FedEx was granted a patent for assigning freight-handling vehicles.

{
  "signal_id": "32c48073-dab1-574e-ac03-5c7e35b1ad3c",
  "signal_type": "patents-company",
  "signal_subtype": "patentGrant",
  "detected_at": "2026-09-23T14:49:05+00:00",
  "company": {
    "name": "FedEx",
    "domain": "fedex.com"
  },
  "data": {
    "cpc": [
      {
        "code": "B65G 1/1378"
      },
      {
        "code": "B65G 67/20"
      },
      {
        "code": "G06Q 10/08",
        "label": "Data processing systems for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes"
      }
    ],
    "tags": [
      "Intellectual Property",
      "Research & Development",
      "Logistics / Supply Chain",
      "Automation",
      "Warehouse Operations"
    ],
    "detail": "In September 2026 FedEx patented rules-based dispatch technology for assigning autonomous or operator-controlled transport vehicles to loading tasks in freight facilities.",
    "summary": "FedEx was granted a patent for assigning freight-handling vehicles.",
    "event_at": "2026-09-22",
    "inventors": [
      {
        "name": "Kevin C Henry",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": true
      },
      {
        "name": "Anthony J Hyatt",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Dennis W Harner",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Benjamin Krone",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Jason Honeycutt",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Sankeerth Chilukuri",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/sankeerth-chilukuri-4295845b"
      },
      {
        "name": "Ankit Sikka",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankit-sikka-2b77a516"
      },
      {
        "name": "Neal Tucker",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-tucker-2a5112100"
      }
    ],
    "event_kind": "grant_date",
    "grant_date": "2026-09-22",
    "source_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12741817",
    "cpc_primary": {
      "code": "B65G 1/1378"
    },
    "patent_title": "System and methods for managing object transport vehicle in a freight handling system",
    "patent_number": "US12741817",
    "uspto_assignee": "FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION",
    "patent_abstract": "Disclosed are methods and systems for determining a next work assignment for an object transport vehicle in a freight handling system. The method includes defining a series of rules. The method include receiving a request for a next work assignment using an object transport vehicle. The method includes sending the next work assignment to an object transport vehicle to load freight. The method may include identifying an order of work assignments. The method includes determining a status of the destination trailer. The method includes determining whether a shipment comprises of one piece or more than one piece. The method includes sending an instruction to load a piece of freight. The method includes verifying one or more rules for determining a new work assignment. The method includes receiving information with a new work assignment. The method includes sending the new work assignment for the object transport vehicle.",
    "precision_class": "structural",
    "invention_explanation": "A system that chooses and sends each transport vehicle its next loading job by evaluating workflow rules and current assignment status.",
    "technologies_mentioned": [
      "freight handling",
      "vehicle dispatch",
      "warehouse automation"
    ]
  }
}

curl https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/signals/32c48073-dab1-574e-ac03-5c7e35b1ad3c \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY"

curl -X POST https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/companies/enrich \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain":"fedex.com","limit":20}'