US 12,291,333 B1
System and method of providing a robotic retrieval system in a vehicle for use in delivering items
Daniel Theobald, Somerville, MA (US); and Siddharth Ram Chhatpar, Winchester, MA (US)
Assigned to Vecna Robotics, Inc., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by Vecna Robotics, Inc., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/394,603.
Int. Cl. B64D 1/10 (2006.01); B60L 53/80 (2019.01); B60P 3/00 (2006.01); B64F 1/36 (2024.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 101/64 (2023.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 1/10 (2013.01) [B60L 53/80 (2019.02); B60P 3/007 (2013.01); B64F 1/364 (2013.01); B65G 1/0421 (2013.01); B65G 1/137 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 2101/64 (2023.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a vehicle having a platform supporting a set of multi-level shelves, the vehicle configured with wheels to drive on a road;
a linear slide attached to the platform and configured within a housing of the vehicle, the linear slide configured to be adjacent to the set of multi-level shelves, wherein a first shelf of the set of multi-level shelves is configured adjacent to the linear slide on a first side of the linear slide and wherein a second shelf of the set of multi-level shelves is configured adjacent to the linear slide on a second side of the linear slide;
a robotic retrieval system configured on the linear slide;
a control system that controls a reception of items by the robotic retrieval system and a placement of the items on the set of multi-level shelves;
a drone configured on a top surface of the vehicle;
an item-securing mechanism associated with the drone; and
an opening in the top surface of the vehicle, wherein the drone drops the item-securing mechanism through the opening to receive an item of the items from the robotic retrieval system and delivers the item to a destination location.