SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURELY TRANSPORTING AN ITEM

• US 20100234995A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St Engineering Aethon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aethon
• Inventors: Seiff, Peter T., Zini, Aldo, Skirble, Barry Mark, Seip, Kevin F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/258
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/009 Nursing, e.g. carrying sick persons, pushing wheelchairs, distributing drugs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41895 using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31006 Monitoring of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31086 Communication of carriage, agv data, workpiece data at each station
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31286 Detect position of articles and equipment by receivers, identify objects by code
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31432 Keep track of conveyed workpiece, batch, tool, conditions of stations, cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31446 Detect if workpiece, object present
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31454 Keep track of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes

Abstract

A system. The system includes an apparatus and a server. The apparatus is configured for securely transporting an item from a first location to a second location, and includes a mobile robot and a cart. The cart is coupled to the mobile robot and includes at least one secure storage area. The server is communicably connected to the apparatus and includes a module. The module is configured to maintain a chain of custody record for the item.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an apparatus configured for securely transporting an item from a first location to a second location, the apparatus comprising;

a mobile robot; and

a cart coupled to the mobile robot, wherein the cart comprises at least one secure storage area; and

a server communicably connected to the apparatus, wherein the server comprises a module configured for maintaining a chain of custody record for the item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile robot comprises a computing device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile robot further comprises a plurality of sensors connected to the computing device.

4. The mobile robot of claim 2, wherein the mobile robot further comprises a power source connected to the computing device.

5. The mobile robot of claim 4, wherein the computing device further comprises a motor connected to the battery.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart further comprises an input device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart further comprises a biometric reader.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart further comprises a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart further comprises a bar code reader.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart is electrically and mechanically coupled to the mobile robot.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a post configured to couple the mobile robot with the cart.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mobile robot defines a receptacle configured for receiving the post.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface connected to the cart, wherein the interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other automated device.

15. A method for securely transporting an item, the method comprising:

identifying an item placed into a secured storage area of a cart;

transmitting placement information regarding the identified item to a server;

identifying the item when it is removed from the secured storage area of the cart; and

transmitting removal information regarding the identified item to the server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the item comprises identifying the item with a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the item comprises identifying the item with a bar code reader.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising identifying a person who placed the item into the secured storage area of the cart.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the person comprises identifying the person with a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the person comprises identifying the person with a biometric reader.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining a chain of custody record associated with the item.