Robot assisted direct-to-pack sortation systems
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMainak Sengupta, CJ Sturges
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for robot assisted direct-to-pack sortation. In one embodiment, an example autonomous robot may include one or more forks, and a controller configured to determine that a first container is empty, transport the first container to a pick docking station, retrieve a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full, transport the second container to a buffer area, determine that the first container is full, and transport the first container to the buffer area.
Claims20
A system to sort bulky items, the system comprising:
- a first container comprising fencing along three walls, an open fourth wall, and a platform having slots;
- an autonomous robot comprising forks configured to engage the slots on the platform of the first container, wherein the autonomous robot is configured to raise and transport the first container;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine that the first container is empty;
- cause the autonomous robot to transport the first container to a pick docking station;
- cause the autonomous robot to retrieve a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;
- cause the autonomous robot to transport the second container to a buffer area;
- cause the autonomous robot to transport the second container to a packing station;
- determine that the first container is full;
- cause the autonomous robot to retrieve a third container from the buffer area, wherein the third container is empty;
- cause the autonomous robot to transport the third container to the pick docking station;
- and
- cause the autonomous robot to transport the first container to the buffer area.
An autonomous robot comprising:
- memory comprising computer-executable instructions;
- and
- one or more computer processors configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
- determine that a first container is empty;
- transport the first container to a pick docking station;
- retrieve a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;
- transport the second container to a buffer area;
- determine that the first container is full;
- and
- transport the first container to the buffer area.
A method for transporting bulky items by an autonomous robot, the method comprising:
- determining, by a controller, that a first container is empty;
- transporting the first container to a pick docking station;
- retrieving a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;
- transporting the second container to a buffer area;
- determining, by the controller, that the first container is full;
- and
- transporting the first container to the buffer area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.