Random-access robotic inventory dispensary: operation prioritization

• US 9,821,464 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Stiernagle, Chad, Kraetsch, Glendon T., LaValle, Dean R., Sheikholeslami, Cameron P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US15/012,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31036 Load component into corresponding compartment, bin, storage before assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31043 Bin, storage identifier and workstation identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/30 End effector

Abstract

The present application is directed to a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. Upon a request from a consumer (or other user) in a fulfillment operation, the robot retrieves a bin holding the first item from the ISU. Upon a request from an operator (or other user) in a replenishment operation, the robot transfers an empty bin to an operator station (such as a replenishing unit). The controller logic allows the fulfillment operations to be prioritized over the replenishment operations, in addition to the implementation of other prioritizations.

Claims

1. A robotic inventory dispensary, comprising:

a storage unit that provides a plurality of storage locations, the storage unit to store a plurality of products using a respective plurality of storage bins placed among respective locations of the plurality of storage locations;

a replenishing unit to receive a plurality of additional products in a respective plurality of additional storage bins;

robotics to operate upon the storage unit and the replenishing unit, wherein the robotics, when in operation;

performs fulfillment operations from the storage unit, to retrieve a respective storage bin of the plurality of storage bins placed among the storage locations, wherein the fulfillment operations include a first fulfillment operation to fulfill a first request from a consumer received at a customer user interface, and a second fulfillment operation to fulfill a second request from an operator received at an operator user interface; and

performs replenishment operations from the replenishing unit to stock the additional storage bins among the storage locations; and

a controller to prioritize operations of the robotics, the controller to prioritize the fulfillment operations over the replenishment operations, and wherein the controller is further to prioritize the first fulfillment operation over the second fulfillment operation.

2. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1,

wherein the robotics performs inventory management operations on at least one of the storage bins placed among the storage locations, the inventory management operations including movement of the at least one of the storage bins within the storage unit from a first storage location to a second storage location;

and

wherein the controller prioritizes the fulfillment operations and the replenishment operations over the inventory management operations.

3. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1,

wherein the robotics performs purge operations on at least one of the storage bins placed among the storage locations, wherein the purge operations include removal of the at least one of the storage bins, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the fulfillment operations and the replenishment operations over the purge operations.

4. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1,

wherein the robotics performs service operations, the service operations including a command initiated by an operator or service technician to move the robotics from a first position to a second position, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the service operations over the fulfillment operations.

5. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1,

wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a retrieval operation of a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location in the plurality of the storage locations, and a retrieval operation of a second product in a second storage bin from a second storage location in the plurality of storage locations, and wherein the controller prioritizes the retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location over the retrieval operation of the second product from the second storage location, in response to a determination that an estimated amount of time to obtain the first product from the first storage location with the robotics is less than an estimated amount of time to obtain the second product from the second storage location.

6. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1,

wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a retrieval operation of a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location in the plurality of the storage locations, and a retrieval operation of a second product in a second storage bin from a second storage location in the plurality of the storage locations, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location over the retrieval operation of the second product from the second storage location, in response to a determination that a first consumer request for first product occurred at a time prior to a second consumer request for the second product.

7. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 1, wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a retrieval operation of a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location of the plurality of storage locations and a delivery operation of the first product to a dispenser, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage shelf adapted to host a first plurality of storage bins.

8. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 7, wherein the controller prioritizes service operations upon the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage shelf over the delivery operation, wherein the service operations include compacting storage locations of remaining bins of the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage location, in response to removal of the first storage bin from the first storage shelf.

9. A method for operating an electronic robotic control system using a plurality of electronic operations to be performed on a robotic inventory dispensary, the robotic inventory dispensary including a storage unit, a replenishing unit, and robotics, the plurality of electronic operations including:

performing fulfillment operations from the storage unit, to retrieve a storage bin placed among storage locations in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of products using respective storage bins placed among respective locations of the storage locations, wherein the fulfillment operations include a first fulfillment operation to fulfill a first request from a consumer received at a customer user interface, and a second fulfillment operation to fulfill a second request from an operator received at an operator user interface;

performing replenishment operations from the replenishing unit, to stock additional storage bins among the storage locations in the storage unit, wherein the replenishing unit receives a plurality of additional products in the additional storage bins;

controlling the robotics to prioritize the fulfillment operations over the replenishment operations; and

controlling the robotics to prioritize the first fulfillment operation over the second fulfillment operation.

10. The method of claim 9, the plurality of electronic operations further including:

identifying a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location and identifying a second product in a second storage bin from a second storage location, wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit include a retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location and a retrieval operation of the second product from the second storage location; and

controlling the robotics to;

prioritize the retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location over the retrieval operation of the second product from the second storage location, in response to a determination that an estimated amount of time to obtain the first product from the first storage location with the robotics is less than an estimated amount of time to obtain the second product from the second storage location.

11. The method of claim 9, the plurality of electronic operations further including:

performing purge operations on at least one of the respective storage bins placed among the storage locations, wherein the purge operations include removal of the at least one of the respective storage bins; and

controlling the robotics to prioritize the fulfillment operations and the replenishment operations over the purge operations.

12. The method of claim 11, the plurality of electronic operations further including:

performing inventory management operations on at least one of the respective storage bins placed among the storage locations, the inventory management operations including movement of the at least one of the respective storage bins within the storage unit from a first storage location to a second storage location; and

controlling the robotics to prioritize the fulfillment operations and the replenishment operations over the inventory management operations.

13. The method of claim 12, the plurality of electronic operations further including:

performing service operations, the service operations including a command initiated by an operator or a service technician to move the robotics from a first position to a second position; and

controlling the robotics to prioritize the service operations over the fulfillment operations.

14. The method of claim 9, the plurality of electronic operations further including:

identifying a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location, wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit include a retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location and a delivery operation of the first product to a dispenser, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage shelf adapted to host a first plurality of storage bins; and

wherein the robotics are controlled to prioritize service operations upon the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage shelf over the delivery operation, wherein the service operations include operations to compact storage locations of remaining bins of the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage location, in response to removal of the first storage bin from the first storage shelf.

15. A robotic inventory dispensary, comprising:

a storage unit that provides a plurality of storage locations, the storage unit to store a plurality of products using a respective plurality of storage bins placed among respective locations of the plurality of storage locations;

a replenishing unit to receive a plurality of additional products in a respective plurality of additional storage bins;

robotics to operate upon the storage unit and the replenishing unit, wherein the robotics, when in operation;

performs fulfillment operations from the storage unit, to retrieve a respective storage bin of the plurality of storage bins placed among the storage locations, wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a retrieval operation of a first product in a first storage bin from a first storage location in the plurality of the storage locations, and a retrieval operation of a second product in a second storage bin from a second storage location in the plurality of storage locations; and

performs replenishment operations from the replenishing unit, to stock the additional storage bins among the storage locations; and

a controller to prioritize operations of the robotics, the controller to prioritize the fulfillment operations over the replenishment operations, and wherein the controller prioritizes the retrieval operation of the first product from the first storage location over the retrieval operation of the second product from the second storage location, in response to a determination that an estimated amount of time to obtain the first product from the first storage location with the robotics is less than an estimated amount of time to obtain the second product from the second storage location.

16. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 15,

wherein the fulfillment operations includes a first fulfillment operation to fulfill a first request from a consumer received at a customer user interface, and a second fulfillment operation to fulfill a second request from an operator received at an operator user interface, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the first fulfillment operation over the second fulfillment operation.

17. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 15,

wherein the robotics performs purge operations on at least one of the storage bins placed among the storage locations, wherein the purge operations include removal of the at least one of the storage bins, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the fulfillment operations and the replenishment operations over the purge operations.

18. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 15,

wherein the robotics performs service operations, the service operations including a command initiated by an operator or service technician to move the robotics from a first position to a second position, and

wherein the controller prioritizes the service operations over the fulfillment operations.

19. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 15,

wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a delivery operation of the first product to a dispenser, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage shelf adapted to host a first plurality of storage bins;

and

wherein the controller prioritizes service operations upon the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage shelf over the delivery operation, wherein the service operations include compacting storage locations of remaining bins of the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage location, in response to removal of the first storage bin from the first storage shelf.

20. A robotic inventory dispensary, comprising:

a storage unit that provides a plurality of storage locations, the storage unit to store a plurality of products using a respective plurality of storage bins placed among respective locations of the plurality of storage locations;

a replenishing unit to receive a plurality of additional products in a respective plurality of additional storage bins;

robotics to operate upon the storage unit and the replenishing unit, wherein the robotics, when in operation;

performs service operations, the service operations including a command initiated by an operator or service technician to move the robotics from a first position to a second position;

performs fulfillment operations from the storage unit, to retrieve a respective storage bin of the plurality of storage bins placed among the storage locations;

performs replenishment operations from the replenishing unit, to stock the additional storage bins among the storage locations; and

a controller to prioritize operations of the robotics, the controller to prioritize the fulfillment operations over the replenishment operations, and wherein the controller prioritizes the service operations over the fulfillment operations.

21. The robotic inventory dispensary of claim 20,

wherein the fulfillment operations from the storage unit includes a delivery operation of a first product to a dispenser from a first storage bin at a first storage location, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage shelf adapted to host a first plurality of storage bins;

and

wherein the controller prioritizes service operations upon the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage shelf over the delivery operation, wherein the service operations include compacting storage locations of remaining bins of the first plurality of storage bins stored at the first storage location, in response to removal of the first storage bin from the first storage shelf.