Item retrieval using a robotic drive unit

• US 10,144,588 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2018
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Rishabh, Subramanian, Venkataramanan, Hussain, Mustafa Mustansir, Shareef, Ahmed, Vishwanatham, Vikas
• Primary Examiner(s): Logan, Kyle O
• Application Number:
  US15/861,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20180127209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 700216
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments that may facilitate transferring an item to a receptacle using a tiltable floor and a robotic drive unit. The robotic drive unit moves along a travel path to be proximate to a receptacle. The robotic drive unit can align an item with the receptacle. The item can be transferred by causing the tiltable floor to tilt.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a tiltable floor;

a robotic drive unit adapted to provide support for an item; and

at least one processor configured to;

instruct the robotic drive unit to move to be proximate to a receptacle;

instruct the robotic drive unit to align the item and the receptacle; and

initiate a transfer of the item to the receptacle by causing the tiltable floor to tilt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to instruct the robotic drive unit to transport to another destination responsive to the item being transferred.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiltable floor is separate from the receptacle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiltable floor is movable by the robotic drive unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiltable floor is configured to pivot about an end of the tiltable floor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiltable floor comprises a shelf, and the tiltable floor is configured to adjust a tilting angle for the shelf.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein gravity causes the item to slide along the tiltable floor into the receptacle in response to the tilt of the tiltable floor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to at least transmit instructions to the robotic drive unit to transport along a travel path, the instructions including a location of the receptacle and routing information between a current location of the robotic drive unit and the location of the receptacle.

9. A system, comprising:

a tiltable floor comprising a shelf configured to support at least one item;

a mobile device; and

at least one processor configured to;

instruct the mobile device to move to be proximate to a receptacle;

instruct the mobile device to align the item and the receptacle; and

initiate a transfer of the item to the receptacle by adjusting an angle of the shelf of the tiltable floor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is further configured to at least receive instructions to move to a shipping preparation station.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein, to initiate the transfer of the item to the receptacle, the at least one processor is further configured to at least cause the shelf to tilt about an end of the tiltable floor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the angle of the shelf is adjusted based at least in part on a rod.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a robotic drive unit, instructions to transport an item to be proximate to a receptacle;

transporting, via the robotic drive unit, the item to be proximate to the receptacle; and

transferring, via a tiltable floor, the item to the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring, via the tiltable floor, the item to the receptacle further comprises engaging a motor configured to cause a shelf of the tiltable floor to pivot about an end of the tiltable floor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving instructions causing the tiltable floor to pivot about an end of the tiltable floor to transfer the item to the receptacle.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising aligning the robotic drive unit with the receptacle.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the tiltable floor via the robotic drive unit.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the tiltable floor is configured to cause the item to slide along a shelf of the tiltable floor into the receptacle based at least in part on gravity.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising packaging the item for shipment for a fulfillment of an order.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising transporting the robotic drive unit to a second destination in response to the item being transferred to the receptacle.