Autonomous Unmanned Road Vehicle for Making Deliveries

Abstract

An autonomous unmanned road vehicle and how it can be used to make deliveries. The unmanned vehicle is capable of operating autonomously on paved roadways. The vehicle has a control system for autonomous driving and a perception system for detecting objects in its surroundings. The vehicle also has one or more cargo compartments for carrying the delivery items. The vehicle may have a flashing light beacon to increase the conspicuousness of the vehicle. In consideration that the vehicle does not carry passengers, the size and/or motor power of the vehicle may be reduced as compared to conventional passenger vehicles.

1 . An unmanned road vehicle for operating on a roadway and making deliveries, comprising:
 a control system for autonomous driving of the vehicle on a roadway;   a perception system for detecting objects in the surroundings;   a cargo compartment;   an electric motor for propelling the vehicle;   wherein the vehicle does not have any passenger seats;   wherein the vehicle has an empty weight of at least 700 lbs;   wherein both front and rear track widths of the vehicle are narrower than 65 inches;   wherein the total cargo volume of the vehicle is less than 200 cu ft.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein both the front and rear track widths of the vehicle are narrower than 60 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein both the front and rear track widths of the vehicle are narrower than 55 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein both the front and rear track widths of the vehicle are narrower than 50 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the maximum payload capacity of the vehicle is less than 900 lbs. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the maximum payload capacity of the vehicle is less than 900 lbs. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the maximum payload capacity of the vehicle is less than 900 lbs. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the total cargo volume is less than 100 cu ft. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the total cargo volume is less than 100 cu ft. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the total cargo volume is less than 100 cu ft. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the total cargo volume is less than 100 cu ft. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the total cargo volume is less than 100 cu ft. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , further comprising a surveillance system that includes a multidirectional camera system that has one or more cameras for imaging in multiple directions, wherein the surveillance system is in operation even when the vehicle is not traveling or when the driving perception system is not active.