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US 10,442,087 B1Granted
Applying fluorescent markings to items to aid robotic handling
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorAndrew M. Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments for using fluorescent coatings to aid in robotic handling of items. In one embodiment, an image is captured. An item in the image is recognized from the image based at least in part on a fluorescence of the item relative to its surrounding environment caused by exposure of a fluorescent marking of the item to a radiation source. A robotic arm is operated relative to the item in response to recognizing the item.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- coating substantially an entirety of at least one side of an item with a fluorescent marking using a sprayer;
- causing the item to be stored in an item storage location in a fulfillment center;
- activating an ultraviolet light source on or near a robotic arm;
- capturing an image via an image capture device of the robotic arm;
- recognizing, via at least one computing device, the item in the image based at least in part on a fluorescence of the item relative to the item storage location caused by exposure of the fluorescent marking of the item to the ultraviolet light source;
- and
- causing, via the at least one computing device, the robotic arm to retrieve the item from the item storage location in response to recognizing the item.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- capturing, via at least one computing device, an image;
- recognizing, via the at least one computing device, an item in the image based at least in part on a fluorescence of the item relative to its surrounding environment caused by exposure of a fluorescent marking of the item to a radiation source, wherein visible light sources are dimmed or turned off in the surrounding environment of the item when the image is captured;
- and
- causing, via the at least one computing device, a robotic device to operate relative to the item in response to recognizing the item.
1 more element
A system, comprising:
- a device configured to apply a coating to substantially an entirety of at least one side of an item;
- and
- a robotic device configured to perform an operation relative to the item, the robotic device including a radiation source and an image capture device, the radiation source having a wavelength optimized to induce a fluorescence of the coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.