System and method of asynchronous robotic retrieval and delivery of items
First Claim
1. An asynchronous item delivery system comprising:
- a depot comprising;
a depot user interface;
a rack module that houses drawers;
a depot drawer-swapping module;
a depot battery-swapping module; and
a depot control system that connects to and controls the depot user interface and the rack module, the depot battery-swapping module and the depot drawer-swapping module; and
a mobile robot comprising;
a mobile robot drawer-swapping module; and
a mobile control system that connects and controls the mobile robot drawer-swapping module, wherein the depot and the mobile robot operate in a coordinated manner to asynchronously deliver an item from the depot to a destination depot by performing operations comprising;
receiving, at the depot and via the depot user interface, a specification by a user of the destination depot and the item to yield item delivery data;
selecting, based on item delivery data and the by the depot control system, a drawer from the rack module that houses drawers;
receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface;
transferring the item to the drawer from the rack module that houses drawers;
communicating, from the depot and to the mobile robot, a message to pick up the item;
transferring the item from the drawer to the mobile robot using the depot drawer-swapping module and the mobile robot drawer-swapping module; and
delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An asynchronous item delivery system comprising:
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a depot comprising; a depot user interface; a rack module that houses drawers; a depot drawer-swapping module; a depot battery-swapping module; and a depot control system that connects to and controls the depot user interface and the rack module, the depot battery-swapping module and the depot drawer-swapping module; and a mobile robot comprising; a mobile robot drawer-swapping module; and a mobile control system that connects and controls the mobile robot drawer-swapping module, wherein the depot and the mobile robot operate in a coordinated manner to asynchronously deliver an item from the depot to a destination depot by performing operations comprising; receiving, at the depot and via the depot user interface, a specification by a user of the destination depot and the item to yield item delivery data; selecting, based on item delivery data and the by the depot control system, a drawer from the rack module that houses drawers; receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface; transferring the item to the drawer from the rack module that houses drawers; communicating, from the depot and to the mobile robot, a message to pick up the item; transferring the item from the drawer to the mobile robot using the depot drawer-swapping module and the mobile robot drawer-swapping module; and delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a depot and via a depot user interface, a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item to yield item delivery data; selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in the depot that houses drawers; receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface; transferring the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers; communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item; transferring the item from the drawer to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module; and delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising; receiving, at a depot and via a depot user interface, a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item to yield item delivery data; selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in the depot that houses drawers; receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface; transferring the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers; communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item; and transferring the item from the drawer to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module, wherein the mobile robot is configured to deliver the item to the destination depot. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification