Flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval system
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTye Brady, Gregory Longtine, Timothy Stallman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems and processes may include one or more blocks of shelving systems, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of robotic drive units may traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between processing stations and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems.
Claims15
An automated storage and retrieval system, comprising:
- a plurality of floors, individual floors including a plurality of storage grid locations connected via a plurality of highway grids;
- a plurality of elevators connecting the plurality of floors;
- a plurality of totes, individual totes being positioned at respective storage grid locations, and individual totes being configured to receive respective items;
- a plurality of robotic drive units configured to traverse the plurality of floors and the plurality of storage grid locations by traveling on respective surfaces of the plurality of highway grids, the plurality of elevators, and the plurality of storage grid locations, individual robotic drive units configured to lift, move, and place respective totes;
- a plurality of processing stations associated with the automated storage and retrieval system, individual processing stations configured to process items associated with respective totes;
- and
- a plurality of service access zones associated with the automated storage and retrieval system, the plurality of service access zones configured to enable access to the plurality of floors, the plurality of storage grid locations, the plurality of highway grids, and the plurality of elevators.
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of floors, individual floors including a plurality of storage grid locations and a plurality of highway grids, and individual storage grid locations configured to receive respective totes;
- at least one elevator configured to traverse the plurality of floors;
- and
- a robotic drive unit configured to traverse the plurality of storage grid locations via respective surfaces of the plurality of highway grids, the at least one elevator, and the plurality of storage grid locations, the robotic drive unit configured to move a respective tote.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.