System and method for transporting inventory items in logistic facilities

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of structures configured to hold items for transport;
• a plurality of robots connected in a wireless network;
• and
• a control system connected in the wireless network, the control system including
• a receiver configured to receive a transport request indicating a structure, of the plurality of structures, to be transported to a target location, the structures being of different sizes and shapes, the structures being configured to hold a plurality of items for transport;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to
• determine, based on the transport request, a number of robots to assign to the transport request, the robots being connected in the wireless network;
• coordinate a lift operation, by the number of robots, of the structure, wherein during the lift operation a robot engages with a lifting location associated with the structure, the structure having at least one lifting location, a number and positions of lifting locations of the structure depending on a size and a shape of the structure;
• and
• coordinate transport, by the number of robots, of the structure to the target location.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor and causing the processor to perform, when executing the instructions, steps of:

• receiving a transport request indicating a structure, of a plurality of structures, to be transported to a target location, the structures being of different sizes and shapes, the structures being configured to hold a plurality of items for transport;
• determining, based on the transport request, a number of robots to assign to the transport request, the robots being connected in a wireless network;
• coordinating a lift operation, by the number of robots, of the structure, wherein during the lift operation a robot engages with a lifting location associated with the structure, the structure having at least one lifting location, a number and positions of lifting locations of the structure depending on a size and a shape of the structure;
• and
• coordinating transport, by the number of robots, of the structure to the target location.

A robot, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive instructions from a control system connected in a wireless network, the instructions indicating a structure, of a plurality of structures configured to hold items for transport, the structures being of different sizes and shapes;
• and
• a drive to
• move to a current location, based on the instructions, the structure of the plurality of structures being located in the current location;
• occupy an assigned lifting location associated with the structure, of the plurality of structures, based on the instructions;
• and
• engage with the assigned lifting location to perform a lift operation based on the instructions, the lifting location being associated with the structure, the structure having at least one lifting location, a number and positions of lifting locations of the structure depending on a size and a shape of the structure.

A robot, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a transport request indicating a structure, of a plurality of structures, to be transported to a target location, the structures being of different sizes and shapes, the structures being configured to hold a plurality of items for transport, the robot being for transporting the items;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to
• determine, based on the transport request, a number of robots to assign to the transport request, the robots being connected in a wireless network in which a control system is connected, the control system being a distributed system including a plurality of control agents, a control agent of the control agents being within the robot;
• coordinate a lift operation, by the number of robots, of the structure, wherein during the lift operation the robot engages with a lifting location associated with the structure, the structure having at least one lifting location, a number and positions of lifting locations of the structure depending on a size and a shape of the structure;
• and
• coordinate transport, by at least one robot of the number of robots, of the structure to the target location.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a transport request indicating a structure, of a plurality of structures, to be transported to a target location, the structures being of different sizes and shapes, the structures being configured to hold a plurality of items for transport;
• determining, based on the transport request, a number of robots to assign to the transport request, the robots being connected in a wireless network;
• coordinating a lift operation, by the number of robots, of the structure, wherein during the lift operation a robot engages with a lifting location associated with the structure, the structure having at least one lifting location, a number and positions of lifting locations of the structure depending on a size and a shape of the structure;
• and
• coordinating transport, by the number of robots, of the structure to the target location.