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US 12,717,353 B1Granted
Micro drive units and associated methods of operation
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorYuri Anatoly Ivanov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Micro drive units may comprise simple, small, lightweight, safe, fast, efficient, flexible, and adaptable robotic drive units. The micro drive units may operate individually to perform various material handling operations, or may operate collectively in groups, such as mobile groups, temporary conveyances, or temporary motion fields, to perform various material handling operations.
Claims20
A micro drive unit, comprising:
- a frame having a hexagonal shape;
- three sets of drive wheels positioned around the frame, individual sets of the drive wheels comprising pairs of omnidirectional wheels;
- a vertical adjustment actuator configured to adjust a vertical position of the three sets of drive wheels relative to the frame;
- and
- a control system having a processor and a memory, the control system configured to at least:
- instruct adjustment, via the vertical adjustment actuator, of the three sets of drive wheels between a first position at least partially extending from a lower surface of the frame and a second position at least partially extending from an upper surface of the frame;
- wherein responsive to the three sets of drive wheels being in the first position, instruct the micro drive unit to receive and transport a first load via movement using the three sets of drive wheels within a material handling facility;
- and
- wherein responsive to the three sets of drive wheels being in the second position, instruct the micro drive unit to receive and transport a second load via actuation of the three sets of drive wheels.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having a tileable shape;
- a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the frame and rotated by respective drive motors;
- and
- a control system having a processor and a memory, the control system configured to at least:
- instruct adjustment of the plurality of drive wheels between a first position at least partially extending from a lower surface of the frame and a second position at least partially extending from an upper surface of the frame;
- wherein responsive to the plurality of drive wheels being in the first position, the apparatus is configured to receive and transport a first load via movement using the plurality of drive wheels;
- and
- wherein responsive to the plurality of drive wheels being in the second position, the apparatus is configured to receive and transport a second load via actuation of the plurality of drive wheels.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- instructing adjustment of a plurality of drive wheels of an apparatus between a first position at least partially extending from a lower surface of a frame of the apparatus and a second position at least partially extending from an upper surface of the frame, the apparatus comprising the frame having a tileable shape, the plurality of drive wheels coupled to the frame and rotated by respective drive motors, and a control system having a processor and a memory;
- wherein responsive to the plurality of drive wheels being in the first position, instructing the apparatus to receive and transport a first load via movement using the plurality of drive wheels;
- and
- wherein responsive to the plurality of drive wheels being in the second position, instructing the apparatus to receive and transport a second load via actuation of the plurality of drive wheels.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.