Adaptable container handling system
First Claim
1. An adaptable container handling system comprising:
- a boundary subsystem; and
one or more of robots each including;
a chassis,a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container,a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis,a boundary sensing subsystem,a container detection subsystem, anda controller receiving outputs from and being responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem, said controller comprising one or more processors programmed with logic instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;
control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected, andcontrol the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptable handling system featuring a boundary subsystem and one or more robots. Each robot typically includes a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller. The controller is responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and is configured to control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected. The controller then controls the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container.
143 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An adaptable container handling system comprising:
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a boundary subsystem; and one or more of robots each including; a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller receiving outputs from and being responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem, said controller comprising one or more processors programmed with logic instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected, and control the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An adaptable plant container handling robot comprising:
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a chassis; a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for retrieving at least one container in a field at a first location; a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis to transport the container to a second location; a boundary sensing subsystem; a container detection subsystem; and a controller receiving outputs from and being responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem, said controller comprising one or more processors programmed with logic instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container at the second location is detected and turn until another container is detected, and control the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An adaptable object handling system comprising:
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a boundary subsystem; and one or more of robots each including; a chassis, a lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one object, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, an object detection subsystem, and a controller receiving outputs from and being responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the object detection subsystem, said controller comprising one or more processors programmed with logic instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until an object is detected and turn until another object is detected, and control the lift mechanism to place a transported object proximate the second detected object.
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38. An automated method of depositing containers in given locations using a robot having a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable relative to the chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller, the method, implemented in one or more processors of the controller, comprising the steps of:
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controlling the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected; and controlling the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification