Method and apparatus for sensing object load engagement, transportation and disengagement by automated vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of operating a vehicle comprising a lift carriage to engage or disengage an object load in a physical environment comprising a warehouse rack system, the method comprising:
- analyzing a plurality of objects that are placed throughout the physical environment by processing data that is transmitted from a sensor array attached to the lift carriage of the vehicle;
executing an object recognition process on the sensor array data to identify the rack system by comparing rack system models with the sensor array data;
utilizing the rack system identification and a software module resident on a mobile computer coupled to the vehicle or a central computer coupled to the sensor array via a network to align a lifting element of the vehicle with entry points for a pallet or a shelf within the rack system; and
operating the vehicle to engage or disengage the object load with the aligned lifting element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sensing object load engagement, transportation and disengagement by automated vehicles is described. In one embodiment, the method includes processing data that is transmitted from a sensor array comprising at least one device for analyzing a plurality of objects that are placed throughout a physical environment, executing an object recognition process on the sensor array data using model information to identify at least one object, determining orientation information associated with the at least one object, wherein the orientation information is relative to the lift carriage and positioning at least one lifting element based on the orientation information.
146 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vehicle comprising a lift carriage to engage or disengage an object load in a physical environment comprising a warehouse rack system, the method comprising:
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analyzing a plurality of objects that are placed throughout the physical environment by processing data that is transmitted from a sensor array attached to the lift carriage of the vehicle; executing an object recognition process on the sensor array data to identify the rack system by comparing rack system models with the sensor array data; utilizing the rack system identification and a software module resident on a mobile computer coupled to the vehicle or a central computer coupled to the sensor array via a network to align a lifting element of the vehicle with entry points for a pallet or a shelf within the rack system; and operating the vehicle to engage or disengage the object load with the aligned lifting element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for operating an automated vehicle to engage or disengage an object load in a physical environment comprising a warehouse rack, the system comprising a mobile computer coupled to the vehicle, a central computer, and a sensor array attached to a lift carriage of the vehicle, wherein:
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the mobile computer, the central computer, and the sensor array are coupled to each other through a network; and software modules within the central computer, the mobile computer, or both, process data that is transmitted from the sensor array to facilitate object load engagement or disengagement by executing an object recognition process on the sensor array data to identify the rack system by comparing rack system models with the sensor array data, utilizing the identified rack system identification and a software module resident on a mobile computer coupled to the vehicle or a central computer coupled to the sensor array via a network to align a lifting element of the vehicle with entry points for a pallet or a shelf within the rack system, and engaging or disengaging the object load with the aligned lifting element.
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Specification