A modular cargo storage system (CSS) is described for use on a base platform of a modular autonomous bot apparatus that transports an item being shipped. The modular CSS includes a set of folding structural walls, an interlocking alignment interface on at least one of the walls, and a modular component power and data transport bus. The walls at least partially enclose a payload area above the base platform. The interlocking alignment interface has a set of latches and a locking handle coupled to the set of latches that actuates the latches to interlock with the base platform. The power and data transport bus have top and bottom side modular component electronics interfaces where each interface has a power conduit outlet and a command and data communication interface.

A transport container for secure transport of packages. In one embodiment, the transport container includes a body, a cover, a cover lock, a locking bar, and an electronic controller. The cover is coupled to the body. The cover is movable from a closed state covering the opening to an open state. The cover lock is configured to engage the cover and keep the cover in the closed state. The locking bar is coupled to the base. The locking bar is configured for attachment to anchor points. The electronic controller is electrically coupled to the cover lock and to the locking bar. The electronic controller is configured to adjust the cover lock between a locked state and an unlocked state. The electronic controller is also configured to adjust the locking bar between the locked state and the unlocked state.

Systems and methods for providing automated inventory management of medicine and healthcare items stored within bins in care facilities are disclosed. A method includes providing an interactive storage device for attaching to a bin, and outputting, via an audiovisual element, a visual representation of a local inventory of the bin, receiving a user input, determining a change to the local inventory according to the user input, updating the local inventory in a non-volatile data store according to the change, synchronizing the local inventory with one or more nodes via a communication interface, and receiving, from the one or more nodes via the communication interface, periodic updates for a local cache comprising locations and inventories of one or more remote bins.

Systems and methods for tracking a smart container are provided. The methods use sensors of the smart container to detect tampering with the smart container after the container leaves a sender and before the container arrives at a receiver. In particular, the sensors detect when the smart container has been opened by someone other than the receiver (i.e., tampered with) and write the detection of tampering (e.g., the sensor measurement) to a blockchain. Delivery agents use scanners to write their possession or agency over the smart container to the blockchain. Accordingly, the agency of the smart container can be determined if tampering occurs.

A method having the steps of obtaining temporal information communicated to a first device; carrying out one or more of the following tests: a test to determine whether the first device is in a state following an initial operation, a battery replacement or other power outage, or a reset, a test to determine whether a deviation between temporal information of the clock and the communicated temporal information is less than or equal to a threshold which is specified, and a test to determine whether the communicated temporal information has the same date as the temporal information of the clock; and synchronizing the clock using the communicated temporal information if all of one or more defined conditions are satisfied, wherein one of the one or more conditions requires that at least one of the one or more tests carried out has a positive result.

A system for delivering an article from a first location to a second location with a robot having a closeable transport container for housing the article during transport. A closeable recipient container is provided at the second location for receiving the article. At least one computer configured to navigate the robot over an outdoor transportation network between locations is provided. The robot has a robot article transport mechanism controlled by the at least one computer for removing the article from the transport container and the recipient container has a recipient article transport mechanism for moving the article inside the recipient container.

A computer-implemented method for compliance checking related to goods in import supply chain logistics is provided, including: adding received legality data elements into a blockchain ledger corresponding to an importation of the goods; establishing a smart contract of the blockchain ledger; adding received sensing data elements corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger; adding electronic lock (e-Lock) status data corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger; and adding one or more inspection results corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger. Furthermore, determining, by the smart contract, whether the goods are within the compliance according to the received legality data elements, the received sensing data elements, the e-Lock status data and the one or more inspection results, wherein in response to determining that the goods are within the compliance, unsealing the e-Locks by sending a control signal to the e-Locks.

Methods are described that perform a dispatched consumer-to-store return or swap logistics operation for an item being replaced using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server. The method begins with receiving a return operation dispatch command that includes identifier information, transport parameters, and designated pickup information for the item being replaced/returned, along with authentication information related to an authorized supplier of the item being replaced. Modular components of the bot apparatus are verified to be compatible with the dispatched logistics operation. The MAM then autonomously causes the bot apparatus to move to the designated pickup location, notifies the authorized supplier of an approaching pickup, receives supplier authorization input to permissively allow access to a payload area within the bot apparatus, monitors loading as the item being replaced is received along with return documentation, and then autonomously causes movement of the bot apparatus back to the origin location.

An apparatus for more efficiently enabling secure access to an enclosure is described herein. The apparatus may include a wireless transmitter in a selectably opaque container, a wireless transceiver, a GPS receiver, an NFC transmitter and/or receiver, one or more hardware processors, and hardware memory. The hardware memory stores instructions for receiving a current location of the apparatus and comparing that location to a delivery address of the enclosure. As the location is within a certain range of the delivery address the apparatus sends a request to a cloud-based server for a hash digest masking an acceptable input for an access control mechanism associated with the enclosure. The apparatus receives the hash digest and forwards it to the access control mechanism via the wireless transmitter. Computer executable code for handling such tasks, and a cloud-based server for generating the hash digest, are also described herein.

A food delivery safety device includes a main body having a plurality of walls that define an interior space, and a lid that selectively provide access to the interior space. A locking mechanism, access panel, camera and tampering sensors are provided along the main body to detect unauthorized access to the interior space. A controller is located within the main body and includes a wireless communication unit for sending and receiving information with a user device running a food delivery safety application.