US 11,427,404 B2 · System and method for robot-assisted, cart-based workflows

Abstract

A cart-based workflow system includes: a robot operating in a facility; a server, the server operably connected to the robot, the server configured to do one or more of send the robot a cart transfer location usable for transferring the cart and instruct the robot to specify the cart transfer location; a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a map of the facility, the GUI operably connected to the server, the GUI configured to do one or more of receive input from a human user and provide output to the human user, the GUI further configured to be usable by the user to coordinate movement of one or more of robots and carts.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A cart-based workflow system comprising:

a robot operating in a facility;
a server, the server operably connected to the robot, the server configured to store a task code associated with a workflow, the workflow including a cart pickup location, and a cart dropoff location;
a user device operably connected to the server, the user device configured to capture a scan of an instance of the task code displayed in the facility;
the server further configured to receive, from the user device, the scan of the task code, and to trigger performance of the workflow by the robot, by causing the robot to travel to the cart pickup location to pick up a cart, and transport the cart to the cart dropoff location.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/347,574Filed 10 Apr 2019 · us provisional application

Priority

10 Apr 2018

Published

US 2021/0284446 A116 Sep 2021

Granted

30 Aug 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B65G 1/065
With means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level: with self propelled cars
G05D 1/0016
Associated with a remote control arrangement: characterised by the operator's input device
B65G 1/137
Mechanical: with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
G05D 1/0027
Associated with a remote control arrangement: involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling

System and method for robot-assisted, cart-based workflows

Life of this patent

System and method for robot-assisted, cart-based workflows

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18