Utilizing automated aerial vehicles for transporting priority pick items
First Claim
1. A system for delivering a priority pick item to a processing delivery location in a facility, the system comprising:
- an automated aerial vehicle, comprising;
a propulsion system to fly the automated aerial vehicle;
an engagement mechanism to engage an item;
a computing system, including;
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;
receive an order for an item;
access a database indicating that the item is available at a first location and at a second location within a facility;
generate a first pick instruction for picking the item from the first location;
receive an indication of an exception occurring that signifies that the item that was indicated in the database as available at the first location will not be able to be utilized for fulfilling the order for the item;
in response to the receipt of the indication of the exception, generate a second pick instruction that is a priority pick instruction that is more urgent than the first pick instruction and which instructs a picking of the item from the second location and a transport of the item to a processing delivery location within the facility;
determine a travel path and a corresponding estimated travel time for a human agent to travel through the facility between the second location and the processing delivery location;
determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the human agent would not be able to meet a time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location;
determine a flight path and a corresponding estimated travel time for an automated aerial vehicle to fly through the facility between the second location and the processing delivery location;
determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location;
determine that the automated aerial vehicle will be utilized to transport the priority pick item rather than the human agent based at least in part on the determination that the human agent would not be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; and
based at least in part on the determination that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location, send instructions to the automated aerial vehicle to follow the flight path to transport the item from the second location to the processing delivery location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes a system and method for utilizing an automated aerial vehicle for rapidly transporting a priority pick item when an exception occurs (e.g., an item that was to be picked from another location or otherwise processed is found to be missing or damaged). In some implementations, a priority pick instruction may be generated that directs picking of the item from an alternative location after which the item may be transported by the automated aerial vehicle to a processing location (e.g., a problem solve station). A flight path may be determined which may have starting and ending points at designated locations where the automated aerial vehicle can safely land and take off for acquiring and/or delivering the priority pick item.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for delivering a priority pick item to a processing delivery location in a facility, the system comprising:
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an automated aerial vehicle, comprising; a propulsion system to fly the automated aerial vehicle; an engagement mechanism to engage an item; a computing system, including; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; receive an order for an item; access a database indicating that the item is available at a first location and at a second location within a facility; generate a first pick instruction for picking the item from the first location; receive an indication of an exception occurring that signifies that the item that was indicated in the database as available at the first location will not be able to be utilized for fulfilling the order for the item; in response to the receipt of the indication of the exception, generate a second pick instruction that is a priority pick instruction that is more urgent than the first pick instruction and which instructs a picking of the item from the second location and a transport of the item to a processing delivery location within the facility; determine a travel path and a corresponding estimated travel time for a human agent to travel through the facility between the second location and the processing delivery location; determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the human agent would not be able to meet a time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determine a flight path and a corresponding estimated travel time for an automated aerial vehicle to fly through the facility between the second location and the processing delivery location; determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determine that the automated aerial vehicle will be utilized to transport the priority pick item rather than the human agent based at least in part on the determination that the human agent would not be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; and based at least in part on the determination that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location, send instructions to the automated aerial vehicle to follow the flight path to transport the item from the second location to the processing delivery location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for delivering a priority pick item to a processing delivery location, the system comprising:
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an automated aerial vehicle, including; at least one motor coupled to a propeller and configured to rotate the propeller; an engagement mechanism for engagement and transport of one or more items; a computing system, including; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; determine an item acquisition location for retrieving a priority pick item that is to be transported to a processing delivery location associated with a priority pick instruction, wherein the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location are located within a facility and the priority pick instruction is related to a priority pick that is generated for a priority pick item in response to an exception occurring during processing of a user order within a facility; determine a travel path and a corresponding estimated travel time for a human agent to travel through the facility between the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location; determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the human agent would not be able to meet a time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determine a flight path and a corresponding estimated travel time for an automated aerial vehicle to fly through the facility between the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location; determine based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determine that the automated aerial vehicle will be utilized to transport the priority pick item rather than the human agent based at least in part on the determination that the human agent would not be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; and based at least in part on the determination that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location, send instructions to the automated aerial vehicle to fly along the flight path to deliver the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; and an identifier that is utilized to associate the priority pick item with the priority pick instruction once the priority pick item is delivered to the processing delivery location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining an item acquisition location for retrieving a priority pick item that is to be transported to a processing delivery location associated with a priority pick instruction, wherein the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location are located within a facility; determining a travel path and a corresponding estimated travel time for a human agent to travel through the facility between the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location; determining based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the human agent would not be able to meet a time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determining a flight path and a corresponding estimated travel time for an automated aerial vehicle to fly through the facility between the item acquisition location and the processing delivery location, wherein the automated aerial vehicle comprises a propulsion system to fly the automated aerial vehicle and an engagement mechanism to engage the priority pick item; determining based at least in part on the estimated travel time that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; determining that the automated aerial vehicle will be utilized to transport the priority pick item rather than the human agent based at least in part on the determination that the human agent would not be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location; and based at least in part on the determination that the automated aerial vehicle will be able to meet the time requirement for transporting the priority pick item to the processing delivery location, sending instructions to the automated aerial vehicle to follow the flight path to fly the priority pick item from the item acquisition location to the processing delivery location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification