Deployable sensors
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a plurality of mobile drive units configured for material transportation within a workspace;
a plurality of fixed sensors disposed at a plurality of fixed locations within the workspace, the plurality of fixed sensors configured to collect first sensor information regarding movement of the plurality of mobile drive units relative to the plurality of fixed locations;
a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles moveable within the workspace and comprising sensors configured to collect second sensor information regarding movement of the plurality of mobile drive units; and
a management module in communication with the plurality of mobile drive units, the plurality of fixed sensors, and the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, the management module configured to;
monitor movement of the plurality of mobile drive units within the workspace based at least in part on the first sensor information;
receive a request for information about a condition at a location in the workspace, the location comprising a path intersection of a planned path of a mobile drive unit, and the condition comprises an obstruction condition present at the path intersection;
request, based at least in part on receiving the request, an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles to navigate to the location and use a sensor connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle to collect second sensor information at the location, the request identifying the location and comprising instructions for orienting a view angle of the sensor to collect the second sensor information; and
enable the unmanned aerial vehicle navigate to the location and execute the instructions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for gathering sensor information using on-demand sensors and fixed sensors are described herein. For example, a system may include an on-demand sensor available for selective deployment within a workspace in which a plurality of mobile drive units transport a plurality of inventory holders. The system may also include a computing device that monitors movement of a mobile drive unit based on first sensor information. The computing device may also detect a triggering condition relating to the movement of the mobile drive unit. The computing device may also cause an on-demand sensor to collect second sensor information within the workspace based at least in part on detecting the triggering condition.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of mobile drive units configured for material transportation within a workspace; a plurality of fixed sensors disposed at a plurality of fixed locations within the workspace, the plurality of fixed sensors configured to collect first sensor information regarding movement of the plurality of mobile drive units relative to the plurality of fixed locations; a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles moveable within the workspace and comprising sensors configured to collect second sensor information regarding movement of the plurality of mobile drive units; and a management module in communication with the plurality of mobile drive units, the plurality of fixed sensors, and the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, the management module configured to; monitor movement of the plurality of mobile drive units within the workspace based at least in part on the first sensor information; receive a request for information about a condition at a location in the workspace, the location comprising a path intersection of a planned path of a mobile drive unit, and the condition comprises an obstruction condition present at the path intersection; request, based at least in part on receiving the request, an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles to navigate to the location and use a sensor connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle to collect second sensor information at the location, the request identifying the location and comprising instructions for orienting a view angle of the sensor to collect the second sensor information; and enable the unmanned aerial vehicle navigate to the location and execute the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system, comprising:
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an on-demand sensor available for selective deployment within a workspace in which a plurality of mobile drive units operate; and a management module in communication with the on-demand sensor, the management module configured to; monitor movement of a mobile drive unit within the workspace based at least in part on first sensor information received from a fixed sensor within the workspace, the first sensor information comprising a first representation of a fixed location where the fixed sensor is located; detect a triggering condition relating to movement of the mobile drive unit within the workspace; and in response to detecting the triggering condition, cause the on-demand sensor to collect second sensor information at a particular location within the workspace, the particular location being associated with the triggering condition, the second sensor information comprising a second representation of the particular location. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a fixed sensor positioned at a fixed location in a workspace; an on-demand sensor connected to an automated device, the on-demand sensor being available for selective deployment within the workspace; and a management module in communication with the fixed sensor and the automated device, the management module configured to; monitor conditions in the workspace based at least in part on first visual information received from the fixed sensor; detect a triggering condition based at least in part on monitoring the conditions; determine an information collection strategy for the automated device, the information collection strategy comprising information indicating a location within the workspace associated with the triggering condition and instructions for the automated device to orient the on-demand sensor for collecting second visual information at the location; and provide the information collection strategy to the automated device for execution by the automated device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification