DeliveryPoints: SmartWaiter

Overview

In apartments, space is at a premium - but there is considerable scope for shared space - in elevator shafts, basements and roof-tops. Apartment blocks designed for localnet will have a hatch in the kitchen of each apartment through which individual boxes of items are delivered or placed to be taken away.

Unattended Delivery

In this case, deliveries are made to the whole apartment block at once. A block of containers is typically delivered to the basement where there are heated, chilled and frozen compartments in which goods can be kept at the correct temperature until the resident wants one or more to be delivered to his hatch.

Display/Control Panel

A small LCD touch-panel beside the hatch lets the resident see which containers are being held for them and let him interact with the localnet system. Touching one button may request a fresh WasteBox - which appears within a few seconds and is swapped with the partially full one that he wants to be taken away. Touching another button requests that his morning post and breakfast are sent up.

Recyclables

OmniBoxes arrive most days with the food you need for that evening and the next morning. As these are emptied, you place recyclables (glass, plastic, tins and compostable waste) in the box and pop them in the hatch when full or you want rid of them.

Chilled and Frozen Goods

Space is at a premium in an apartment. Having access to shared chilled and frozen storage via the dumb-waiter means you don't need such a large (or any) freezer or refrigerator in the apartment itself.