Adaptable container handling system
First Claim
1. An adaptable container handling system comprising:
- a boundary subsystem; and
one or more of robots each including;
a chassis,a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container,a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis,a boundary sensing subsystem,a container detection subsystem, anda controller responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and configured to;
control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected, andcontrol the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptable handling system featuring a boundary subsystem and one or more robots. Each robot typically includes a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller. The controller is responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and is configured to control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected. The controller then controls the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An adaptable container handling system comprising:
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a boundary subsystem; and one or more of robots each including; a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and configured to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected, and control the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A container handling robot comprising:
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a chassis; a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis; a container detection subsystem; and a container lift mechanism including; a rotatable yoke, a pair of spaced forks extending from the yoke for grasping a container, and a drive train driven in one direction to rotate the yoke to simultaneously extend and lower the forks and drivable in an opposite direction to simultaneously retract and raise the forks. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An adaptable plant container handling robot comprising:
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a chassis; a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for retrieving at least one container in a field at a first location; a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis to transport the container to a second location; a boundary sensing subsystem; a container detection subsystem; and a controller responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and configured to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container at the second location is detected and turn until another container is detected, and control the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. A plant container handling robot comprising:
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a chassis; a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis; a container detection subsystem including; a subsystem which detects containers on the ground, and a subsystem which detects a container carried by the robot, a container lift mechanism including; a rotatable yoke, a pair of spaced forks extending from the yoke for grasping a container, and a drive train which simultaneously extends and lowers the forks and simultaneously retracts and raises the forks; and a controller responsive to the container detection subsystem and configured to; control the drive subsystem to maneuver the robot until a container is detected, control the container lift mechanism drive train to place a container carried by the forks proximate the detected container, control the drive subsystem to maneuver the robot to return the robot to a prescribed source location, and control the container lift mechanism drive train to retrieve another container at the source location.
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51. An adaptable object handling system comprising:
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a boundary subsystem; and one or more of robots each including; a chassis, a lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one object, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, an object detection subsystem, and a controller responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the object detection subsystem and configured to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a object is detected and turn until another object is detected, and control the lift mechanism to place a transported object proximate the second detected object.
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52. An object handling robot comprising:
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a chassis; a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis; a detection subsystem; and an object lift mechanism including; a rotatable yoke, a pair of spaced forks extending from the yoke for grasping an object, and a drive train driven in one direction to rotate the yoke to simultaneously extend and lower the forks and drivable in an opposite direction to simultaneously retract and raise the forks.
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Specification