Object avoidance with object detection and classification

A method to detect and classify an object in a pathway of a robot, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a transceiver on a robot, instructions to travel to a location via a pathway;
• sending, from a processor on the robot to a drive system on the robot, instructions to travel along the pathway;
• detecting, with an object detection system on the robot, an object in the pathway;
• sending, from the processor to the drive system, instructions to slow or stop;
• scanning the object with a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader on the robot to determine if there is an RFID tag associated with the object;
• scanning the object with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner to provide approximate sizing data for the object to the processor;
• scanning the object with an imaging device to provide indicia data to the processor;
• determining that the object has an RFID tag associated with an inventory item;
• determining that the damage caused by the robot running over the inventory item is below a predetermined threshold;
• and
• sending, from the processor to the drive system, instructions to run over the object based on one or more of whether the RFID tag is present, the sizing data, or the indicia data.

A robot configured to move inventory holders about an environment and comprising:

• a drive system configured to move the robot throughout the environment;
• an object detection system configured to detect an object in a pathway of the robot;
• an object identification system configured to receive classification data for the object;
• a transceiver configured to send and receive wired and wireless communications;
• and
• a processor in communication with at least the drive system, object detection system, object identification system, and transceiver, the processor including computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
• receive, with the transceiver, instructions to travel to a location via a pathway;
• send, from a processor to the drive system, instructions to travel along the pathway;
• detect, with the object detection system, an object in the pathway;
• send, from the processor to the drive system, instructions to slow or stop;
• scan the object with a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader on the robot to determine if there is an RFID tag associated with the object;
• scan the object with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner to provide approximate sizing data for the object to the processor;
• scan the object with an imaging device to provide indicia data to the processor;
• determine that the object has an RFID tag associated with an inventory item;
• determine that the damage caused by the robot running over the inventory item is below a predetermined threshold;
• and
• send, from the processor to the drive system, instructions to run over the object based on one or more of whether the RFID tag is present, the sizing data, or the indicia data.