System and method for coordinating movement of mobile drive units
First Claim
1. A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace, comprising:
- receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction;
determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment;
determining 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, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied;
in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted; and
wherein transmitting the reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted comprises;
determining whether the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than a second path segment currently reserved by the second mobile drive unit;
in response to determining that the first path segment does not extend farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted; and
in response to determining that the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that a reservation has been granted on a portion of the first path segment, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first path segment.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
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
16 Claims
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1. A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace, comprising:
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receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction; determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment; determining 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, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied; in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted; and wherein transmitting the reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted comprises; determining whether the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than a second path segment currently reserved by the second mobile drive unit; in response to determining that the first path segment does not extend farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted; and in response to determining that the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that a reservation has been granted on a portion of the first path segment, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first path segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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6. A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace, comprising:
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receiving, at a first mobile drive unit, a command to move in a first direction; initiating, in a first mobile drive unit, movement in the first direction along a first path segment; detecting an object located on the first path segment in the first direction from the first mobile drive unit; determining 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 moving in the first direction, continuing movement in the first direction; in response to determining that the object does not comprise a second mobile drive unit moving in the first direction, terminating movement in the first direction. wherein continuing movement in the first direction comprises; determining whether the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than a second path segment currently reserved by the second mobile drive unit; in response to determining that the first path segment does not extend farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, continuing movement in the first direction; and in response to determining that the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, continuing movement on a portion of the first path segment, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first path segment. - View Dependent Claims (7, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for managing mobile drive units, comprising:
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a memory operable to store instructions; and a processor operable to execute the stored instructions and, when executing the stored instructions, 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; 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; and wherein transmitting the reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted, comprises; determining whether the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than a second path segment currently reserved by the second mobile drive unit; in response to determining that the first path segment does not extend farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted; and in response to determining that the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that a reservation has been granted on a portion of the first path segment, wherein the portion is less than an entirety of the first path segment.
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16. A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace, comprising:
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receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction; determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment; determining 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, transmitting 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; determining whether the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than a second path segment currently reserved by the second mobile drive unit; in response to determining that the first path segment extends farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied; and in response to determining that the first path segment does not extend farther from the first mobile drive unit than the second path segment, transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted.
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Specification