Back to results
US 11,137,742 B2Granted
System and method for order fulfillment using robots
AssigneeFetch Robotics, Inc.
InventorsMelonee Wise, Michael Ferguson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for order fulfillment using one or more robots includes: a server configured to receive an order comprising an order item; inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items; an actor robot operably connected to and selected by the server, the actor robot configured to perform one or more of picking the order item from inventory storage, moving the order item, and positioning the order item; and an order robot operably connected to the server, the order robot configured to collect the order item, wherein the order item is positioned by the actor robot so as to be accessible to the order robot, so as to perform order fulfillment using one or more robots.
Claims32
A system for order fulfillment using one or more robots, comprising:
- a server configured to receive an order comprising an order item;
- inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items;
- at least two actor robots operably connected to and selected by the server, the at least two actor robots configured to perform one or more of picking the order item from the inventory storage, moving the order item, and positioning the order item;
- and
- at least one order robot operably connected to the server, the at least one order robot configured to collect the order item, wherein the order item is positioned directly onto the order robot so as to be accessible to the order robot, to perform order fulfillment using the one or more robots, the order robot configured to move between the at least two actor robots to collect the order items;
- and
- at least one mobile packer robot configured to pack an order item into a container that is configured to be mailed, the packer robot further configured to traverse across a floor, the at least one order robot being configured to position the order item directly onto the packer robot, and wherein at least one of the robots communicates position information to the server.
4 more elements
A method for order fulfillment using robots, comprising:
- receiving, by a server, an order comprising an order item;
- selecting, by the server, a task robot to perform a task relating to fulfillment of the order at a stationary inventory storage, the inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items;
- determining, by the server, a destination for the task robot;
- receiving, by the server, position information from the task robot;
- computing, by one or more of the server and the task robot, a currently planned path for the task robot configured to enable the task robot to reach the destination, wherein the step of computing comprises computing the currently planned path that assumes an obstacle-free path to the destination;
- transmitting, by the server, the currently planned path to the task robot;
- determining, by the server, using the position information, that the task robot is positioned so as to be ready to perform the task;
- transmitting, by the server, in response to the determination that the task robot is positioned so as to be ready to perform the task, one or more of the task and the destination to the task robot;
- positioning the order item, by the task robot, directly onto a packer robot, the packer robot being configured to pack the order item into a container that is configured to be mailed, the packer robot being further configured to traverse across a floor;
- and
- receiving, by the server, from the task robot, a task confirmation confirming that the task has been completed, wherein the server distributes one or more of the steps in the method among more than one task robot, wherein the task robot comprises an order robot, the order robot configured to move from a first actor robot to a second actor robot, the order robot picking a first order item from the first actor robot, the order robot picking a second order item from the second actor robot.
8 more elements
A method for order fulfillment using robots, comprising:
- receiving, by a server, an order comprising an order item;
- selecting, by the server, a task robot to perform a task relating to fulfillment of the order at a stationary inventory storage, the inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items;
- receiving, by the task robot, from the server, the selection of the task robot;
- determining, by the server, a destination for the task robot;
- computing, by one or more of the server and the task robot, a currently planned path for the task robot configured to enable the task robot to reach the destination while optimizing criteria of interest, wherein the step of computing comprises computing the currently planned path that assumes an obstacle-free path to the destination;
- transmitting, by the server, the currently planned path to the task robot;
- receiving, by the task robot, from the server, the currently planned path;
- executing, by the task robot, the currently planned path;
- communicating position information, by the task robot, to the server;
- receiving, by the server, position information from the task robot;
- determining, by one or more of the server and the task robot, using the position information, that the task robot is positioned so as to be ready to perform the task;
- transmitting, by the server, in response to the determination that the task robot is positioned so as to be ready to perform the task, the task to the task robot;
- receiving the task, by the task robot, from the server;
- performing the task, by the task robot;
- sending, to the server, by the task robot, a task confirmation confirmed that the task has been completed;
- receiving, by the server, from the task robot, the task confirmation;
- positioning the order item, by the task robot, directly onto a packer robot, the packer robot being configured to pack the order item into a container that is configured to be mailed, the packer robot being further configured to traverse across a floor;
- and determining, by the server, that the task robot is not to be sent to another destination, wherein the server distributes one or more of the steps in the method among more than one task robot, wherein the task robot comprises an order robot, the order robot configured to move from a first actor robot to a second actor robot, the order robot picking a first order item from the first actor robot, the order robot picking a second order item from the second actor robot.
15 more elements
A system for order fulfillment using one or more robots, comprising:
- a server configured to receive an order comprising an order item;
- inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items;
- at least two actor robots operably connected to and selected by the server, the at least two actor robots configured to perform one or more of picking the order item from inventory storage, moving the order item, and positioning the order item;
- an order robot operably connected to the server, the order robot configured to collect the order item, wherein the order item is positioned inside the order robot so as to be accessible to the order robot, to perform order fulfillment using one or more robots, the order robot configured to move between the at least two actor robots to collect the order items;
- and
- at least one mobile packer robot configured to pack an order item into a container that is configured to be mailed, the packer robot further configured to traverse across a floor, the order robot being configured to position the order item directly onto the packer robot, and wherein at least one of the robots communicates position information to the server.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.