Arrive AI sensors help delivery drivers skip empty mailbox stops, achieve truck space efficiency

Arrive AI has integrated time-of-flight (TOF) sensors into its patented Arrive Points™ smart mailboxes to optimize package delivery efficiency through real-time data collection. The technology addresses a major industry bottleneck by allowing couriers to know in advance which mailboxes contain packages and how much truck space is needed, eliminating wasted stops and reducing operational costs.

How it works: The TOF sensors capture low-resolution data that edge AI analyzes to detect patterns in package delivery and retrieval.

• Couriers will receive advance information about which Arrive Points contain outgoing packages, eliminating the need to physically check empty mailboxes at strip malls and office complexes.
• The system provides insights into package sizes, counts, delivery times, and retrieval patterns to help streamline supply chains.
• The sensors require less space and processing power than traditional camera systems, leaving more room inside the units for packages.

In plain English: Time-of-flight sensors work like invisible measuring tape, bouncing light signals off objects to determine distance and size. Instead of bulky cameras that need powerful computers to process images, these simpler sensors can tell if packages are inside a mailbox and roughly how big they are, using much less equipment and space.

The big picture: Arrive AI’s approach tackles logistics inefficiencies that cost the delivery industry significant time and resources daily.

• “Time is money, and even small gains in logistics efficiency add up fast,” said CEO Dan O’Toole. “This is another way we’re improving the product and redefining the delivery experience for everyone.”
• The data can also highlight courier efficiency metrics, helping users choose the most reliable delivery providers.

Company background: Arrive AI, a publicly traded company (NASDAQ:ARAI), built its platform around smart mailboxes designed for autonomous and human deliveries.

• CEO Dan O’Toole secured the original patent for drone-compatible smart mailboxes in 2017, after filing in 2014.
• The company’s Arrive Points offer climate-controlled spaces that work with drones, ground robots, and human couriers.
• Arrive AI holds multiple patents covering drone delivery management, anti-theft mechanisms, and chain-of-custody controls, with 58 patents pending across 22 countries.

What they’re saying: CTO Torrey Bievenour emphasized the efficiency of their approach: “We can do a lot with a little.”

Why this matters: The integration represents a practical application of edge AI in logistics, potentially reducing fuel consumption, delivery times, and urban congestion while improving the reliability of package pickup and delivery services across autonomous and traditional courier networks.