After hours package pick up from a robot

• Main Authors: Waters, Scott Malcolm, Scott, Sean M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.01.2023
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

An automated package retrieval system is provided. The automated package retrieval system includes a hub apparatus that includes multiple docking stations for multiple delivery devices, a power supply unit coupled to the hub apparatus, and a controller. The controller is configured to instruct at least one of the delivery devices to travel to a location to deliver an item ordered by a user. Once it is determined that the user has not retrieved the item from the delivery device, the delivery device is instructed to return to the hub apparatus. In response to detecting the user in proximity to the hub apparatus after the delivery device has returned to the hub apparatus, the user is provided with access to a storage compartment of the delivery device.