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Secondary robotic catch apparatus and method

  • US 9,604,358 B1
  • Filed: 12/10/2015
  • Issued: 03/28/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:

  • a first robotic manipulator configured to grasp an item of a plurality of items, move the item from a first location to a second location and release the item at the second location;

    the plurality of items including at least some items that differ from one another;

    a catching member that is moved in coordination with the movement of the item by the first robotic manipulator to position the catching member to catch the item if dropped by the first robotic manipulator prior to the item reaching the second location;

    one ofa second robotic manipulator configured to move the catching member in coordination with the movement of the item by the first robotic manipulator; and

    a mobile drive unit configured to dock with the catching member and operable to move the catching member in coordination with the movement of the item by the first robotic manipulator and move the catching member independent of the first robotic manipulator to move the catching member to another location for exception processing of dropped items in the catching member so that another mobile drive unit can move another catching member into position to catch an item dropped by the first robotic manipulator; and

    a management module configured to;

    generate instructions to cause the first robotic manipulator to grasp the item at the first location and move the item to the second location; and

    generate instructions to cause the second robotic manipulator or the mobile drive unit to move the catching member in coordination with the movement of the item by the first robotic manipulator to position the catching member to catch the item if dropped by the first robotic manipulator prior to the item reaching the second location.

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