Methods and systems for smart handling of warehouse items

• US 9,721,129 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Varma, Rajeev, Thykkoottathil, Bijosh, Dasarathan, Mohan, Babu, Kavya
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Application Number:
  US15/008,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20170220831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 235492
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/228 using tactile array force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10396 the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

Methods and systems for smart handling of warehouse items. An embodiment takes the form of a wearable accessory that is configured to (a) identify an object, (b) detect an attachment-triggering event, (c) responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object, (d) determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, where the at least one handling constraint includes an acceptable pressure range, (e) measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory, (f) provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range; and (g) detect a release-triggering event, and responsively release the object.

Claims

1. A wearable accessory, comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify an object; and

detect an attachment-triggering event;

a suction and gripping device configured to, responsive to the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object, wherein attaching to the object comprises applying a suction pressure to the object;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range; and

detect a release-triggering event, wherein the suction and gripping apparatus is configured to release the object in response to the release-triggering event.

2. The wearable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a scanner, wherein identifying the object comprises processing data from the scanner corresponding to a barcode associated with the object.

3. The wearable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a RFID reader, wherein identifying the object comprises processing data from the RFID reader corresponding to an RFID tag associated with the object.

4. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a high-pressure indication if the measured pressure exceeds the acceptable pressure range.

5. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a low-pressure indication if the measured pressure is below the acceptable pressure range.

6. The wearable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a user-interface element, wherein the processor is to, upon actuation of the user-interface element to:

determine whether or not an object is currently identified and, if so, determine whether or not the accessory is attached to the currently identified object;

initiate an object-scan function if no object is currently identified;

initiate an object-attach function if an object is currently identified and the accessory is not currently attached to the currently identified object; and

initiate an object-detach function if an object is currently identified and the accessory is currently attached to the currently identified object.

7. The wearable accessory of claim 6, wherein the user-interface element is a button.

8. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one handling constraint associated with the object comprises:

sending, to a remote server, an identity of the object; and

receiving, from the remote server, at least one handling constraint associated with the object.

9. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein the release-triggering event is actuation of a user-interface element.

10. The wearable accessory of claim 9, wherein the user-interface element is a button.

11. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein the release-triggering event comprises a proximity to a destination location.

12. The wearable accessory of claim 11, wherein the proximity is the proximity of the object.

13. The wearable accessory of claim 11, wherein the proximity is the proximity of the wearable accessory.

14. The wearable accessory of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor, wherein detecting the release-triggering event comprises detecting the release-triggering event via the proximity sensor.

15. The wearable accessory of claim 1, wherein detecting the release-triggering event comprises receiving a proximity indication from a proximity sensor remote to the wearable accessory.

16. A system comprising a wearable accessory, the wearable accessory comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to attach to an object;

a pressure-sensor system configured to measure a pressure exerted on the object;

a communication interface;

a user interface; and

a controller programmed to carry out a set of functions, wherein the set of functions comprises;

receiving, via the communication interface, at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

detecting an attachment-triggering event, and responsively controlling the attachment mechanism to attach to the object;

providing an indication, via the user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range; and

detecting a release-triggering event, and responsively controlling the attachment mechanism to detach from the object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the wearable accessory is a first wearable accessory that is configured to be worn on a first hand of a user;

the system further comprises a second wearable accessory that is configured to be worn on a second hand of the user;

the pressure-sensor system comprises a first pressure-sensor system disposed on the first wearable accessory and a second pressure-sensor system disposed on the second wearable accessory; and

measuring the pressure exerted on the object comprises (i) receiving a first and a second measured pressure from the first and second pressure-sensor systems, respectively, and (ii) determining the pressure exerted on the object based on the first and second measured pressures.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a ring scanner configured to:

scan an object identifier associated with the object; and

send, to the communication interface, a representation of the scanned object identifier,

wherein the at least one received handling constraint is associated with the representation of the scanned object identifier.

19. A method comprising:

identifying an object;

detecting, using a processor, an attachment-triggering event;

responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attaching to the object by applying suction to the object;

determining, using the processor, at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

measuring, using the processor, a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

providing an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range; and

detecting, using the processor, a release-triggering event, and responsively releasing the object.

20. A wearable accessory, wherein the accessory is configured to:

identify an object;

detect an attachment-triggering event;

responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object;

determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range, wherein the indication comprises a high-pressure indication if the measured pressure exceeds the acceptable pressure range; and

detect a release-triggering event, and responsively release the object.

21. A wearable accessory, wherein the accessory is configured to:

identify an object;

detect an attachment-triggering event;

responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object;

determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range, wherein the indication comprises a low-pressure indication if the measured pressure is below the acceptable pressure range; and

detect a release-triggering event, and responsively release the object.

22. A wearable accessory, wherein the accessory is configured to:

identify an object;

detect an attachment-triggering event;

responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object;

determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range;

measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range;

detect a release-triggering event, and responsively release the object;

the wearable accessory including a user-interface element, wherein the wearable accessory is configured upon actuation of the user-interface element to responsively;

determine whether an object is currently identified and, if so, determine whether the accessory is attached to the currently identified object;

initiate an object-scan function if no object is currently identified;

initiate an object-attach function if an object is currently identified and the accessory is not currently attached to the currently identified object; and

initiate an object-detach function if an object is currently identified and the accessory is currently attached to the currently identified object.

23. A wearable accessory, wherein the accessory is configured to:

identify an object;

detect an attachment-triggering event;

responsive to detecting the attachment-triggering event, attach to the object;

determine at least one handling constraint associated with the object, wherein the at least one handling constraint comprises an acceptable pressure range, and determining the at least one handling constraint associated with the object comprises;

sending, to a remote server, an identity of the object; and

receiving, from the remote server, at least one handling constraint associated with the object;

measure a pressure exerted on the object via the accessory;

provide an indication, via a user interface, based on the measured pressure and the acceptable pressure range; and

detect a release-triggering event, and responsively release the object.