Methods, systems and apparatus for controlling movement of transporting devices
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsRobert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
Claims23
A system for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport at least one container, the system comprising:
- one or more processors configured to:
- determine a plurality of paths for a plurality of transporting devices to travel on pathways of a facility, the plurality of paths comprising a first path for travel by a first transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices and a second path for travel by a second transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices,
- wherein the pathways form a grid-like structure above a plurality of containers arranged within the facility, the pathways comprising a first set of parallel rails extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction in a substantially horizontal plane, at least some of the plurality of containers being stored in stacks,
- wherein the plurality of transporting devices are configured to selectively move laterally in the first direction and the second direction on the pathways, at least some of the plurality of transporting devices being configured to transport the plurality of containers, and
- generate a plurality of commands for the plurality of transporting devices to cause the plurality of transporting devices to travel on the pathways along the plurality of paths;
- and
- a memory device configured to store the plurality of commands,
- wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the first path from an expected level of transporting device congestion as the first transporting device travels along the first path.
A method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport at least one container, the method comprising:
- determining, by one or more processors, a plurality of paths for a plurality of transporting devices to travel on pathways of a facility, the plurality of paths comprising a first path for travel by a first transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices and a second path for travel by a second transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices,
- wherein the pathways form a grid-like structure above a plurality of containers arranged within the facility, the pathways comprising a first set of parallel rails extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction in a substantially horizontal plane, at least some of the plurality of containers being stored in stacks,
- wherein the plurality of transporting devices are configured to selectively move laterally in the first direction and the second direction on the pathways, at least some of the plurality of transporting devices being configured to transport the plurality of containers;
- generating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of commands for the plurality of transporting devices to cause the plurality of transporting devices to travel on the pathways along the plurality of paths;
- and
- storing, by a memory device, the plurality of commands,
- wherein said determining the first path comprises determining the first path from an expected level of transporting device congestion as the first transporting device travels along the first path.
Non-transitory physical computer storage comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to implement a process comprising:
- determining a plurality of paths for a plurality of transporting devices to travel on pathways of a facility, the plurality of paths comprising a first path for travel by a first transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices and a second path for travel by a second transporting device of the plurality of transporting devices,
- wherein the pathways form a grid-like structure above a plurality of containers arranged within the facility, the pathways comprising a first set of parallel rails extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction in a substantially horizontal plane, at least some of the plurality of containers being stored in stacks,
- wherein the plurality of transporting devices are configured to selectively move laterally in the first direction and the second direction on the pathways, at least some of the plurality of transporting devices being configured to transport the plurality of containers;
- and
- generating a plurality of commands for the plurality of transporting devices to cause the plurality of transporting devices to travel on the pathways along the plurality of paths,
- wherein said determining the first path comprises determining the first path from an expected level of transporting device congestion as the first transporting device travels along the first path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.