Smart-Box. A technology-enabled, food delivery/incubation device (Using a novel, eco-friendly, batch manufacturing technology).

Smart-Box is a 'technology enabled' device which offers a number of improvements for hot food delivery in the UK. Food delivery is a high growth market worth over £10 billion P.A. which has not seen any significant change or development since it's inception.

Current technology readiness levels are better than ever with key elements of the proposed design having become increasingly accessible and/or viable in recent years. These include IOT, battery technology and disruptive manufacturing technologies.

There are numerous problems with current methods of food delivery. Repeated deliveries using the same bag leads to a build up of bacterial growth and odour as the bags are hard to clean effectively.

The hard surfaces of Smart-Box would be designed for easy cleaning and a regular 'deep clean me' alert can be set which would indicate when the device had been used for a set number of hours and is therefore due a more comprehensive clean.

Current delivery bags often just rely on insulation to keep the temperature as high as possible. This practice leads to food getting lukewarm relatively quickly (keeping food at a high temperature helps to reduce the growth of bacteria). Another current solution are heat pads (typically induction heated metal plates which are covered in rubber) which are placed in with the food.

These are expensive and ineffective. Instead Smart-Box uses several battery powered heaters embedded inside the internal walls to heat all the food compartments, not just one level.

Food which is prepared and kept ready for in-store customer collection also deteriorates quickly. Smart-Box could be engineered to lock together into a 'vending wall'. Customers would be provided with a pin number to access their food from inside a designated Smart-Box.

Delivery drivers are usually lone workers and can be susceptible to robbery. Smart-Box will feature technologies to help keep delivery drivers safe including a panic alarm (audible siren) and a GPS tracker. **Additional scope:**

Smart-Box has broader applications in other industries which require safe delivery of a temperature sensitive product or item. This could include medical, military and scientific applications and potentially delivery by drones or small, autonomous robotic vehicles.

The manufacture of Smart-Box is innovative too as it will use recycled and be manufactured in micro-factories on large format 3D printers which are powered by solar energy. Solar and 3D Printing are well matched in terms of energy supply and demand.