Method and apparatus for a mobile robotic unit
AssigneeMyrmex, Inc.
InventorsIoannis Kanellos, Eugenios Fainekos, Orestis Fainekos
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims14
A method for vehicle delivery of an order using a pod having a plurality of containers, one or more inventory carriers each having a plurality of wheels to permit motion thereof and each configured to support one or more containers, one or more carrier bases each configured to support an inventory carrier and each including a plurality of rails for entraining wheels of the supported inventory carrier, one or more mobile robotic units (MRUs) each configured to propel an inventory carrier, and one or more mini load stations for manipulating containers, the method comprising:
- transporting a first inventory carrier supporting a first container containing a first portion of the order from a storage location in the pod to a mini load station;
- using the mini load station to transfer the first container containing the first portion from the first inventory carrier to a second inventory carrier;
- transporting the second inventory carrier supporting the first container containing the first portion from the mini load station to a replenishment station of the pod;
- and
- loading, from the replenishment station, the first container containing the first portion into a delivery vehicle for delivery to a customer,
- wherein said transporting includes disposing the inventory carrier on a carrier base having rails in which the wheels of the inventory carrier are locked in place, and propelling the inventory carrier and carrier base using the MRU.
A pod for delivery of an order from a fulfillment center to a customer, comprising:
- a plurality of containers;
- one or more inventory carriers each having a plurality of wheels to permit motion thereof and each configured to support one or more containers;
- one or more carrier bases each configured to support an inventory carrier, the carrier bases each including a plurality of rails for entraining wheels of the supported inventory carrier;
- one or more mobile robotic units (MRUs) each configured to propel an inventory carrier;
- one or more mini load stations for manipulating containers;
- a memory;
- a replenishment station;
- at least one processor configured to execute machine executable code stored in the memory for performance of a procedure comprising:
- transporting a first inventory carrier supporting a first container containing a first portion of the order from a storage location in the pod to a mini load station;
- using the mini load station to transfer the first container containing the first portion from the first inventory carrier to a second inventory carrier;
- transporting the second inventory carrier supporting the first container containing the first portion from the mini load station to a replenishment station of the pod;
- and
- loading, from the replenishment station, the first container containing the first portion into a delivery vehicle for delivery to a customer,
- wherein said transporting includes disposing the inventory carrier on a carrier base having rails in which the wheels of the inventory carrier are locked in place, and propelling the inventory carrier and carrier base using the MRU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.