Item-detecting overhead sensor for inventory system
First Claim
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1. A method comprising operations performed under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, the operations comprising:
- receiving, at the one or more computer systems, distance information from a sensor, the distance information including information about distances between the sensor and portions of objects, the objects including a mobile inventory holder and items supported by the mobile inventory holder;
determining, based at least in part on the distance information, a plane corresponding to a face of the mobile inventory holder;
determining, based at least in part on the distance information, that one or more protruding items are protruding from the mobile inventory holder and at least partially through the plane corresponding to the face of the mobile inventory holder;
generating protruding information, the protruding information including information about the determined one or more protruding items; and
sending a signal based at least in part on the protruding information, the signal corresponding to at least one of;
a signal configured to cause a representation of the mobile inventory holder to be shown on a display for facilitating handling of a protruding condition by a human operator, the representation showing a position of a protruding item relative to the mobile inventory holder;
a signal configured to cause a laser pointer to point to a location on the mobile inventory holder for facilitating handling of a protruding condition by a human operator, the location corresponding to a position of a protruding item relative to the mobile inventory holder;
ora signal configured to prevent movement of the mobile inventory holder in the presence of a protruding condition.
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Abstract
Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and associated inventory items. Data can be received from a sensor, a boundary corresponding to a face of the inventory holder can be determined from the data, and items projecting across the boundary can be determined as items protruding from the inventory holder.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising operations performed under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, the operations comprising:
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receiving, at the one or more computer systems, distance information from a sensor, the distance information including information about distances between the sensor and portions of objects, the objects including a mobile inventory holder and items supported by the mobile inventory holder; determining, based at least in part on the distance information, a plane corresponding to a face of the mobile inventory holder; determining, based at least in part on the distance information, that one or more protruding items are protruding from the mobile inventory holder and at least partially through the plane corresponding to the face of the mobile inventory holder; generating protruding information, the protruding information including information about the determined one or more protruding items; and sending a signal based at least in part on the protruding information, the signal corresponding to at least one of; a signal configured to cause a representation of the mobile inventory holder to be shown on a display for facilitating handling of a protruding condition by a human operator, the representation showing a position of a protruding item relative to the mobile inventory holder; a signal configured to cause a laser pointer to point to a location on the mobile inventory holder for facilitating handling of a protruding condition by a human operator, the location corresponding to a position of a protruding item relative to the mobile inventory holder;
ora signal configured to prevent movement of the mobile inventory holder in the presence of a protruding condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to at least:
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receive data from a sensor, the data including information about a spatial position of a mobile inventory holder and one or more items stored in the mobile inventory holder; determine a boundary corresponding to at least a part of a face of the mobile inventory holder; determine, based at least in part on the data from the sensor, that an item stored in the mobile inventory holder is projecting across the boundary; and send a signal based at least in part on determining that the item stored in the mobile inventory holder is projecting across the boundary. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inventory management system comprising:
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a mobile inventory holder; a station comprising; a receiving zone configured to receive the mobile inventory holder; a sensor aimed at the receiving zone; and one or more processors configured to; receive data from the sensor about objects in the receiving zone; determine, based at least in part on the data, a spatial representation of datapoints in which each datapoint has a value indicative of a spatial position of an associated object detected by the sensor; fit a surface based at least in part on the spatial representation, the surface corresponding to a face of the mobile inventory holder positioned in the receiving zone; determine datapoints of at least one object protruding from the mobile inventory holder and having a spatial position that at least partially extends through the surface corresponding to the face of the mobile inventory holder; and send a signal based at least in part on the datapoints determined of the at least one object protruding from the mobile inventory holder and having a spatial position that at least partially extends through the surface corresponding to the face of the mobile inventory holder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification