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Arm-detecting overhead sensor for inventory system

  • US 9,824,328 B2
  • Filed: 06/10/2014
  • Issued: 11/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising, under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions:

  • instructing a mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder having a plurality of bins into a receiving zone that is at least partly within a field of vision of a sensor;

    receiving, at a computer system, an identification of an item for a storage operation, the storage operation including placement by a person of the item in the inventory holder;

    receiving distance information from the sensor, the distance information including information about distances between the sensor and portions of objects within the field of vision of the sensor, the objects including the inventory holder and at least a portion of an arm of the person;

    identifying distance information corresponding to the at least the portion of the arm of the person in association with the storage operation;

    calculating a height of the at least the portion of the arm relative to the inventory holder based on the distance information corresponding to the at least the portion of the arm;

    calculating a lateral position of the at least the portion of the arm relative to the inventory holder based on the distance information corresponding to the at least the portion of the arm; and

    associating the item with a bin on the inventory holder based on the calculated height and the calculated lateral position of the at least the portion of the arm relative to the inventory holder.

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