism from the storage logistics unit (100). A drone loaded with an organizational box (99), is on a Drone launching pad (98), ready to launch and make a delivery. The launching pad and drone is elevated from the inside of the storage logistics unit, on a Drone scissor lift (102), which when extended, moves the drone to a take-off position (101). When the elevator is fully extended, and the drone is ready for take-off, the drone's booms which were in folded position (104) while being stored in the storage unit (100) , will move (106) to a fully extended (108) position and would be ready to fly. The launching pad has QR codes (97) and QR Code 103 and QR Code (95) this allows the drone to calculate it's return to the launching pad accurately with image processing and computer vision.

FIG 8. Is an illustration presenting a drone on the Drone scissor lift (110) , the elevator has connectors with a unique lock (114) where the drone is attached to the elevator. The elevator's connector's unique lock connects to the drone's unique lock (116) when the drone is on the elevator. The elevator consists of a space (122) for the organizational box (120) so the drone is sustained in the above Drone Scissor Lift (110), this way the organizational box could easily be swapped without friction. Drone's rotors (126) are covered (124) to protect anyone from touching the blades in the event the drone is close enough to the ground.

FIG 9. Is an illustration presenting the unique connection between the system's drone (129) to the organizational box (128) with the drone's main body (132) which the organizational box slides into. The organizational box is equipped with an internal drone battery (131) which is hidden internally. When the drone and box are connected a battery connectivity section on the organizational box (130) and on the drone (133) enables the drone's empowerment.

Fig. 10. Is an illustration presenting the Organizational Box (140) mechanism. There is an interior Conveyor Belt (142) which moves on Conveyor Belt Rotational Wheel (144) and Additional Conveyor Belt Rotational Wheel (146), both control the direction of the movement of the Conveyor Belt (142). Attached to the Conveyor Belt (142) is the Zip Line Moving Axis (148), this way the movement of the Conveyor Belt (142) also moves the Zip Line Moving Axis (148) correspondingly. Connected to the Zipline Moving Axis (148) is the Zipline spool (150) which has rotated on it the Zipline (154). Zipline spool (150) has a motor which lowers and increases the length of the Zipline (154) according to the distance from the ground and up to the drone itself. Zipline (154) is connected on the other end to Electromagnetic attachment (156) which attaches to the cassette (4) using electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic Attachment Plane with QR Codes (158) which is part of the Electromagnetic attachment (156) has on it 3 QR Codes. (160, 162, 164). This assists the drone to align the Electromagnetic attachment (156) to be lowered to the right location in accordance with the drop-off location. The QR Code Ready and/or Camera Sensor is connected in the bottom of the Electromagnetic Attachment to ensure it is aligned well for picking up cassettes from the ground, and to photograph the courier box after drop off. QR Code ready and/or Camera Sensor (152) reads that the Cassettes' QR codes to ensure the right cassette is chosen for the location drop-off. Also the camera on it ensures the Electromagnetic attachment (156) is lowered to the correct spot for drop-off or pick up via computer vision and image processing.

Fig 11. The Ground Alignment Plane (170) is optional and might be used by laying it on the ground by package shipper or receiver. This assists the drone to better align the cassette pickup or drop-off correctly. The method it works is that the Electromagnetic Attachment Plane with QR Codes and sensor (174) has in the bottom of it a sensor or a camera which reads the QR codes on the Ground Alignment Plane (170) this sends the drone the coordinance of how should it align itself in order to align the Electromagnetic Attachment Plane with QR Codes and sensor (174) and the Ground Alignment Plane (170). The Zipline QR Code Reader / Camera (180) captures coordinance location of the Electromagnetic Attachment Plane with QR Codes and sensor (174), this allows the sensor to send the data to the drone so it may better align itself to ensure a successful pickup or delivery of the courier packages.

Fig. 12 The Micro fulfillment vehicle 188 has integrated inside of it the Micro ASRS system 190 with all the OB layered in various layers on top of conveyor belts. A new OB 192 is entering the Micro fulfillment vehicle 188 via opening gate 194. When the vehicle goes into operational mode and its drones are ready to fly, roof 196 opens out allowing drones 198 to fly to their mission.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A payload unit known as an Organizational box (OB) comprising: which consists of one or multiple units of cassettes. The OB may be connected to a drone, an autonomous vehicle, or a standalone unit, defined therein. where each cassette can hold one or multiple parcels and/or packages for delivery.

,

2. A payload unit known as an Organizational box (OB) of claim 1, wherein the Each cassette will be loaded with one or multiple parcels or packages.

3. A payload unit known as an Organizational box (OB) of claim 1, wherein the A unique winch system will be attached to the cassettes and will lower each cassette individually to the ground.

4. A unique winch system of claim 3, wherein the edge of it has an electromagnetic connector connecting the winch system to the cassette. The electromagnetic connector would act both as a mechanical means to hold the cassette to the winch system, and also transmit electromagnetic electricity - wireless charging, Inside the cassette there is an electromagnetic electrical receiver which turns back the electromagnetic waves into low voltage, allowing to power elements inside the cassette such as sensors, motors, communications models and others elements.

5. A unique winch system will be attached to the cassettes of claim 3, wherein a cassette is getting close to the ground, there is a mechanical or electrical detection mechanism, which stops the winch system to continuing lowering the cassette, and that opens a door which causes one or multiple packages can be placed on the ground.

6. Each cassette of claim 2 wherein the method to pick-up a cassette from the ground, with or without a package inside the cassette. By using an electromagnetic attachment connected to the winch cable. The winch gets lowered down to the ground, aligning to the cassette using sensors and computer vision. Once the electromagnet gets close to the cassette it attracts it using electromagnetic force, allowing it to have a strong grip between the winch system and the cassette which is on the ground, allowing it to be retrieved and carried up back towards the OB.

7. Each cassette of claim 2 wherein each Cassette gets connected to a zipline or a winch when it is lowered for delivery, with zipline, this enables the lowering of a cassette to the ground, while the drone is hovering above ground. At the connection between the cable and the cassette there is an electromagnetic attachment which holds and releases the cassette with electromagnetic power as needed.

8. A payload unit known as an Organizational box (OB) of claim 1, wherein the OB A battery built-in payload (OB) to support drones' operation. The system consists of an organizational storage box, which contains not only the courier's packages but also a built-in battery, built in battery, which when a drone or autonomous robot connects to, it supplies energy to the vehicle drone. The box is used once per shift; hence the battery always being connected to the drone when fully charged. The drone carries the organizational box, delivers all courier packages and comes back to the launching mobile unit. Then, the drone or autonomous robot removes the old OB and is connected to a new organizational box with a fully charged battery and a new set of packages to deliver. The drone or autonomous robot carries the new organizational box, delivers packages, then flies back to the launching unit and unloads the OB and connects again to a new organizational box. In this way there is no battery limitation and no flight time limitation. The launching unit contains enough boxes to store the needed to be delivered packages. Inside the courier's distribution center, the OBs' batteries are getting charged while they are still empty. At that point the courier packs all courier packages in the cassettes manually or automatically.

9. Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery comprising:

Robotic system inside the micro fulfillment center to sort and move the OB and or payloads and packages in the delivery truck or separate trailer, defined therein;

10. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein the robotic ASRS selects the right OB and or package according to a real time position of the truck and the addresses of the end consumers who need to receive the packages.

11. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein The ASRS will move the matched OB with the matched parcel inside to either the back door of the truck or to the driver's seat door

12. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein, the case there is an autonomous vehicle on-board- air vehicle or ground vehicle, the OB will be connected and or loaded t onto the autonomous vehicle.

13. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein a drones' launching pad, to launch drones while the truck and or trailer is moving or parked. The launching pad can launch a drone with an OB and or payload loaded. The launching pad will move to an upper position and would be above the level of the truck's and or trailer's ceiling level, so the drone's rotors will not hit the truck and or trailer. Launching of the drones will be done when the truck and or trailer is in stop position or when it is in a moving pattern.

14. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein be operational without the use of drones and without other autonomous vehicles. The micro fulfillment system would be able to automatically organize the OB inside of it according to priority of delivery. The system would recognize the micro fulfillment delivery location en-route according to a GPS integrated within. The system would bring forward to the driver's booth or to the back of the vehicle the OB that needs to be delivered at the next delivery stop.

15. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein by increasing the number of packages stored in a delivery truck or a trailer of any size. This would be done by both saving the unused space compared to the existing space utilization in a regular delivery truck , and also the time for the driver to go to the back of the vehicle, search, locate and pick up the box for the delivery stop. With the present invention the OB containing the courier's boxes are brought forward to the driver's cabin or to the back of the truck, so when they arrive to the designated delivery stop, they simply pickup the courier boxes from the OB that is next to them or from the back and deliver it at that location, Once they start driving the old OB moves back into the ASRS and a new OB for the next stop is brought forward for the next delivery and so on, until all the deliveries are made.

16. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9, wherein which could either be mobile in means of being integrated into a courier's delivery truck, an attached trailer that is being carried attached to a vehicle, a container, or a static building or facility.

17. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9 wherein an omnidirectional conveyors, and conventional conveyors transferring the OB within the micro fulfillment center. The conveyor belts might be integrated into several layers or floors with a loading elevator between the layers. This allows the OB or courier packages to be moved and transmitted between the various layers.

18. A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9 wherein a scanner system which scans all the OB using an inventory code, in which the system can monitor, store and retrieve the location of each OB within the system.

19. A lift system where is the drones are lifted on it to a higher level than the truck and/or the trailer roof level. When on the lift the drones are with their booms (arms) which are connected to their engines and/or rotors, lowered and not in an extended position . Once the lift is in its upper position, the drone's booms are pushed up to their full extended position by a set of arms and/or a disc shape or any other shape of arms that are part of the upper side of the lift and are being raised to an upper position when the lift has reached its the level where the drones can take off. The lift's arms push the drone's booms until they are in a position where the drone's engines and rotors can be turned on. Once fully extended , drone's engines will turn on either automatically or manually and/or by a remote command of any sort.

20 . A management system with dedicated algorithms. This algorithm and or software is supporting the hardware components comprising:

21 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein an algorithm consists of a batch file of designated shipments with package size, weight, delivery time and destinations. The algorithm organizes packages in groups according to how to direct the courier's boxes into organizational boxes according to ultimate shipping routes, weights, package sizes and other factors.

22 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein the system outputs lists of how to organize the courier boxes to which organizational boxes - OB.

23 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein each courier package is scanned and registered with a corresponding cassette using its inventory code. Each cassette is then placed in its designated OB according to logic created earlier by the algorithm. Each cassette registers in the Database as into which organizational box it was loaded into by using the inventory code system. At this point the OBs are being loaded into the mini storage, registering which OB goes into which mini storage unit according to the logic created earlier by the algorithm. It is being registered using the inventory code system described earlier. The logic created by the algorithm would suggest how to load the organizational boxes into the mini storage in accordance with the designated stops.

24 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein each OB is scanned by a scanner in the entrance and the system registers the location of the OB to know later how to dispense it per stop.

25 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein once the mini storage unit is delivered to the destination site, the operator turns on the system. The system would send an SMS to the receiver in case they want to be present at delivery if valuables are received, notifying them of the approximate time of delivery.

26 . A management system with dedicated algorithms of claim 19 wherein the Organizational Boxes get loaded into the drone or to the autonomous vehicle through conveyor belts. The system scans the inventory code of the organizational box to verify it is the correct one, then moves it into the conveyor belt and into the drone or autonomous vehicle or to the driver. The inventory code of the OB and the inventory code of the drone or autonomous vehicle gets scanned to verify which organizational box loaded into which drone or autonomous vehicle which registers in the software management database.

27 . A Mobile and or stationary Micro-fulfilment method for Automated packages delivery of claim 9 wherein which a drone launching pad gets raised up and or the autonomous vehicle gets lowered down.

28 . A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system compromising:

29. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein A drone launches into the air to begin its mission, and or the autonomous vehicle starts driving to its mission. The drone or autonomous vehicle gets to the first delivery area verifies the ground is clear for delivery.

30. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein The system sends another SMS to the receiver delivery is about to arrive.

31. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein The Organizational Box scans the cassette that matches to the delivery location. In the Drone an electromagnetic attachment with zipline attaches to the corresponding cassette for the delivery. The cassette gets unlocked from the organizational box. And the cassette gets lowered using the zipline.

32. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein The camera sensor in the drone or organizational box aligns the delivery especially if there is wind dragging the lowered cassette by the QR codes on it and adjusts the drone position accordingly.

33. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein The cassette gets down to ground level and a mechanical or electrical sensor verifies the arrival to the ground - ready to deliver. The cassette opens its hinged door to soft drop the shipping box to the ground. The zipline gets winded back up, with the empty cassette. The drone snapshots an image of the delivered courier box, as proof of delivery. The drone or autonomous vehicle continues the delivery missions.

34. A drone and or autonomous vehicle delivery system of claim 28 wherein The drone returns to the hover above the storage unit. The Empty Launch Pad lifts up. The drone lands on the launch pad, The Launch pad gets lowered into a storage unit, The empty organizational box gets downloaded, and gets stored in the ASRS. A new organizational box gets loaded to the drone

35 The drone consists of a sub-battery installed on the drone and or any other autonomous vehicle. As depicted above, the main battery for the drone and or autonomous vehicle is located in the OB payload ,in order for the drone's and or autonomous vehicles to stay in On-Mode, such sub components as the CPU ,GPS modem and critical components of the drone and or autonomous vehicle that should stay in On-Mode and operational even without being connected to the main battery.

36.The drone consists of a servo mechanism which turns off the drone's engines when it lands on the system's lift's launching pad surface.

37. The drone consists of a motor and /or servo system which lowers the drone's booms (arms) to a downwards position, when it lands on the launching pad surface.