An automated storage and retrieval system for filling goods in containers, the system including multilevel container storage, each level with transport area and storage area, storage area including storage shelves configured to hold containers, transport area being arranged to connect storage shelves to each other, transport area including picking aisles and a container transfer deck autonomous guided container transport vehicle, located on each level of the multilevel storage and configured to traverse the container transfer deck and picking aisles and transport containers to one goods operation station, a putwall of more than one levels of goods container stations, wherein the putwall communicates with the one goods operation station to receive goods from one goods operation station in the goods container stations and a controller configured to effect operation of one autonomous guided container transport vehicle between the container storage locations and goods container located at goods container station of putwall.
A tool, for depalletizing mixed pallet load article units, includes: a frame; a first grip assembly interfacing and engaging with a surface of a pallet load article unit, where the first grip assembly is movable, relative to the frame, in a first direction between gripping and ungripping positions; a second grip assembly, movably connected to the frame, and has at least a grip contact point oriented to interface with and generate a grip force, on another surface of the pallet load article unit, in a direction angled to the first direction, the second grip assembly being configured so as to effect, in combination with the first grip assembly, stable hold and pose of the pallet load article unit in a predetermined position; and an article unit seat member, is movably mounted to the frame, and disposed in opposition to at least one of the first and the second grip assembly.
A tool, for depalletizing mixed pallet load article units, includes: a frame; a first grip assembly interfacing and engaging with a surface of a pallet load article unit, where the first grip assembly is movable, relative to the frame, in a first direction between gripping and ungripping positions; a second grip assembly, movably connected to the frame, and has at least a grip contact point oriented to interface with and generate a grip force, on another surface of the pallet load article unit, in a direction angled to the first direction, the second grip assembly being configured so as to effect, in combination with the first grip assembly, stable hold and pose of the pallet load article unit in a predetermined position; and an article unit seat member, is movably mounted to the frame, and disposed in opposition to at least one of the first and the second grip assembly.
A lift robot including a chassis that defines a lift axis of the robot, the chassis has a frame with a wheel set mounted thereon, each wheel of the wheel set contacts a riding surface of a storage rack structure and supports the robot on the storage rack structure so that robot rides on the storage rack structure throughout a complete range of motion of the robot, and a payload bay connected to the chassis, the payload bay having a payload bed, for holding a payload thereon, the payload bed being disposed angled to the lift axis, wherein the wheel set is configured so as to form a contact interface arranged along a substantially upright plane including the lift axis and the contact interface defines a lift interface engaging the riding surface, and wherein the contact interface is maintained substantially continuously throughout the complete range of motion of the robot.
B66F 9/065 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks non-masted
5.
MASTLESS LIFT AND MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH MASTLESS LIFT
A lift robot including a chassis that defines a lift axis of the robot, the chassis has a frame with a wheel set mounted thereon, each wheel of the wheel set contacts a riding surface of a storage rack structure and supports the robot on the storage rack structure so that robot rides on the storage rack structure throughout a complete range of motion of the robot, and a payload bay connected to the chassis, the payload bay having a payload bed, for holding a payload thereon, the payload bed being disposed angled to the lift axis, wherein the wheel set is configured so as to form a contact interface arranged along a substantially upright plane including the lift axis and the contact interface defines a lift interface engaging the riding surface, and wherein the contact interface is maintained substantially continuously throughout the complete range of motion of the robot.
An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, autonomous transport robot including, frame with integral payload support that has a payload seat surface defining a payload datum position that determines predetermined payload position relative to autonomous transport robot, transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, one caster wheel mounted to frame, drive section with a pair of traction drive wheels astride the drive section, drive section being connected to the frame, wherein the one caster wheel and one traction drive wheel of the pair of traction drive wheels roll, on a rolling surface effecting autonomous transport robot traversal over the rolling surface, each having a fully independent suspension, and are disposed on the frame astride the integral payload support so that the payload seat surface at the payload datum position is disposed at minimum distance above the rolling surface.
B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
B25J 19/00 - Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewingSafety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators
B62D 21/11 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted with resilient means for suspension
B62D 21/18 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 21/20 - Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 47/90 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
An order fulfillment system is disclosed including a multi-level tote storage structure, one or more autonomous mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote; one or more workstations configured to accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a “put” location, wherein the autonomous mobile robots are configured to move from level to level in the order fulfillment apparatus.
An image processing system includes at least two three-dimensional sensors and a controller. Each of the sensors being for illuminating a corresponding field of view of the sensor, and generating an output array of pixelwise values indicative of distances to illuminated objects in the field of view, each sensor being configured to generate illumination at least at two different frequencies so that objects in the corresponding field of view are illuminated at the two different frequencies. The controller is communicably connected to the at least two sensors to receive pixelwise data from each sensor embodying intensity and distance information from the illuminated objects. The controller is configured to disambiguate a distance to each of the illuminated objects, resolve error in the received pixelwise data due to periodic distance ambiguity, and determine corrected pixelwise values indicative of true distance via each sensor illumination at the at least two different frequencies.
A product order fulfillment system of mixed product units, the system includes a storage array, an automated transport system, with at least one asynchronous transport system, for level transport, and a lift for between level transport, communicably connected to the storage array so as to automatically retrieve and output, from an output of the storage array, product units distributed in cases in a common part of the storage array. The at least one asynchronous transport system, and the lift are configured so as to form more than one transport echelon, each echelon being communicably connected with the common part and the output, and each effecting orthogonal sortation, corresponding to the transport echelon, of the product units distributed in the common part, so that sorted mixed output product units of the corresponding transport echelon are in predetermined sequence.
A system includes sensors, memory, and a processor. The sensors are configured to capture images of a workspace, and the memory is configured to store the images and a model of machinery located within the workspace. The processor is configured to generate a spatial representation of the workspace based on the captured images. The processor is also configured to identify non-machinery entities within the workspace and, for each of the identified entities, generate an object that specifies a spatial extent of the respective entity and a protective separation distance for the entity. Further, the processor is configured to recognize an interaction between the entities and merge the corresponding objects into a merged object specifying a protective separation distance therefor. Moreover, the processor is configured to control operation of the machinery in accordance with a safety protocol and the protective separation distance for the merged object.
A ball spline with detour tracks includes spline shaft, nut part movable along a longitudinal direction of the spline shaft, and balls between the nut part and the spline shaft, wherein the nut part includes nut adapted to insert the spline shaft thereinto and retainers on longitudinal sides of the nut, the spline shaft includes tracks extended along the longitudinal direction, the nut includes load track grooves formed in longitudinal direction on inner peripheral surface into which the spline shaft is inserted and non-load circulating portions formed in the longitudinal direction, each retainer includes circulating grooves on the inner peripheral surface to face the load track groove and non-load circulating portion, the balls run between the tracks and the load track grooves, and each track includes track groove formed in longitudinal direction of the spline shaft and detour tracks whose longitudinal sides are connected to the track groove.
A workstation receives bots carrying order totes and bots carrying product totes for transfer of goods from the product totes to the order totes. The workstation comprises a robot for automated transfer of goods between the product and order totes, but may also have a station for an operator to perform manual transfer. Cameras may be provided to capture images of the product and/or order totes to identify contents of totes and to identify positions where goods are to be picked from the product totes and placed into the order totes.
An automated palletizer for building a mixed case pallet comprising of a case infeed that feeds mixed cases provides an input queue feed sequence of mixed cases to at least one pallet building robot that is communicably connected to the case infeed and accesses the mixed cases of the input queue feed sequence. The robot receives mixed cases in the input queue feed and place mixed cases according to the input queue feed so as to effect building the mixed case pallet at a predetermined and substantially steady placement rate which the controller is communicably connected to the case infeed and the at least one pallet building robot. The controller is designed to generate a complete and stable mixed case arrangement plan that completes a predetermined whole part of the mixed case pallet that describes a predetermined planned location and pose for each case of the mixed case arrangement plan.
B65G 57/02 - Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
B65G 57/03 - Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack from above
B65G 61/00 - Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
F25D 11/00 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, an and order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.
A method of safely operating machinery in a workspace includes recording images of a portion of a workspace. The method also includes generating a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the portion of the workspace based on the recorded images, where the 3D representation includes one or more volumes that correspond to the portion of the workspace. Additionally, the method includes identifying one or more of the volumes as being either occupied or unoccupied. Further, the method includes mapping one or more safe zones based on the one or more identified volumes, where the safe zones correspond to one or more regions within the portion of the workspace for safe operation of machinery.
An automatic product tote destacker tool comprising, a frame with a coupling configured so as to mate the automatic product tote destacker tool to a robot end so that the automatic product tote destacker tool provides the robot with an end effector, a pick head array of tote pick heads movably connected to and dependent from the frame, the pick head array being configured to simultaneously hold a tote array to the robot, with a different respective tote, of the tote array, being held by a corresponding tote pick head different from each other tote pick head holding each other different respective tote of the tote array, wherein each tote pick head has a tote grip that engages the tote corresponding to the tote pick head, and a drive section connected to the frame and operably coupled to each tote pick head to move the tote pick head as a unit.
A product order fulfillment system of mixed product units held in a container for transport, the system comprising a synchronous transport system forming a container transport path transporting the container, the synchronous transport system having a container infeed arranged for communication with an asynchronous container transport so as to load the container in the synchronous transport system at least one container settler configured to engage and agitate the container, transported along the container transport path, so as to settle the mixed product units therein; and at least one container lid closer configured to engage with and close a lid of the container, transported along the container transport path wherein the at least one container lid closer and the at least one container settler are communicably connected by the container transport path and wherein the synchronous transport includes an intervening switch selector controllably selecting the container transport path.
B65B 7/20 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 27/12 - Applications of devices for generating or transmitting jigging movements of shaking devices, i.e. devices for producing movements of low frequency and large amplitude
B65G 27/32 - Applications of devices for generating or transmitting jigging movements with means for controlling direction, frequency, or amplitude of vibration or shaking movement
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
21.
WAREHOUSING SYSTEM FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING GOODS IN CONTAINERS
An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring a goods unit for filling a shipping tote or container, the autonomous transport vehicle comprising, a frame configured so that the autonomous transport vehicle traverses, as a unit, on at least one of a transfer deck and a ramp, a controller connected to the frame and configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle on the at least one of the transfer deck and the ramp so that the autonomous transport vehicle roams freely via autonomous navigation, from a first location to a different second location, wherein the first location is a supply of the goods unit, and the second location is a tote fill location based on an order, and a payload connected to the frame for holding the goods unit loaded on the autonomous transport vehicle, the payload having an end effector arranged to extend and unload the goods.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B66F 9/10 - MastsGuidesChains movable in a horizontal direction relative to truck
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring a goods unit for filling a shipping tote or container, the autonomous transport vehicle comprising, a frame configured so that the autonomous transport vehicle traverses, as a unit, on at least one of a transfer deck and a ramp, a controller connected to the frame and configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle on the at least one of the transfer deck and the ramp so that the autonomous transport vehicle roams freely via autonomous navigation, from a first location to a different second location, wherein the first location is a supply of the goods unit, and the second location is a tote fill location based on an order, and a payload connected to the frame for holding the goods unit loaded on the autonomous transport vehicle, the payload having an end effector arranged to extend and unload the goods
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
An automatic product tote destacker tool comprising, a frame with a coupling configured so as to mate the automatic product tote destacker tool to a robot end so that the automatic product tote destacker tool provides the robot with an end effector, a pick head array of tote pick heads movably connected to and dependent from the frame, the pick head array being configured to simultaneously hold a tote array to the robot, with a different respective tote, of the tote array, being held by a corresponding tote pick head different from each other tote pick head holding each other different respective tote of the tote array, wherein each tote pick head has a tote grip that engages the tote corresponding to the tote pick head, and a drive section connected to the frame and operably coupled to each tote pick head to move the tote pick head as a unit.
A transportation system having a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space, multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space, a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations, and the control system having a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller and configured to, and command stopping, via a black channel protocol, of the remote communication link, that effects a verified and secure shut down command
A system and method for storage and retrieval are provided. The system includes a multi-level storage structure, and mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote, container, or object. This system and method can be used in order-fulfillment applications in which one or more workstations accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a put location, and an input/output interface induct material into the system and discharge fulfilled orders from the system. The mobile robots are further configured to move from level to level in the multi-level storage structure via inclined or vertical tracks without requiring a vertical lift or vertical conveyor.
An opportunistic rail charging system is disclosed for recharging power supplies on mobile robots transporting goods within an automated order fulfillment system. Individual chargers may be incorporated into each mobile robot for converting a facility line voltage from the charge rail to a voltage for which the rechargeable power supplies on each mobile robot are rated.
An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure.
Crosstalk mitigation among cameras in neighboring monitored workcells is achieved by computationally defining a noninterference scheme that respects the independent monitoring and operation of each workcell. The scheme may involve communication between adjacent cells to adjudicate non-interfering camera operation or system-wide mapping of interference risks and mitigation thereof. Mitigation strategies can involve spread-spectrum techniques.
A storage and retrieval system including a vertical array of storage levels, each storage level having, picking aisles, storage locations, disposed within the picking aisles, and at least one transfer deck providing access to the picking aisles, a multilevel vertical conveyor system configured to transport the uncontained case units to and from the vertical array of storage levels, each storage level being configured to receive uncontained case units from the multilevel vertical conveyor system, at least one autonomous transport located on each storage level for transporting the uncontained case units between respective storage locations and the multilevel vertical conveyor system, and a controller configured to create a primary access path through the transfer decks and picking aisles to a predetermined one of the storage locations and at least one secondary access path to the predetermined one of the storage locations when the primary path is impassable.
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 1/10 - Storage devices mechanical with relatively-movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles
B65G 1/127 - Storage devices mechanical with article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
B65G 47/57 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices to or from inclined or vertical conveyor sections for articles
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
30.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING CONTAINER CONTENTS
The contents of totes and the amount a tote container is filled are monitored. A central database stores product dimensions and tote dimensions as well as a percentage of which a tote is to be filled. Image scanners that obtain three-dimensional images are used to determine if the actual dimensions of the tote, the product, and the fill amount are consistent with the expected or optimal values of these characteristics. When there is a discrepancy between measured and expected values, then one or more actions can be taken.
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G06T 7/62 - Analysis of geometric attributes of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
G06V 10/75 - Organisation of the matching processes, e.g. simultaneous or sequential comparisons of image or video featuresCoarse-fine approaches, e.g. multi-scale approachesImage or video pattern matchingProximity measures in feature spaces using context analysisSelection of dictionaries
A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer. The combination automated-service and self-service store combines the convenience of online shopping and self-service shopping using an unconventional approach that reduces costs for the retailer and simultaneously increases customer satisfaction.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
G06Q 20/12 - Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
An automated warehouse storage system including a multilevel storage array is provided. Each aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has storage locations distributed along the aisle. The guideway network extending through the multilevel storage array is configured for autonomous vehicles to move along the guideway network within the multilevel storage array. The guideway network including an inter-aisle guideway spanning at least two of the multiple aisles and a set of guideway levels extending in an aisle of the multiple aisles and disposed so that each guideway level is at a different one of the storage levels and the vehicles on the guideway level can access the storage locations distributed along the aisle. Each set of guideway levels is connected to the inter-aisle guideway forming a common guideway path so that a vehicle can move between inter-aisle guideway and each guideway level along the common guideway path.
A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfilment stream.
Spatial regions potentially occupied by a robot (or other machinery) or portion thereof and a human operator during performance of all or a defined portion of a task or an application are computationally estimated. These “potential occupancy envelopes” (POEs) may be based on the states (e.g., the current and expected positions, velocities, accelerations, geometry and/or kinematics) of the robot and the human operator. Once the POEs of human operators in the workspace are established, they can be used to guide or revise motion planning for task execution.
An autonomous guided vehicle comprising a frame with a payload hold and a drive section coupled to the frame with drive wheels supporting the autonomous guided vehicle on a traverse surface, the drive wheels effect vehicle traverse on the traverse surface moving the autonomous guided vehicle over the traverse surface in a facility with a payload handler coupled to the frame configured to transfer a payload, with a flat undeterministic seating surface seated in the payload hold, to and from the payload hold of the autonomous guided vehicle and a storage location, of the payload. In a storage array with a vision system mounted to the frame, having more than one camera disposed to generate binocular images of a field of a logistic space including rack structure shelving on which more than one objects are stored and a controller, communicably connected to the vision system to register the binocular images.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B25J 19/00 - Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewingSafety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators
B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
B60L 58/13 - Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
A storage and retrieval system including a storage structure having storage shelves, each storage shelf having slats for supporting stored items where the slats are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an autonomous transport vehicle including at least one sensor configured to sense each of the slats and output a signal indicating when a slat is sensed, and a controller for verifying a location of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage structure based on at least the output signal.
An autonomous guided vehicle comprising a frame with a payload hold and a drive section coupled to the frame with drive wheels supporting the autonomous guided vehicle on a traverse surface, the drive wheels effect vehicle traverse on the traverse surface moving the autonomous guided vehicle over the traverse surface in a facility with a payload handler coupled to the frame configured to transfer a payload, with a flat undeterministic seating surface seated in the payload hold, to and from the payload hold of the autonomous guided vehicle and a storage location, of the payload. In a storage array with a vision system mounted to the frame, having more than one camera disposed to generate binocular images of a field of a logistic space including rack structure shelving on which more than one objects are stored and a controller, communicably connected to the vision system to register the binocular images.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
In various embodiments, systems and methods for safely operating machinery such as industrial robots signal intrusions into and/or above computationally defined safeguarded volumes in a workspace during sensor monitoring of the workspace. Various related actions may be taken in response thereto, including restricting operation of the machinery and/or issuing safety or occlusion signals.
An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting a payload comprising, a frame forming a transport payload area of the autonomous transport vehicle, the payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane of the autonomous transport vehicle that supports the payload held in the transport payload area with vehicle traverse, a payload handling system connected to the frame, the payload handling system having, a payload transport disposed to engage the payload and transport the payload in at least one direction relative to the frame, and a drive section with at least one degree of freedom driving the payload transport in the at least one direction; and a controller operably connected to the drive section configured to register predetermined operating data embodying at least one dynamic performance variable output by the drive section effecting a predetermined motion, that defines a predetermined common motion manifold, of the payload.
An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.
An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting a payload comprising, a frame forming a transport payload area of the autonomous transport vehicle, the payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane of the autonomous transport vehicle that supports the payload held in the transport payload area with vehicle traverse, a payload handling system connected to the frame, the payload handling system having, a payload transport disposed to engage the payload and transport the payload in at least one direction relative to the frame, and a drive section with at least one degree of freedom driving the payload transport in the at least one direction; and a controller operably connected to the drive section configured to register predetermined operating data embodying at least one dynamic performance variable output by the drive section effecting a predetermined motion, that defines a predetermined common motion manifold, of the payload.
A system and method are disclosed for supplying one or more goods to a physical store location. The goods may be received at a distribution center (DC). At the DC, the goods may be decanted from their shipping containers into one or more sub-totes, which are contained within one or more product totes. The sub-totes may be transferred from the one or more product totes to one or more order totes based on a velocity of movement of the plurality of goods at the physical store location.
B65B 5/00 - Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
B65B 5/08 - Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
G06Q 10/0832 - Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
An autonomous guided vehicle including a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a vision system, and a controller. The vision system has a camera disposed to generate video stream data imaging of an object. The controller being communicably connected to register the video stream data imaging from the at least one camera and communicably connected to at least one or more of a time of flight sensor and a distance sensor that detects a distance of the object. The controller is configured so to effect, from the video stream data imaging, robust object detection and localization within a predetermined reference frame via alternately both binocular vision and monocular vision from the video stream data imaging, the detection determined via monocular vision having confidence commensurate with detection determined via the binocular vision.
An autonomous guided vehicle including a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a vision system, and a controller. The vision system has a camera disposed to generate video stream data imaging of an object. The controller being communicably connected to register the video stream data imaging from the at least one camera and communicably connected to at least one or more of a time of flight sensor and a distance sensor that detects a distance of the object. The controller is configured so to effect, from the video stream data imaging, robust object detection and localization within a predetermined reference frame via alternately both binocular vision and monocular vision from the video stream data imaging, the detection determined via monocular vision having confidence commensurate with detection determined via the binocular vision.
An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure. In one example, the compliant drive comprises a drive shaft having splines configured to provide rotational play that prevents jamming of a vertical drive gear on the end of the shaft with a rack in a vertical track.
A customer access system includes one or more customer access portals to dispense ordered items to customers and/or receive returned items from customers. A tote transfer system transports one or more totes to carry the ordered items and the returned items to and from the customer access portals. The customer access system may also include a storage structure to temporarily store one or more totes to provide a buffer to reduce or mitigate customer wait times at the customer access portal and/or to more efficiently disposition items by consolidating returned items. The storage structure may further allow “asynchronous dispositioning” of returned items where the retrieval of a returned item from the customer and the dispositioning of the returned item occurs at different times. In some implementations, the customer access portal includes one or more drawers to exchange of items with a customer in a safe and efficient manner.
Method for autonomous transport vehicle charging system and warehouse storage and retrieval system including the autonomous transport vehicle charging system
A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.
G06Q 20/10 - Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systemsPayment architectures specially adapted for home banking systems
G06Q 30/0207 - Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
G06Q 40/00 - FinanceInsuranceTax strategiesProcessing of corporate or income taxes
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
An automated decant system is disclosed for processing pallets of cased goods received at a facility, extracting packaging for the cases and transferring eaches within the cases to totes, possibly organized by SKU in sub-totes within the tote.
A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 21/20 - Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 47/90 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.
Systems and methods monitor a workspace for safety purposes using sensors distributed about the workspace. The sensors are registered with respect to each other, and this registration is monitored over time. Occluded space as well as occupied space is identified, and this mapping is frequently updated. Based on the mapping, a constrained motion plan of machinery can be generated to ensure safety.
Control systems for industrial machinery (e.g., robots) or other devices such as medical devices utilize a safety processor (SP) designed for integration into safety applications and computational components that are not necessarily safety-rated. The SP monitors performance of the non-safety computational components, including latency checks and verification of identical outputs. One or more sensors send data to the non-safety computational components for sophisticated processing and analysis that the SP cannot not perform, but the results of this processing are sent to the SP, which then generates safety-rated signals to the machinery or device being controlled by the SP. As a result, the system may qualify for a safety rating despite the ability to perform complex operations beyond the scope of safety-rated components.
A storage array system including an open undeterministic transport surface, a navigation array disposed in connection with the transport surface, the navigation array includes a distributed feature, a first waypoint at a first position of the distributed feature, a second waypoint displaced from the first waypoint along the distributed feature and offset with respect to the first waypoint in a direction angled to the distributed feature, and a guided bot, arranged to traverse the transport surface, with a non-holonomic steering system, the guided bot having a bot pose determination system employing sensor data detecting the distributed feature, wherein the guided bot includes a controller configured to generate a substantially smooth curved bot traverse path on the transport surface connecting the first and second waypoints with a predetermined optimal trajectory of the guided bot along the traverse path determined based on a bot dynamic model.
A store includes a self-service area where shoppers select goods from shelves, and an automated goods-to-person (G2P) area where stored goods are transported by mobile robots to a picking workstation or automated fulfillment of online orders. In one example, fresh order-line goods may be batch picked from the self-service area and transferred to the G2P area for automated fulfillment of orders for the fresh order-line goods. Fresh order-line goods may for example include meats, produce and other fresh foods packaged in the store deli or butcher which require some secondary operation before they can picked into a finished order.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 57/24 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets
B65G 61/00 - Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
A material handling system for handling, placing packages onto pallets destined for an order store, the material handling system comprising, a storage array with storage spaces for holding packages therein, an automated package transport system communicably connected to the storage array for storing packages within the storage spaces of the storage array and retrieving packages from the storage spaces of the storage array, an automated palletizer for placing mixed packages onto a pallet to form a pallet load of mixed packages, the automated palletizer is communicably connected to the automated package transport system which provides individual packages from the storage array to the automated palletizer for forming the pallet load of mixed packages, the pallet load of mixed packages including more than one composite layers of mixed packages, a controller operably connected to the automated palletizer, the controller being programmed with a pallet load generator with an initial pallet load.
B65G 61/00 - Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
B65G 57/24 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets
A material handling system for handling, placing packages onto pallets destined for an order store, the material handling system comprising, a storage array with storage spaces for holding packages therein, an automated package transport system communicably connected to the storage array for storing packages within the storage spaces of the storage array and retrieving packages from the storage spaces of the storage array, an automated palletizer for placing mixed packages onto a pallet to form a pallet load of mixed packages, the automated palletizer is communicably connected to the automated package transport system which provides individual packages from the storage array to the automated palletizer for forming the pallet load of mixed packages, the pallet load of mixed packages including more than one composite layers of mixed packages, a controller operably connected to the automated palletizer, the controller being programmed with a pallet load generator with an initial pallet load.
B65G 57/24 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65G 1/16 - Special arrangements of articles in storage spaces
58.
AUTOMATIC STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM HAVING AUTOMATED AND SEMI-AUTOMATED ORDER DISPENSE
Some embodiments provide order fulfillment systems utilized in fulfilling orders for goods. The workstation can comprise: a storage structure configured to store totes; mobile robots configured to transport the totes; a buffering station configured to receive totes from the storage structure via the mobile robots and configured to load totes into a rack; and a dispense portal appurtenant to a parking area, the dispense portal configured to receive the rack from the buffering station and configured to present totes from the rack to the parking area.
An automated self-service store is disclosed including a shopper accessible level having inventory for selection by a shopper, and an item storage and replenishment area for storing inventory. The self-service store further includes mobile robots for replenishing inventory at the shopper accessible level from the item storage and replenishment area.
A system and method for providing proxy picking of non-fungible goods within an automated storage and retrieval system is provided, which repurposes one or more automated mobile robots operating within the automated inventory management system to perform a plurality of tasks across multiple different areas of an automated store. The proxy picking system and method are configured to pick individually identified non-fungible goods according to a customer selection on an ordering screen based on measured attributes and images of the goods, the attributes selected by the customer.
An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
An order fulfillment facility with a delivery system is disclosed having plurality of mobile robots with containers to bring customer orders and/or power supply device/s to UAV/s for final delivery. UAV leaves the discharged power supply devices that are received in empty container and transported to storage area for replenishment and diagnostic checks. Order fulfillment operations along with power supply device charging and monitoring is performed to achieve timely delivery of customer orders.
Systems and methods for spatially modeling a three-dimensional object are disclosed. In some embodiments, a disclosed method comprises: obtaining a polygon mesh including polygons representing a surface of an object; converting the polygon mesh into a triangle mesh including first triangles; subdividing the triangle mesh into a subdivided triangle mesh including second triangles, wherein the subdivided triangle mesh is overlaid with a voxel grid including a set of voxels; generating a point collection including a plurality of points each corresponding to a voxel in the voxel grid; and generating, based on the point collection and the voxel grid, at least one of: a surface point cloud representation, a surface voxel representation, or a volume voxel representation of the object.
An autonomous transport vehicle including a frame forming a payload area, telescoping arms movably mounted to the frame, each telescoping arm being configured for extension and retraction relative to the frame along an extension axis to effect transfer of at least one pickface to and from the payload area, and traversal, relative to the frame, in at least one direction that is angled to the extension axis, and at least one tab extending from each telescoping arm where the at least one tab extends in a direction transverse to the direction of extension and retraction, and the at least one tab on one of the telescoping arms opposes the at least one tab on another of the telescoping arms.
An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous rover for transferring payload within the system and including a communicator, a multilevel storage structure, each level allowing traversal of the at least one autonomous rover, at least one registration station disposed at predetermined locations on each level and being configured to communicate with the communicator to at least receive rover identification information, and a controller in communication with the at least one registration station and configured to receive the at least rover identification information and at least one of register the at least one autonomous rover as being on a level corresponding to a respective one of the at least one registration station or deregister the at least one autonomous rover from the system, where the controller effects induction of the at least one autonomous rover into a predetermined rover space on the level.
A pickface builder for a storage and retrieval system for storing goods units and having an in-feed conveyor and a picking device, each goods unit holding at least one product package therein, the pickface builder including a frame, a pusher member movably coupled to the frame, and a snugger member movably coupled to the frame, wherein the pickface builder is configured to receive goods units from the in-feed conveyor and the pusher member and snugger member are movable at least in a direction transverse to a direction of goods unit travel on the in-feed conveyor and configured to form the goods units into a pickface picked by the picking device as a unit and having a predetermined reference datum relating the pickface to a placement position of goods units forming the pickface along a storage surface of the storage and retrieval system.
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/12 - Storage devices mechanical with article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles
B65G 1/127 - Storage devices mechanical with article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
68.
WAREHOUSING SYSTEM FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING GOODS IN CONTAINERS
A product order fulfillment system of mixed product units, the product order fulfillment system comprising a storage array, with at least one elevated storage level, wherein mixed product units are input and distributed in the storage array in cases, of product units of common kind per case, an automated transport system, with at least one asynchronous transport system, for level transport, and a lift for between level transport, communicably connected to the storage array so as to automatically retrieve and output, from the storage array, product units distributed in the cases in the at least one elevated storage level of the storage array, the output product units being one or more of mixed singulated product units, in mixed packed groups, and in mixed cases, wherein the at least one asynchronous transport system, and the lift are configured so as to form more than one transport channel.
A product order fulfillment system of mixed product units, the product order fulfillment system comprising a storage array, with at least one elevated storage level, wherein mixed product units are input and distributed in the storage array in cases, of product units of common kind per case, an automated transport system, with at least one asynchronous transport system, for level transport, and a lift for between level transport, communicably connected to the storage array so as to automatically retrieve and output, from the storage array, product units distributed in the cases in the at least one elevated storage level of the storage array, the output product units being one or more of mixed singulated product units, in mixed packed groups, and in mixed cases, wherein the at least one asynchronous transport system, and the lift are configured so as to form more than one transport channel.
An autonomous transport vehicle for a storage and retrieval system, the autonomous transport vehicle comprising, a longitudinally elongated frame having a pay load area, the payload area having opposing lateral sides, and wheels supporting the longitudinally elongated frame so as to configure the frame for traverse along traverse surfaces of a transfer deck and picking aisles of a storage and retrieval system, where the transfer deck provides vehicle traverse access to each of the picking aisles, and a transfer arm coupled to the frame and disposed, at least in part, within the payload area, the transfer arm including telescoping fingers configured to support a payload and bi-directionally extend, from the payload area, from one of both of the opposing lateral sides to effect picking and placing of the payload at a payload holding location, of the picking aisle, adjacent the one of both of the opposing lateral sides.
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B65G 1/00 - Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage space with locations defined therein, an automated transport system connected to the storage space and configured to transport store units for storage in the storage locations and retrieval from the storage locations, and a control system disposed for managing throughput performance of the automated storage and retrieval system, the control system being operably coupled to the automated transport system and having more than one separate and distinct control sections each configured for managing throughput performance with respect to a common group of the storage locations, wherein at least one of the control sections manages aspects of throughput performance of the common group independent of another of the control sections.
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
G05B 19/414 - Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
73.
AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTS FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.
Some embodiments provide retail facility control systems comprising: at least one retail operational subsystem comprising: an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) to automatically store and retrieve respective products in the ASRS and facilitate fulfillment of a customer order; a retail execution system to receive ASRS data and coupled to a plurality of retail applications to obtain customer-related data, associate-related data, and retail facility-related data; at least one data repository to store the ASRS data, the customer-related data, the associate-related data, and the retail facility-related data; a control circuit; and a solver module configured to be executed by the control circuit to: access business priorities and operational goals defined for a retail facility; and define a recommended operational plan intended to be implemented at the retail facility and predicted to enhance operation of the retail facility consistent with one or more business priorities and operational goals.
G06Q 10/0637 - Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisationPlanning actions based on goalsAnalysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
75.
Crosstalk mitigation for multi-cell workspace monitoring
Crosstalk mitigation among cameras in neighboring monitored workcells is achieved by computationally defining a noninterference scheme that respects the independent monitoring and operation of each workcell. The scheme may involve communication between adjacent cells to adjudicate non-interfering camera operation or system-wide mapping of interference risks and mitigation thereof. Mitigation strategies can involve time-division and/or frequency-division multiplexing.
A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.
An apparatus is disclosed including a robotic system having a robotic picking workstation, tote storage and retrieval and transit decks. The system has bots that autonomously transport totes from the storage and retrieval system to the robotic picking workstation via the transit decks. The robotic picking workstation may have a picking lane where a robotic handler transports eaches from totes on the bots to order totes in the workstation. The robotic picking workstation further has a queuing buffer where bots are cued for the picking lane.
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
B65G 47/90 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.
A micro-fulfillment center fulfills orders for goods including both in-store picking of goods and online ordering of goods. Orders are fulfilled using both a picker to goods (P2G) model and an automated goods to picker (G2P) model. In examples, goods are replenished to the automated G2P system from store shelves which also serve the P2G model.
A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.
B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 1/10 - Storage devices mechanical with relatively-movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles
B65G 1/127 - Storage devices mechanical with article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
B65G 47/57 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices to or from inclined or vertical conveyor sections for articles
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
81.
Dynamic, interactive signaling of safety-related conditions in a monitored environment
Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.
G08B 3/00 - Audible signalling systemsAudible personal calling systems
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
A material handling system, for handling and placing packages onto pallets destined for an order store, including a storage array, an automated package transport system, an automated palletizer, and a controller operably connected to the automated palletizer, the controller being programmed with a pallet load generator with at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic, for a predetermined method of pallet load packages distribution at the order store, the pallet load generator being configured so that a pallet load is formed by the automated palletizer of packages arranged in the pallet load embodying the at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic.
A material handling system, for handling and placing packages onto pallets destined for an order store, including a storage array, an automated package transport system, an automated palletizer, and a controller operably connected to the automated palletizer, the controller being programmed with a pallet load generator with at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic, for a predetermined method of pallet load packages distribution at the order store, the pallet load generator being configured so that a pallet load is formed by the automated palletizer of packages arranged in the pallet load embodying the at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic.
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
B65G 57/22 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement
A material handling system, for handling and placing packages onto pallets destined for an order store, including a storage array, an automated package transport system, an automated palletizer, and a controller operably connected to the automated palletizer, the controller being programmed with a pallet load generator with at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic, for a predetermined method of pallet load packages distribution at the order store, the pallet load generator being configured so that a pallet load is formed by the automated palletizer of packages arranged in the pallet load embodying the at least one pallet to order store affinity characteristic.
B65G 57/22 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
85.
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE SAFETY MONITORING OF COLLABORATIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS
Various embodiments for enforcing safe operation of machinery performing an activity in a three-dimensional (3D) workspace includes computationally generating a 3D spatial representation of the workspace; computationally mapping 3D regions of the workspace corresponding to space occupied by the machinery and a human; and based thereon, restricting operation of the machinery in accordance with a safety protocol during physical performance of the activity. Limited-access zones are defined within which the presence of a human will not affect operation of the machinery.
A charging system for an autonomous rover includes a charging interface with contacts that interface with the autonomous rover, a rover power source for the autonomous rover, and circuitry operated by the autonomous rover for controlling charging of the rover power source.
B60L 3/00 - Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposesMonitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
B60L 3/04 - Cutting-off the power supply under fault conditions
A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.
B60L 53/63 - Monitoring or controlling charging stations in response to network capacity
G06Q 30/0207 - Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
G06Q 40/00 - FinanceInsuranceTax strategiesProcessing of corporate or income taxes
B60L 53/66 - Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
G06Q 20/10 - Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systemsPayment architectures specially adapted for home banking systems
B65G 47/04 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfilment stream.
An automated warehouse storage system including a multilevel storage array is provided. Each aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has storage locations distributed along the aisle. The guideway network extending through the multilevel storage array is configured for autonomous vehicles to move along the guideway network within the multilevel storage array. The guideway network including an inter-aisle guideway spanning at least two of the multiple aisles and a set of guideway levels extending in an aisle of the multiple aisles and disposed so that each guideway level is at a different one of the storage levels and the vehicles on the guideway level can access the storage locations distributed along the aisle. Each set of guideway levels is connected to the inter-aisle guideway forming a common guideway path so that a vehicle can move between inter-aisle guideway and each guideway level along the common guideway path.
An autonomous guided vehicle includes a chassis with a power supply and powered sections that are connected to the chassis and powered by the power supply. The powered sections include a drive section, a payload handling section, and a peripheral electronics section. A controller of the vehicle includes a comprehensive power management section communicably connected to the power supply so as to monitor a charge level of the power supply. The comprehensive power management section is connected to the drive section, the payload handling section, and the peripheral electronics section respectively powering the drive section, the payload handling section, and the peripheral electronics section from the power supply. The comprehensive power management section manages power consumption of branch circuits, of the powered sections, based on a demand level of each branch circuit relative to the charge level available from the power supply.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
B25J 19/00 - Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewingSafety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators
B60L 58/13 - Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
An order fulfillment system includes a storage structure and integrated turning decks enabling mobile robots to pass between sections of the storage structure or to exit or enter the storage structure. An automated dispensing portion may be affixed to a turning deck, which automated dispensing portion connects with a dispensing portal. Thus, the turning deck allows direct transport of mobile robots between the storage structure and the dispensing portal.
An order fulfillment system includes a storage structure for storing totes, workstations for processing customer orders and a staging and sequencing buffer having staging locations for storing the totes. The staging and sequencing buffer provides a buffer for totes as mobile robots transfer totes from the storage structure and to the one or more workstations.
Image sensors distributed about a workcell including industrial machinery are registered using a registration object and an information tag associated therewith. The tag contains information specifying the location of the object and/or the pose of the object. This information is acquired along with images of the registration object, and the sensors are registered based at least in part on the images and the acquired information.
G05B 19/402 - Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position
G05B 19/4061 - Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
Control systems for industrial machinery (e.g., robots) or other devices such as medical devices utilize a safety processor (SP) designed for integration into safety applications and computational components that are not necessarily safety-rated. The SP monitors performance of the non-safety computational components, including latency checks and verification of identical outputs. One or more sensors send data to the non-safety computational components for sophisticated processing and analysis that the SP cannot not perform, but the results of this processing are sent to the SP, which then generates safety-rated signals to the machinery or device being controlled by the SP. As a result, the system may qualify for a safety rating despite the ability to perform complex operations beyond the scope of safety-rated components.
An autonomous transport robot vehicle for transporting a payload, includes a chassis that is a space frame formed of longitudinal hollow section beams, arrayed to form longitudinally extended sides of the space frame, and respective front and rear lateral beams closing opposite ends of the space frame. A payload support is connected to the chassis. Ride wheels depend from the chassis. The ride wheels and chassis in combination form a low profile height from the traverse surface to atop the chassis, where chassis height and ride wheel height are overlapped at least in part and the payload support is nested within the ride wheels. The space frame has predetermined modular coupling interfaces, each disposed for removably coupling, as a module unit, a corresponding predetermined electronic or mechanical component module of the autonomous transport robot vehicle to the chassis.
An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
B65G 57/24 - Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers, each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets
B65G 57/03 - Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack from above
B65G 59/02 - De-stacking from the top of the stack
An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a transport payload area of the vehicle. The payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane that supports the payload. The pay load area further Includes an articulated underpick end effector that engages and underpicks the payload with respect to the support plane, and extends and retracts with respect to the payload area effecting payload transfer. Payload registration facets are mounted to the frame to engage the payload. The registration facets are disposed to provide, upon engagement with the payload, at least two degrees of registration capturing and securing the payload in a predetermined position in the pay load area, and are configured to effect payload, engagement with the at leas t two degrees of registration registering the payload substantially coincident with seating of the payload on the payload support plane of the payload area.
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a transport payload area of the vehicle. The payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane that supports the payload. The payload area further includes an articulated underpick end effector that engages and underpicks the payload with respect to the support plane, and extends and retracts with respect to the payload area effecting payload transfer. Payload registration facets are mounted to the frame to engage the payload. The registration facets are disposed to provide, upon engagement with the payload, at least two degrees of registration capturing and securing the payload in a predetermined position in the payload area, and are configured to effect payload engagement with the at least two degrees of registration registering the payload substantially coincident with seating of the payload on the payload support plane of the payload area.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a transport payload area of the vehicle. The payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane that supports the payload. The pay load area further Includes an articulated underpick end effector that engages and underpicks the payload with respect to the support plane, and extends and retracts with respect to the payload area effecting payload transfer. Payload registration facets are mounted to the frame to engage the payload. The registration facets are disposed to provide, upon engagement with the payload, at least two degrees of registration capturing and securing the payload in a predetermined position in the pay load area, and are configured to effect payload, engagement with the at leas t two degrees of registration registering the payload substantially coincident with seating of the payload on the payload support plane of the payload area.
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
An autonomous guided vehicle includes a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a sensor system, and a supplemental sensor system. The sensor system has electro-magnetic sensors, each responsive to interaction or interface of a sensor emitted or generated electro- magnetic beam or field with a physical characteristic, the electro- magnetic beam or field being disturbed by interaction or interface with the physical characteristic, and which disturbance is detected by and effects sensing of the physical characteristic. The sensor system generates sensor data embodying at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location information and payload pose or location information. The supplemental sensor system supplements the sensor system, and is, at least in part, a vision system with cameras disposed to capture image data informing the at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location and payload pose or location supplement to the information of the sensor system.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
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