SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING A SHIPMENT IN A LOADING SPACE OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A system and a method for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle, as well as a corresponding vehicle and a method for delivering a shipment into a vehicle, include a controller arranged and configured to calculate a first length of the opening based on received and/or determined dimensions of the shipment and further based on an area of the opening configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle. An actuator is arranged and configured to move a first element of the vehicle relative to a second element of the vehicle by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the exactly necessary opening.

Claims

1. A system for providing an opening for receiving a shipment in a loading space of a vehicle, the system comprising: a receiver arranged and configured to receive dimensions of the shipment; and/or a determination unit arranged and configured to determine the dimensions of the shipment; a controller communicatively connected with the receiver and/or with the determination unit, wherein the controller is arranged and configured to calculate a first length of the opening based on the received dimensions and/or based on the determined dimensions of the shipment and further based on an area of the opening configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle; and an actuator communicatively connected with the controller, wherein the actuator is arranged and configured to move a first element of the vehicle relative to a second element of the vehicle by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the area comprises a predetermined second length of the opening, and wherein the predetermined second length of the opening is perpendicular to the first length of the opening.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured to check whether a predetermined maximal area of the opening is sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening based on the received dimensions and/or based on the determined dimensions of the shipment and based on the predetermined maximal area of the opening, and wherein the first element is moved by the calculated first length of the opening when the predetermined maximal area of the opening is sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured to determine a minimal dimension of the shipment and to set the first length of the opening equal to the determined minimal dimension of the shipment.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured: to determine a second to minimal dimension of the shipment linearly independent from the minimal dimension of the shipment; to check whether the predetermined second length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment; to check whether a predetermined maximal first length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment when the predetermined second length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment; to set the first length of the opening equal to the determined minimal dimension of the shipment when the predetermined second length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; to check whether the predetermined second length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment when the predetermined second length of the opening is not equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment; to check whether the predetermined maximal first length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment when the predetermined second length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and to set the first length of the opening equal to the determined second to minimal dimension when the predetermined maximal first length of the opening is equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the shipment comprise a first main dimension, a second main dimension, and a third main dimension of a cuboid representing the shipment, and wherein the second main dimension is linearly independent from the first main dimension and the third main dimension is linearly independent from the first main dimension and from the second main dimension.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the cuboid is a virtual substitution for a real shape of the shipment, and wherein the cuboid completely surrounds the real shape of the shipment.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the dimensions of the shipment is extended by a predetermined tolerance or a tolerance of +/10%.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured: to determine a maximal dimension of the shipment; and to check whether the loading space can receive the determined maximal dimension of the shipment through the opening, and wherein the first element is moved by the calculated first length of the opening when the loading space can receive the determined maximal dimension of the shipment through the opening.

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured to generate an error message when: the predetermined maximal area of the opening is not sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of the opening is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined second length of the opening is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of the opening is not equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is arranged and configured: to calculate a first length of a further opening based on the received dimensions and/or based on the determined dimensions of the shipment and further based on an area of the further opening configured to receive the shipment through the further opening in the loading space of a further loading space of the vehicle when: the predetermined maximal area of a previous opening is not sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of the previous opening is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined second length of the previous opening is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of the previous opening is not equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the controller is arranged and configured: to send the generated error message to an external system when: the predetermined maximal area of all openings is not sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of all openings is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined second length of all openings is not equal to or greater than the determined minimal dimension of the shipment; and/or the predetermined maximal first length of all openings is not equal to or greater than the determined second to minimal dimension of the shipment.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the first element is a movable window of the vehicle, the second element is a door, a tailgate, or a body of the vehicle, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable window relative to the door, the tailgate, or the body by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening; and/or the first element is a movable tailgate of the vehicle, the second element is the body of the vehicle, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable tailgate relative to the body by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening; and/or the first element is a movable sunroof of the vehicle, the second element is the body of the vehicle, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable sunroof relative to the body by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening; and/or the first element is a movable door or a movable sliding door of the vehicle, the second element is the body of the vehicle, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable door or the movable sliding door relative to the body by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening; and/or the first element is a movable convertible top of the vehicle, the second element is the body of the vehicle, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable convertible top relative to the body by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening; and/or the first element is a movable lid of a top box of the vehicle, the second element is a bottom part of the top box, and the actuator is arranged and configured to move the movable lid of the top box relative to the bottom part of the top box by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit comprises at least one of: a camera system with an image recognition functionality arranged and configured to recognize borders of the shipment and to derive the dimensions of the shipment based on the recognized borders; and a laser scanner system arranged and configured to measure the borders of the shipment and to derive the dimensions of the shipment based on the measured borders.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a detection means communicatively connected with the controller and arranged and configured to detect the shipment in the loading space, wherein the controller is further arranged and configured to check whether the shipment is in the loading space, and wherein the actuator is further arranged and configured to move back the first element relative to the second element by the calculated first length of the opening in order to close the opening when the shipment is in the loading space.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the detection means comprises at least one of: a second camera system with an image recognition functionality arranged and configured to recognize the shipment inside the loading space; and a second receiver arranged and configured to receive a message from an external system acknowledging that the shipment was successfully delivered into the loading space.

17. A vehicle, comprising: at least the actuator of the system according to claim 1; a first element; a second element, wherein the first element is movable relative to the second element, and wherein the first element is arranged and configured to be moved relative to the second element by the actuator of the system by the first length of the opening calculated by the controller of the system in order to provide the opening.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the first element is a movable window and the second element is a door, a tailgate, or a body of the vehicle; or the first element is a movable tailgate and the second element is the body; or the first element is a movable sunroof and the second element is the body; or the first element is a movable door or a movable sliding door and the second element is the body; or the first element is a movable convertible top and the second element is the body; or the first element is a movable lid of a top box mounted to the vehicle and the second element is a bottom part of the top box.

19. A method of providing an opening for receiving a shipment in a loading space of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps: a1) receiving dimensions of the shipment; and/or a2) determining the dimensions of the shipment; b) calculating a first length of the opening based on the received dimensions and/or based on the determined dimensions of the shipment and further based on an area of the opening configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle; and c) moving a first element of the vehicle relative to a second element of the vehicle by the calculated first length of the opening in order to provide the opening.

20. A method of delivering a shipment into a vehicle, the method comprising the steps: A) initiating delivering of the shipment into a loading space of the vehicle; B) delivering the shipment to a vicinity of the vehicle; C) providing an opening for delivering the shipment into the loading space of the vehicle by the method according to claim 19; D) checking whether the shipment was placed into the loading space of the vehicle via the provided opening; and E) closing the opening when the shipment was placed into the loading space of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0149] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Other embodiments of the present disclosure and many of the intended advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or functionally equivalent components, unless indicated otherwise.

[0150] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the system for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle.

[0151] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the vehicle having several first elements and second elements for providing the opening.

[0152] FIG. 3 shows a view of the vehicle having a determination unit.

[0153] FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of the method for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle.

[0154] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow chart of the method for delivering a shipment into a vehicle.

[0155] Although specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0156] In FIG. 1, the system 1 for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle 10 is schematically depicted. The system 1 comprises a receiver 2 and additionally or alternatively a determination unit 3 and further a controller 4 and an actuator 5.

[0157] In this embodiment, the receiver 2 is a radio receiver. The receiver 2 may be located at the premises of a shipping company and/or at the premises of a dealer/vendor and based on WLAN or the internet. In another embodiment, the receiver 2 may be integrated into the vehicle 10 and based on Bluetooth or LTE/UMTS. The receiver 2 receives dimensions of the shipment from an external system, e.g., a system of the dealer/vendor via WLAN, the internet or LTE/UMTS or a mobile device of a delivery man via Bluetooth.

[0158] In this embodiment, the determination unit 3 is a camera system with an image recognition functionality. The determination unit 3 may be located at the premises of a shipping company and/or at the premises of a dealer/vendor. In another embodiment, the receiver 2 may be part of the vehicle 10. The determination unit 3 can determine the dimensions of the shipment based on borders of the shipment. The determination unit 3 recognizes the borders of the shipment while the shipment is presented to the determination unit 3 from different angles or in different orientations.

[0159] The controller 4 may be implemented on a cloud-based system or integrated in an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle 10. The controller 4 is communicatively connected with the receiver 2 and additionally or alternatively with the determination unit 3, e.g. via a tethered (LAN, CAN bus, USB etc.) or via a wireless connection (WLAN, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.). The controller 4 receives the dimensions of the shipment. The controller 4 is configured to calculate an area of the opening. The area of the opening is configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle 10. The loading space of the vehicle 10 can be a passenger cabin of the vehicle 10, a trunk of the vehicle 10, and/or an inner space of a top box mounted on the vehicle 10.

[0160] The area of the opening, which is configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle 10, is determined such that only the shipment can be passed through the opening into the loading space of the vehicle 10. Nothing in addition to or instead of the shipment can be passed through the opening having the area, which is configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle 10. Thus, different ways of calculating the corresponding first length h of the opening are possible.

[0161] Here, the controller 4 determines a minimal dimension of the shipment.

h=min{a,b,c},

where a, b, c are the dimensions of a cuboid shaped shipment.

[0162] The controller 4 may add a tolerance or buffer of 10% to the dimensions or only to the minimal dimension of the shipment.

h=min{a,b,c}*1.1

[0163] The minimal dimension of the shipment optionally with added 10% tolerance is set as a first length h of the opening. Thus, the first length h of the opening is calculated by the controller 4 as the minimal dimension (plus 10% tolerance) of the shipment.

[0164] Because the opening has an area based on the first length h, nothing but the shipment can be put through the opening.

[0165] The actuator 5 is here exemplarily an electric motor with a gearing mechanism. The actuator 5 is included in the vehicle 10. The actuator 5 is communicatively connected with the controller 4 directly when the controller 4 is integrated in the ECU of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the actuator 5 is communicatively connected with the controller 4 indirectly, for example, via a communication unit of the vehicle 10 when the controller 4 is implemented on a cloud-based system. The actuator 5 can move a first element of the vehicle 10 relative to a second element of the vehicle 10. The first element may be a window of the vehicle 10 and the second element may be a window frame of the vehicle. The actuator receives the first length h of the opening and moves or is controlled by the controller 4 to move the first element relative to the second element by the first length h. Thereby, the opening is provided between the first element and the second element.

[0166] The opening has the area based on the first length h. Because the first length h is calculated by the controller 4 based on the minimal dimension of the shipment, the shipment can be delivered through the opening, but nothing in addition or instead of the shipment can be put through the opening in the loading space, e.g. a passenger cabin, of the vehicle 10.

[0167] The system 1 may further comprise a detection means (not depicted), e.g., a second camera system, which can detect the shipment in the loading space of the vehicle 10.

[0168] When the detection means detects the shipment inside the loading space of the vehicle 10, the shipping is successfully delivered and the actuator 5 can be controlled by the controller 4 to close the opening by moving back the first element relative to the second element by the first length h.

[0169] FIG. 2 schematically depicts the vehicle 10 having several first elements 11.1 . . . 11.3 and corresponding second elements 12.1 . . . 12.3 for providing the opening.

[0170] The vehicle 10 comprises a front window as the first element 11.1, a front window frame as the second element 12.1, and an actuator 5.1 configured to move the front window 11.1 relative to the front window frame 12.1. The vehicle 10 further comprises a rear window as the first element 11.2, a rear window frame as the second element 12.2, and an actuator 5.2 configured to move the rear window 11.2 relative to the rear window frame 12.2. The vehicle 10 further comprises a tailgate as the first element 11.3, a rear body as the second element 12.3, and an actuator 5.3 configured to move the tailgate 11.3 relative to the rear body 12.3.

[0171] Upon receiving the dimensions of the shipment, the controller (not depicted), e.g. implemented on a cloud-based system, calculates the first length h of the opening as described above. The controller then controls one of the actuators 5.1 . . . 5.3 to move the respective first element 11.1 . . . 11.3 relative to the respective second element 12.1 . . . 12.3 by the calculated first length h. The controller selects the actuator 5.1 . . . 5.3 based on the dimensions of the shipment. Thus, small shipments like letters or small packages are delivered via an opening in the front window frame 12.1 by moving the front window 11.1 or via an opening in the rear window frame 12.2 by moving the rear window 11.2. When the shipment is big like a big package, which does not fit through the front window frame 12.1 or the rear window frame 12.2, the controller controls the actuator 5.3 to move the tailgate 11.3 relative to the back frame 12.3 by the calculated first length h. Thus, the big shipment can be delivered via the opening in the rear frame 12.3.

[0172] In FIG. 3, the vehicle 10 having a determination unit 3 is schematically depicted. The vehicle 10 corresponds to the vehicle of FIG. 2.

[0173] The determination unit here is a camera system with an image recognition functionality. A delivery man presents the shipment 20 to the camera system 3 in different orientations. Thus, the camera system 3 recognizes borders of the shipment 20. From the recognized borders of the shipment 20, the camera system 3 derives the dimensions of the shipment 20. The determined dimensions of the shipment are then forwarded to the controller (not depicted). The controller calculates the first length h of the opening as described above and, in an embodiment, controls the actuator 5.1 to move the front window 11.1 relative to the front window frame 12.1 by the calculated first length h.

[0174] In FIG. 4, the method for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle is schematically depicted. The method of FIG. 4 may be executed by the system of FIG. 1.

[0175] The method comprises the steps a1) receiving dimensions of the shipment and/or a2) determining the dimensions of the shipment; b) calculating a first length h of the opening; c) moving a first element of the vehicle relative to a second element of the vehicle; d) optionally generating an error message; and e) optionally sending the generated error message.

[0176] After the dimensions of the shipment have been received in step a1) and/or have been determined in step a2) as described above for the system and vehicle of FIGS. 1 to 3, the first length h of the opening is calculated in step b). The first length of the opening is calculated based on the received/determined dimensions of the shipment and further based on an area of the opening. The area of the opening is configured to receive the shipment through the opening in the loading space of the vehicle. The minimal dimension of the shipment is determined and set as the first length h of the opening as described above for the system and vehicle of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0177] Step b) comprises a sub-step b2). In step b2), it is checked whether a predetermined maximal area of the opening is sufficient for the shipment to be delivered into the loading space of the vehicle through the opening. The checking is based on the received/determined dimensions of the shipment and on the predetermined maximal area of the opening. The predetermined maximal area of the opening may be fetched from a database 30. The database 30 may store the predetermined maximal areas of different openings for the vehicle or several different vehicles. The database 30 may be part of the controller 4. The controller 4 may be implemented on a cloud-based system at the dealer/vendor side or at the shipping company side or in the ECU of the vehicle. The predetermined maximal area of the opening is based on a maximal first length h.sub.max of the opening and a predefined (fixed) second length of the opening.

[0178] If the checking in step b2) is positive (y), then in step c), a first element of the vehicle, e.g. window, is moved relative to a second element, e.g. window frame, of the vehicle by the calculated first length h in order to provide the opening.

[0179] If the checking in step b2) is negative (n), then the step c) is not executed. Optionally, if the checking in step b2) is negative (n), then step d) may be executed. In step d), an error message is generated. The error message comprises an ID or name of the opening, which has no sufficient area for the shipment to be delivered.

[0180] Further, if the checking in step b2) is negative (n), then the step e) is optionally executed. In step e), the generated error message is sent to an external system, in this embodiment, a server of the shipping company. The shipping company can provide an alternative delivering option based on the error message.

[0181] After step c) has been executed, step f) is executed. In step f), it is checked whether the shipment was placed into the loading space of the vehicle via the provided opening. This may be checked by a second camera system with an image recognition functionality. The second camera system is arranged and configured to recognize the shipment inside the loading space. Additionally, or alternatively, this may be checked by a second receiver configured to receive a message from an external system, e.g. mobile device of the delivery man, acknowledging that the shipment was successfully delivered into the loading space.

[0182] If step f) is negative (n), step f) is executed again, until the checking is positive (y). When step f) is positive (y), step g) is executed. In step g), the opening is closed by moving the first element, e.g. window, of the vehicle relative to the second element, e.g. window frame, of the vehicle back by the calculated first length when the shipment was placed into the loading space of the vehicle. The first element may be moved back by the actuator of the system of FIG. 1.

[0183] In FIG. 5, the method for delivering a shipment into a vehicle is schematically depicted. The method for delivering a shipment into a vehicle comprises the steps of the method for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle of FIG. 4. Therefore, only the differences to the method for FIG. 4 are described in the following.

[0184] The method for delivering a shipment into a vehicle comprises the steps: A) initiating delivering of the shipment; B) delivering the shipment to a vicinity of the vehicle; C) providing an opening; D) checking whether the shipment was placed into the loading space of the vehicle and E) closing the opening.

[0185] Step C) comprises the steps a1) and/or a2), as well as b), b2), c), d) and e) of the method of FIG. 4. Step D) corresponds to step f) of the method of FIG. 4. Step E) corresponds to step g) of the method of FIG. 4.

[0186] After steps a1) and/or a2), as well as b) and b2), have been executed and step b2) was positive (y), step A) is executed. In step A), delivering of the shipment into the loading space of the vehicle is initiated. Information about the vehicle are forwarded to the delivery man, e.g. to the mobile device of the delivery man. The information about the vehicle comprises location information and access rights to the vehicle. The location information of the vehicle is provided by a navigation system of the vehicle via GPS. In step A1), which is a sub-step of A), the location information of the vehicle is continuously provided to the mobile device of the delivery man at predefined time intervals of 5 minutes. Thus, the delivery man has the current location of the vehicle available.

[0187] In step B), the shipment is delivered to a vicinity of the vehicle. This can be accomplished by the delivery man based on the current location information about the vehicle. It is continuously checked in step B) whether the shipment has arrived at the vicinity of the vehicle.

[0188] The checking in step B) is repeated as long as the result is negative (n). Step C) (comprising the steps a1) and/or a2) as well as b), b2), c), d) and e) of the method of FIG. 4) is executed if the checking in step B) is positive (y).

[0189] After step c) of the method of FIG. 4) included in step C) has been executed, step D) is executed. If step D) is positive (y), step E) is executed.

[0190] After step E) has been executed, the delivering of the shipment into the loading space of the vehicle is successfully completed.

[0191] In the foregoing detailed description, various features are grouped together in one or more examples or examples with the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Many other examples will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above specification.

[0192] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications. The embodiments thereby enable others of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Many other examples will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above specification.

REFERENCE LIST

[0193] 1 system for providing an opening for delivering a shipment into a loading space of a vehicle [0194] 2 receiver [0195] 3 determination unit [0196] 4 controller [0197] 5 actuator [0198] 10 vehicle [0199] 11 first elements [0200] 12 second elements [0201] 20 shipment [0202] 30 database [0203] h first length