| CPC G06Q 10/083 (2013.01) | 8 Claims |
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1. A physical distribution system comprising:
a package collection and distribution yard where a package to be transferred between outside a block and inside the block is collected and dispatched;
an autonomous mobile robot that transports the package by autonomous operation;
a physical distribution path through which the autonomous mobile robot passes, at least a part of the physical distribution path being located in a layer different from a layer of a sidewalk or a roadway that a human and a vehicle ride on;
a facility yard located at an end of the physical distribution path; and
a delivery controller configured to generate a delivery schedule for the autonomous mobile robot and to send an operation instruction to the autonomous mobile robot based on the delivery schedule, wherein
the delivery controller is configured to:
acquire package information including information on a delivery destination and a consignee of the package delivered to the package collection and distribution yard,
generate the delivery schedule based on the package information, the delivery schedule including at least the autonomous mobile robot that transports the package, departure time of the autonomous mobile robot, and a delivery route for the autonomous mobile robot,
calculate tentative delivery time of the package estimated based on the delivery schedule, send a delivery confirmation request notification to the consignee linked to the package, the delivery confirmation request notification being a notification requesting confirmation of the tentative delivery time,
receive a response to the delivery confirmation request notification,
control the autonomous mobile robot based on the delivery schedule generated most recently,
optimize the delivery schedule to minimize a peak of electric power consumption in the entire physical distribution system by estimating a peak time zone regarding the electric power consumption in a city and setting a drive mode of the autonomous mobile robot to deliver the package on time in the set drive mode so that the autonomous mobile robot is not charged during the estimated peak time zone,
when confirmed time confirmed by the consignee in the response to the delivery confirmation request notification is different from the tentative delivery time, update the delivery schedule in such a manner that delivery of the package is completed at the confirmed time,
calculate a maximum loading capacity of the autonomous mobile robot to deliver the package by changing a height of a shelf board, a number of the shelf board, and a width of the shelf board, and
instruct, when receiving the confirmed time from the consignee after departure of the autonomous mobile robot loaded with the package that corresponds to the confirmed time and for which the delivery schedule needs to be changed, the autonomous mobile robot to bring back the package and change an order of delivery.
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