METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A MOBILE ROBOTIC UNIT

• US 20170330269A1
• Filed: 05/15/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited (Ocado Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Myrmex, Inc.
• Inventors: KANELLOS, Ioannis, FAINEKOS, Eugenios, FAINEKOS, Orestis
• Granted Patent: US 10,242,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/006 for stacking objects like trays, bobbins, chains
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/065 with self propelled cars
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/06 Use of order trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/063 Automatically guided
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A method for managing inventory carriers using mobile robotic units (MRUs) in a pod that is configured to receive online orders at a replenishment station for pickup by customers at a delivery station includes receiving, by an MRU, instructions that identify a first inventory carrier, moving the MRU to a location of the identified inventory carrier, and using the MRU to transport the identified inventory carrier to the replenishment station for pickup by a delivery vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for managing inventory carriers using mobile robotic units (MRUs) in a pod that is configured to receive contents of online orders at a replenishment station for pickup by customers at a delivery station, the method comprising the steps of:

1) receiving, by an MRU, instructions that identify a first inventory carrier;

2) moving the MRU to a location of the identified inventory carrier; and

3) using the MRU to transport the identified inventory carrier to the replenishment station for pickup by a delivery vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining slot availability within the pod; and

delivering additional inventory carriers to the pod based on slot availability.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the additional inventory carriers is laden with one or more containers containing an online order.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein delivering additional inventory carriers comprises:

performing Steps

     1)-3) multiple times followed by delivering multiple additional inventory carriers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein delivering additional inventory carriers comprises alternately performing Steps 1)-3) and delivering additional inventory carriers.

6. A mobile robotic unit (MRU) comprising:

a memory having stored thereon machine executable code comprising instructions for managing inventory carriers using the MRU in a pod that is configured to receive contents of online orders at a replenishment station for pickup by customers at a delivery station; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to execute the machine executable code to cause the MRU to;

1) receive instructions that identify a first inventory carrier;

2) move to a location of the identified inventory carrier; and

3) transport the identified inventory carrier to the replenishment station for pickup by a delivery vehicle.

7. The MRU of claim 6, wherein the executable code further causes the MRU to:

receive additional inventory carriers at the replenishment station based on slot availability.

8. The MRU of claim 7, wherein one or more of the additional inventory carriers is laden with one or more containers containing an online order.

9. The MRU of claim 7, wherein delivering additional inventory carriers comprises performing Steps 1)-3) multiple times followed by delivering multiple additional inventory carriers.

10. The MRU of claim 7, wherein delivering additional inventory carriers comprises alternately performing Steps 1)-3) and delivering additional inventory carriers.