United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.

Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.

Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo arear and provided at a delivery location.

An automatic storage and retrieval system is provided that is usable to sort, store and retrieve parcels for delivery. The system provides a multi-layered rail system allowing a high-density storage system for parcels. In some aspects, the parcels may be sorted between parcel containers in different layers, and in some aspects parcel containers may be transferred between layers, allowing individual parcels to be logically sorted and placed within a parcel container according to a delivery destination. Once at a delivery destination, the system may be used to load an unmanned delivery device, such as a robot, with a parcel container associated with the delivery destination.

In various embodiments, a first indication that a first reader device has read data of a first tag coupled to a first asset is received. The first reader device is included in an article worn by a user. Subsequent to the receiving of the first indication, a second indication that at least one of: a second reader device has read the data of the first tag, or the first reader device has read data of a second tag is received. The second reader device and the second tag are located in a first logistics vehicle. Based at least in part on the receiving of the first indication and the second indication, it is determined that the user has transported the first asset to the first logistics vehicle. In response to the determining, a notification indicating whether the first asset has been transported to a correctly assigned logistics vehicle is transmitted to the first reader device or a third device associated with the user.

In various embodiments, a first tag is associated with a first parcel that is to be delivered. A data structure is accessed that indicates that the first parcel is assigned to be placed in a first logistics vehicle of a plurality of logistics vehicles. An indication is received that a first device, which may be located inside, on, or in proximity to the first logistics vehicle, has read data of the first tag. A determination is made that the first parcel has been placed inside the first assigned logistics vehicle and a notification is transmitted to a user device associated with a first user that indicates that het first parcel has been placed inside the first logistics vehicle.

Embodiments of the present disclosure involve providing radiative cooling through various configurations of a heat-dissipating system on which a radiative cooling material may be applied. Particular embodiments involve the use of heat-dissipating panels interlocked to form a heat-dissipating system. Particular embodiments involve the use of a heat transfer element with a heat-dissipating system. Particular embodiments involve the use of a heat-dissipating system to dissipate heat away from an interior space of an object (e.g., vehicle, facility) via a sheet that is applied to or integrated with a top surface (e.g., roofing) of the object. Particular embodiments involve the use of heat-dissipating panels in forming a heat-dissipating system that include front openings allowing airflow to pass through the panels to assist in dissipating heat away from the object.

An identifier associated with one or more assets is obtained in response to a reader component reading a tag associated with one or more assets as the one or more assets traverse a conveyor apparatus. At least partially in response to the obtaining of the identifier, a storage unit of a plurality of storage units is caused to automatically rotate to a loading location to receive the one or more assets.

Adjustable storage systems, adjustable storage receptacles, and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, an adjustable storage system includes a plurality of adjustable storage receptacles, each of which may include a housing, an opening/closing mechanism, and an expansion mechanism. The expansion mechanism may be operable to increase or decrease an interior storage volume of the associated storage receptacle, enabling greater flexibility in storing objects of different shapes and sizes, relative to a fixed-size or fixed-geometry storage receptacle. In additional aspects, a method of using an adjustable storage receptacle and a method of using an adjustable storage system are provided, and further, a method of manufacturing an adjustable storage receptacle and a method of manufacturing an adjustable storage system are provided.

Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.