System and Method for Coordinating Movement of Mobile Drive Units
First Claim
1. A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
- a plurality of mobile drive units;
a plurality of inventory holders; and
a management module operable to;
receive, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction;
determine that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment;
determine whether the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction;
in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is not moving in the first direction, transmit a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied; and
in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction, transmit a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace includes receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction. The method further includes determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment and determining whether the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction. Additionally, the method includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is not moving in the first direction. The method also includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
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a plurality of mobile drive units; a plurality of inventory holders; and a management module operable to; receive, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction; determine that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment; determine whether the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction; in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is not moving in the first direction, transmit a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied; and in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction, transmit a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
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a plurality of inventory holders; and a plurality of mobile drive units, wherein at least a first mobile drive unit is operable to; receive a command to move in a first direction; initiate movement in a first direction along a path segment; detect an object located on the path segment in the first direction from the first mobile drive unit; determine whether the object comprises a second mobile drive unit moving in the first direction; in response to determining that the object comprises a second mobile drive unit, continue movement in the first direction; and in response to determining that the object does not comprise a second mobile drive unit moving in the first direction, terminate movement in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for transporting inventory items, operable to:
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receive a command to move in a first direction; initiate movement in a first direction along a path segment; detect an object located on the path segment in the first direction from the first mobile drive unit; determine whether the object comprises a second mobile drive unit moving in the first direction; in response to determining that the object comprises a second mobile drive unit, continue movement in the first direction; and in response to determining that the object does not comprise a second mobile drive unit moving in the first direction, terminate movement in the first direction.
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Specification