Hybrid modular storage fetching system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- inducting an order into a robot execution system (“
REX”
) in response to receiving, by the REX, order data identifying items in the order to be fulfilled at an order fulfillment facility, the REX including one or more computing devices that communicate with a plurality of automated guided vehicles (“
AGV”
s) in the order fulfillment facility, the order fulfillment facility including an operating environment with a first storage area storing a first set of items, a second storage area storing a second set of items, and a pick-cell station at which one or more selected items from one or more of the first storage area and the second storage area are placed into a carton associated with the order;
generating, by the REX, a task list including tasks for fulfilling the order using a cart AGV of the plurality of AGVs and a picking AGV of the plurality of AGVs, the cart AGV transporting the carton associated with the order;
instructing, by the REX, the cart AGV to retrieve a first item of the order from the first storage area based on the task list, the first item being in the first set of items and being placed into the carton associated with the order that is transported by the cart AGV;
instructing, by the REX, the cart AGV to deliver the carton including the first item to the pick-cell station;
instructing, by the REX, the picking AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from the second storage area, the second item being in the second set of items; and
instructing, by the REX, the picking AGV to deliver the second item to the pick-cell station, the second item being placed into the carton associated with the order at the pick-cell station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.
718 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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inducting an order into a robot execution system (“
REX”
) in response to receiving, by the REX, order data identifying items in the order to be fulfilled at an order fulfillment facility, the REX including one or more computing devices that communicate with a plurality of automated guided vehicles (“
AGV”
s) in the order fulfillment facility, the order fulfillment facility including an operating environment with a first storage area storing a first set of items, a second storage area storing a second set of items, and a pick-cell station at which one or more selected items from one or more of the first storage area and the second storage area are placed into a carton associated with the order;generating, by the REX, a task list including tasks for fulfilling the order using a cart AGV of the plurality of AGVs and a picking AGV of the plurality of AGVs, the cart AGV transporting the carton associated with the order; instructing, by the REX, the cart AGV to retrieve a first item of the order from the first storage area based on the task list, the first item being in the first set of items and being placed into the carton associated with the order that is transported by the cart AGV; instructing, by the REX, the cart AGV to deliver the carton including the first item to the pick-cell station; instructing, by the REX, the picking AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from the second storage area, the second item being in the second set of items; and instructing, by the REX, the picking AGV to deliver the second item to the pick-cell station, the second item being placed into the carton associated with the order at the pick-cell station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a plurality of automated guided vehicles (“
AGV”
s) including a cart AGV and a picking AGV; anda robot execution system (“
REX”
) that communicates with the plurality of AGVs, the REX including one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the robot execution system to;induct an order into the REX in response to receiving order data identifying items in the order to be fulfilled at an order fulfillment facility, the REX including one or more computing devices that communicate with the plurality of AGVs in the order fulfillment facility, the order fulfillment facility including an operating environment with a first storage area storing a first set of items, a second storage area storing a second set of items, and a pick-cell station at which one or more selected items from one or more of the first storage area and the second storage area are placed into a carton associated with the order; generate a task list including tasks for fulfilling the order using the cart AGV and the picking AGV, the cart AGV transporting the carton associated with the order; instruct the cart AGV to retrieve a first item of the order from the first storage area based on the task list, the first item being in the first set of items and being placed into the carton associated with the order that is transported by the cart AGV; instruct the cart AGV to deliver the carton including the first item to the pick-cell station; instruct the picking AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from the second storage area, the second item being in the second set of items; and instruct the picking AGV to deliver the second item to the pick-cell station, the second item being placed into the carton associated with the order at the pick-cell station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving an induction instruction from a warehouse management system, the induction instruction indicating a first item to be picked using a cart AGV and a second item to be picked using a picking AGV; instructing the cart AGV to connect to a connectable cart; receiving a first confirmation from one or more picker computing devices that the cart AGV is connected to the connectable cart; selecting a pick-cell station from among a plurality of pick-cell stations; instructing the cart AGV to propel the connectable cart to a location of the first item; receiving a second confirmation from the one or more picker computing devices that the first item has been picked to the connectable cart; instructing the cart AGV to propel the connectable cart to the pick-cell station; instructing the picking AGV to navigate to a second location of the second item, retrieve the second item from a storage shelf at the second location, and navigate to the pick-cell station; presenting, for display on the one or more picker computing devices to a pick-cell picker, an instruction to place the first item and the second item in a designated carton on the connectable cart; receiving a third confirmation from the one or more picker computing devices that the first item and the second item have been placed in the designated carton; and instructing the cart AGV to propel the connectable cart to a finalizing area and detach from the connectable cart in the finalizing area.
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Specification