US 12,214,817 B2
Vehicle control system and method
Anthony D. Paul, Anchorage, AK (US); and Milan Karunaratne, Orange, CA (US)
Assigned to Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,781.
Prior Publication US 2023/0174124 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B61L 27/16 (2022.01); B61L 27/18 (2022.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/083 (2023.01)
CPC B61L 27/16 (2022.01) [B61L 27/18 (2022.01); G05D 1/0278 (2013.01); G05D 1/0297 (2013.01); G06Q 10/083 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
communicating instructions to a portable distribution vehicle that is loaded with first cargo to move along a designated route from a first loading location to a first distribution location for unloading at least some of the first cargo, wherein the portable distribution vehicle is a first type of portable distribution vehicle that is allowed to move along the designated route, and vehicles of a second type that is different than the first type are prohibited from moving along the designated route;
automatically controlling operation of the portable distribution vehicle to move from the first loading location to the first distribution location without an operator onboard the portable distribution vehicle manually controlling the portable distribution vehicle;
controlling access to the first cargo that is disposed onboard the portable distribution vehicle via one or more processors while the portable distribution vehicle is at the first distribution location; and
controlling the portable distribution vehicle to move between the first distribution location and an intermediate location each day for a designated number of days so that the portable distribution vehicle is at the first distribution location during a first time period of each of the days and is at the intermediate location during a second time period of each of the days, wherein the intermediate location is a secured location that restricts access to the portable distribution vehicle.