Bin content verification
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames Christopher Curlander, Jules Cook Graybill, Marshall Friend Tappen, Barry James O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes a device and system for verifying the content of items in a bin within a materials handling facility. In some implementations, a bin content verification apparatus may pass by one or more bins and capture images of those bins. The images may be processed to determine whether the content included in the bins has changed since the last time images of the bins were captured. A determination may also be made as to whether a change to the bin content was expected and, if so, if the determined change corresponds with the expected change.
Claims20
A method to maintain a virtual inventory, comprising:
- receiving, by a control system, imaging data from at least one imaging device of an inventory robot;
- identifying, by the control system, a bin within the imaging data;
- comparing, by the control system, current contents of the bin within the imaging data with stored content information associated with the bin, the stored content information comprising a prior state of contents associated with the bin;
- determining, by the control system, a change between the current contents of the bin and the stored content information associated with the bin;
- and
- updating, by the control system, the stored content information associated with the bin based on the change.
A control system in communication with an inventory robot, comprising:
- a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the processor configured to at least:
- receive, from at least one imaging device of the inventory robot, imaging data;
- identify a storage location within the imaging data;
- compare current contents of the storage location within the imaging data with stored content information associated with the storage location, the stored content information comprising a prior state of contents associated with the storage location;
- determine a change between the current contents of the storage location and the stored content information associated with the storage location;
- and
- update the stored content information associated with the storage location based on the change.
An inventory robot, comprising:
- a base;
- at least one roller coupled to the base and configured to enable movement of the inventory robot;
- a surface extending vertically from the base;
- at least one imaging device coupled to the surface and configured to capture imaging data;
- and
- a control system configured to at least:
- receive, from the at least one imaging device, imaging data;
- identify a storage location within the imaging data;
- compare current contents of the storage location within the imaging data with stored content information associated with the storage location, the stored content information comprising a prior state of contents associated with the storage location;
- determine a change between the current contents of the storage location and the stored content information associated with the storage location;
- and
- update the stored content information associated with the storage location based on the change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.