US 12,291,166 B2
Autonomous vehicle delivery
Ryan Gammelgard, Bloomington, IL (US); and Justin Davis, Bloomington, IL (US)
Assigned to STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed by STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/227,024.
Application 18/227,024 is a continuation of application No. 17/208,724, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,753,040.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/159,772, filed on Mar. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/158,968, filed on Mar. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0373532 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B60W 60/00 (2020.01); B60K 35/00 (2024.01); B60R 25/023 (2013.01); B60R 25/045 (2013.01); B60R 25/08 (2006.01); B60R 25/10 (2013.01); B60R 25/102 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); B60R 25/30 (2013.01); B60R 25/31 (2013.01); G01C 21/34 (2006.01); G05B 13/02 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); G05D 1/223 (2024.01); G05D 1/646 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G05D 1/81 (2024.01); G06Q 10/047 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); G06Q 10/08 (2024.01); G06T 19/00 (2011.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); G09B 9/042 (2006.01); G09B 9/052 (2006.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60K 35/60 (2024.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); G10L 15/22 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 25/1004 (2013.01) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60R 25/023 (2013.01); B60R 25/045 (2013.01); B60R 25/08 (2013.01); B60R 25/102 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); B60R 25/305 (2013.01); B60R 25/31 (2013.01); B60W 60/00256 (2020.02); G01C 21/3407 (2013.01); G05B 13/0265 (2013.01); G05D 1/0016 (2013.01); G05D 1/0022 (2013.01); G05D 1/0061 (2013.01); G05D 1/0212 (2013.01); G05D 1/028 (2013.01); G05D 1/0287 (2013.01); G05D 1/223 (2024.01); G05D 1/646 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G05D 1/81 (2024.01); G06Q 10/047 (2013.01); G06Q 10/06315 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); G06T 19/006 (2013.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); G09B 9/042 (2013.01); G09B 9/052 (2013.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60K 35/60 (2024.01); B60K 2360/172 (2024.01); B60K 2360/177 (2024.01); B60K 2360/785 (2024.01); B60R 2025/1016 (2013.01); B60W 2540/21 (2020.02); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); G10L 15/22 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing delivery routes and delivering loads using a combination of one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles and one or more drones, comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, a destination location for transporting a load from a starting location;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first route for one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles to transport the load to an intermediate location;
determining, by the one or more processors, a second route for one or more drones to transport the load from the intermediate location to the destination location;
determining, by the one or more processors, one or more physical characteristics of the load;
determining, by the one or more processors, a number of drones to deliver the load from the intermediate location to the destination location within a user-determined time frame based upon the one or more physical characteristics of the load;
determining, by the one or more processors, whether the one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles are capable of carrying both the load and the determined number of drones based upon at least the one or more physical characteristics of the load;
causing, by the one or more processors, the one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles to transport the load to the intermediate location along the first route; and
causing, by the one or more processors, the determined number of drones to transport the load along the second route from the intermediate location to the destination location.