By incorporating TOF sensors, Arrive AI aims to tackle one of the biggest bottlenecks in the delivery industry: inefficient pickups. Currently, couriers – human or autonomous – servicing large mailboxes at strip malls or office complexes follow an inefficient process. Each stop requires physically opening boxes to check for outgoing packages. With TOF-equipped Arrive Points, couriers will know in advance which mailboxes hold items and how much truck space is required. The result is fewer wasted stops, lower fuel and battery use, faster deliveries and reduced congestion.
Beyond logistics, the data can highlight courier efficiency, empowering users to choose the most reliable providers for their delivery or return needs.
“Time is money, and even small gains in logistics efficiency add up fast,” said Arrive AI CEO Dan O’Toole. “This is another way we’re improving the product and redefining the delivery experience for everyone.”
Torrey Bievenour, Arrive AI Chief Technology Officer, said Arrive AI’s research and development team will use TOF data and AI to detect patterns regarding package sizes, counts, delivery times, retrieval times and product times to help streamline supply chains.
The TOF sensors will provide low-resolution data that will be analyzed cost-effectively by edge AI. This eliminates the need for bulky cameras and expensive processors within the unit, freeing up more space inside Arrive Points for packages.
“We can do a lot with a little,” Bievenour said.
In 2014, O’Toole envisioned a smart mailbox that could accept drone deliveries and beat giant delivery companies to the U.S. Patent Office to protect his invention. He secured that patent in 2017 and has been refining it ever since. The mailboxes, now called Arrive Points, offer a climate-assisted space for deliveries from any human or autonomous courier that is connected to a platform capable of interacting with IoT devices and issuing emergency alerts.
In addition to the basic design and temperature control element, Arrive AI has secured U.S. patents that cover drone delivery management and tethering, anti-theft mechanisms and intelligent chain-of-custody control. The company has 58 patents pending for its Autonomous Last Mile solution filed across 22 countries and has secured several trademarks. See details at https://www.arriveai.com/intellectual-property .
Smart lockers have transitioned from being a niche convenience to a necessary part of modern commercial buildings. These innovative storage solutions streamline operations and improve the experience for employees and clients alike.
The push towards flexible workspaces and heightened security has cemented their status as a must-have amenity. With numerous advantages such as efficient space utilization, improved security, and user convenience, the increasing adoption of smart lockers is no surprise.
Security and Convenience
The primary benefit of smart lockers is their ability to provide heightened security. These lockers utilize advanced locking technologies and employ keypad or biometric systems, which reduce the likelihood of theft. Personal items and sensitive materials remain safeguarded. Users only need to enter a unique code or scan a fingerprint, making it easy to secure personal belongings without the hassle of traditional keys.
The use of smart lockers also facilitates a seamless experience. Individuals can retrieve their belongings quickly and conveniently anytime they want. Those looking for comprehensive options can discover workplace smart locker solutions that cater to their needs. Integrating smart locker solutions into commercial buildings enables businesses to create an environment that prioritizes safety and accessibility.
Space and Collaboration
Many organizations are now shifting towards open office layouts designed to promote collaboration and innovation. With the implementation of smart lockers, businesses can minimize the need for dedicated desks and provide employees with flexible working options. Rather than cluttering spaces with personal belongings, workers can securely stow their items in smart lockers, freeing up valuable real estate for collaborative efforts.
An added advantage is that these lockers feature customizable sizes that optimize space. Flexible storage solutions can accommodate varied capacities, catering to different team sizes and work styles.
Remote Work and Hybrid Models
Remote work is now commonplace, and businesses are reassessing their workspace requirements. Smart lockers provide the perfect complement to this trend. Employees who transition between working from home and the office can easily store essential items in secure lockers.
Efficiently organizing a shared workspace with smart lockers means that companies provide consistent access to necessary equipment and maintain an organized atmosphere. Smart locker technology encourages employees to embrace office time.
Package and Mail Management
Managing incoming packages is a cumbersome aspect of operations for many businesses. The rise of e-commerce has resulted in significant increases in package deliveries, mostly causing congestion at reception areas.
Smart lockers present a streamlined solution to tackle this issue. By implementing a system where packages are delivered directly to smart lockers, businesses can unburden their reception staff and enable users to pick up their items at their convenience. The automated notifications sent to users inform them when packages are ready. The technology maintains a structured environment in commercial buildings, improving operational efficiency and cultivating a better experience for all users.
Sustainability Practices
The integration of smart lockers aligns seamlessly with sustainability initiatives that many businesses champion today. A paperless approach will reduce reliance on physical storage, and companies can create a more eco-friendly footprint. Smart lockers inherently promote digital solutions for personal storage needs, cutting down the use of traditional resources such as paper and plastic. They eliminate the need for excessive physical locker materials and contribute to reduced materials waste.
Businesses can also monitor locker usage patterns, adjusting their usage to optimize resource allocation and avoid over-purchasing. This data-driven approach allows organizations to make smarter environmental decisions and engage users in sustainable practices. Companies today recognize the importance of eco-consciousness, and smart lockers become a contribution to any organization’s commitment to sustainability.
Employee Satisfaction and Productivity
Happy employees are more productive. In this context, smart lockers can boost workplace morale. When employees feel their belongings are secure and easily accessible, their focus can shift back to work rather than worrying about the safety of their personal items. Smart lockers eliminate clutter within workplaces, leading to a more organized and aesthetically pleasing environment. Beauty in the office space can greatly influence employee satisfaction, as individuals respond positively to well-organized areas.
Thanks to easier collaboration and interaction, smart lockers can improve workplace relationships and cultivate a sense of camaraderie among team members. A harmonious work atmosphere results in better communication, creativity, and higher productivity levels.
Incorporating smart lockers within commercial buildings is a strategic move towards embracing modern technology and improving operational efficiency. Their ability to offer security, streamline processes, and contribute to a productive workspace can drive business success.
With increasing demands for flexibility and convenience in the workforce, smart lockers stand out as the must-have feature that aligns with evolving workplace dynamics. The positive effects extend far beyond storage needs, impacting overall employee satisfaction and organizational productivity.
As part of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s expanding presence in Ireland, the company’s newly-kitted out showroom, testing and tool trial facility in Limerick recently took delivery of a high-speed IntElect S 100 medical-specification production cell.
Responding to one of the greatest challenges for medical manufacturers – constant high output, rigorous technical requirements and high precision – the IntElect S 100 delivers the repeatability and accuracy required for highly demanding applications. Specifically, the production of pipette tips, vials, drug delivery devices and pen style injectors.
Transported direct from Fakuma 2023, the IntElect S 100 machine’s ability to accommodate various tool configurations and automation options, combined with its energy efficiency, makes this machine the natural choice for producing high-volume medical components with the greatest precision.
The controlled acceleration and deceleration injection speeds underpins this medical machine’s success, notes the company’s Medical Business Development Director Anatol Sattel. “When there is no margin for error, the IntElect’s highly dynamic direct drive technology can react quicker to the injection speed changes. This not only delivers a faster cycle time but ensures the optimal product quality. All of this results in a faster ROI.”
Featuring direct drives that are renowned for being clean, cool, fast and quiet, the 0.14 seconds required to reach the IntElect´s maximum injection speed of 350mm/sec opens up the process window in critical areas where the difference between overfilling, a full part or a short shot, can be very small. This filling speed can also help to prevent core shifts in applications like pipette tips that are more susceptible to the forces associated with slow injection speeds.
With the company’s medical drive systems tailored to the applications, customers in Ireland will soon be able to see how features like these help to lower energy consumption and reduce the amount of heat having to be dissipated from air-conditioned environments. All combining to help reduce operating costs.
Process optimisation, enhanced productivity and TCO can have the biggest impact on profitability. Again, these are greatly enhanced by this medical cell’s high-performance drives. Comprehensive lifetime tests performed on both the machines and components confirm that spindles tested under the toughest production conditions showed no signs of visible wear, even after millions of cycles.
“Having our very own medical machine in Ireland now gives customers a high-spec package to support validations, run tool trials and provide valuable process optimisation training to technicians. We are anticipating this machine will generate a lot of interest from medical moulders in Ireland. Combined with the IntElect S 180 machine already installed at our new Limerick facility, we now have the ability to demonstrate a range of AI and connectivity features to customers in all sectors. Critically, customers can benefit from the convenience of running tests and trials on site, without having to travel overseas. We look forward to welcoming customers from the first week of January 2024,” emphasises UK & Ireland Director Dave Raine.
