Systems and methods for removing debris from warehouse floors
First Claim
1. A cleanup robot comprising:
- one or more drive mechanisms to move the cleanup robot throughout a workspace;
one or more imaging devices disposed on the cleanup robot to provide imagery of an area proximate to the cleanup robot;
a carrying tray, disposed on a first end of the cleanup robot and moveable between a raised position and a lowered position, to receive an object from a floor of the workspace;
one or more gate arms slideably engaged with the cleanup robot and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
one or more gates pivotally coupled to a first end of the one or more gate arms and pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the one or more gates are moved from the open position to the closed position to encircle the object; and
wherein the one or more gate arms and the one or more gates pivotally coupled thereto are moved from the extended position to the retracted position to pull the object onto the carrying tray in the lowered position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cleanup robot comprising:
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one or more drive mechanisms to move the cleanup robot throughout a workspace; one or more imaging devices disposed on the cleanup robot to provide imagery of an area proximate to the cleanup robot; a carrying tray, disposed on a first end of the cleanup robot and moveable between a raised position and a lowered position, to receive an object from a floor of the workspace; one or more gate arms slideably engaged with the cleanup robot and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and one or more gates pivotally coupled to a first end of the one or more gate arms and pivotable between an open position and a closed position; wherein the one or more gates are moved from the open position to the closed position to encircle the object; and wherein the one or more gate arms and the one or more gates pivotally coupled thereto are moved from the extended position to the retracted position to pull the object onto the carrying tray in the lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a central control, a notification of an object improperly located on a floor of a workspace, the notification including at least an approximate location of the object within the workspace; designating, with the central control, a work zone encompassing at least the approximate location; transmitting, from the central control, the work zone to a plurality of robots operating in the workspace to route the plurality of robots around the work zone to prevent the plurality of robots from entering the work zone; routing a cleanup robot to the approximate location; and instructing the cleanup robot to recover the object and relocate the object on or within the cleanup robot. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cleanup robot comprising:
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one or more gate arms slideably engaged with the cleanup robot and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and one or more gates pivotally coupled to a first end of the one or more gate arms and pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a carrying tray, disposed on a first end of the cleanup robot and moveable between a raised position and a lowered position, to receive an object from a floor of a workspace, the carrying tray comprising; a rear portion pivotally coupled to the first end of the cleanup robot; a deformable forward portion coupled to the rear portion; and one or more carrying tray actuators to move the carrying tray between the raised position and the lowered position; wherein the one or more gates are moved from the open position to the closed position to encircle the object; and wherein the one or more gate arms and the one or more gates pivotally coupled thereto are moved from the extended position to the retracted position to pull the object onto the carrying tray in the lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification