AUTONOMOUS MOBILE BIN STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for tote-picking or tote put-away within a logistics facility comprising:
- a central server comprising;
a server communication interface,one or more server processors, anda server memory; and
at least one mobile manipulation robot comprising;
a mobile base,a tote transport platform having a distal end portion and a proximal end, the proximal end of the tote transport platform connected to the mobile base and moveable along a vertical track on the mobile base,an articulated manipulator arm attached to the distal end portion of the tote transport platform, the articulated manipulator arm having an end effector,a plurality of sensors,a remote communication interface,a memory configured to store robot specific information, andone or more robot processors coupled to the sensors, the memory, the mobile base, and the articulated manipulation arm,wherein the memory comprises computer program instructions executable by the one or more robot processors to receive data from and send data to the central server, process data received from each of the sensors, and output control signals to the mobile base and the articulated manipulator arm,wherein the plurality of sensors provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a tote to be transferred to the tote transport platform, and the one or more robot processors analyze the sensor information to generate articulated arm control signals to guide the end effector of the articulated manipulator arm to transfer the tote.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for piece-picking or piece put-away within a logistics facility. The system includes a central server and at least one mobile manipulation robot. The central server is configured to communicate with the robots to send and receive piece-picking data which includes a unique identification for each piece to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the pieces to be picked, and a route for the robot to take within the logistics facility. The robots can then autonomously navigate and position themselves within the logistics facility by recognition of landmarks by at least one of a plurality of sensors. The sensors also provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a piece to be picked or put-away, and processors on the robots analyze the sensor information to generate movements of a unique articulated arm and end effector on the robot to pick or put-away the piece.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for tote-picking or tote put-away within a logistics facility comprising:
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a central server comprising; a server communication interface, one or more server processors, and a server memory; and at least one mobile manipulation robot comprising; a mobile base, a tote transport platform having a distal end portion and a proximal end, the proximal end of the tote transport platform connected to the mobile base and moveable along a vertical track on the mobile base, an articulated manipulator arm attached to the distal end portion of the tote transport platform, the articulated manipulator arm having an end effector, a plurality of sensors, a remote communication interface, a memory configured to store robot specific information, and one or more robot processors coupled to the sensors, the memory, the mobile base, and the articulated manipulation arm, wherein the memory comprises computer program instructions executable by the one or more robot processors to receive data from and send data to the central server, process data received from each of the sensors, and output control signals to the mobile base and the articulated manipulator arm, wherein the plurality of sensors provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a tote to be transferred to the tote transport platform, and the one or more robot processors analyze the sensor information to generate articulated arm control signals to guide the end effector of the articulated manipulator arm to transfer the tote. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of tote transfer within a logistics facility, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a tote-picking or tote put-away system comprising; a central server including a server communication interface, one or more server processors, and a server memory; and at least one mobile manipulation robot including a mobile base, an articulated manipulator arm having an end effector, a tote transport platform attached to the mobile base and moveable along a vertical track on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors, a remote communication interface, a robot memory configured to store robot specific information, and one or more robot processors coupled to the sensors, the memory, the mobile base, and the at least one articulated manipulation arm; (b) receiving at the server memory via the server communication interface at least one tote-picking order including at least one tote to be picked; (c) generating at the one or more server processors a tote-picking itinerary based on the at least one tote-picking order, wherein the itinerary includes a unique identification for the at least one tote to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the at least one tote to be picked, and a route for the at least one mobile manipulation robot to take within the logistics facility; (d) receiving at the robot memory the tote-picking itinerary; (e) moving the at least one mobile manipulation robot along the route to the location within the logistics facility of the at least one tote to be picked; and (f) picking the at least one tote to be picked from the location using the end effector of the mobile manipulation arm, wherein picking the at least one tote includes transferring the at least one tote onto the tote transport platform. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification