Autonomous robot with pallet loading capability

A method of operating an autonomous robot, comprising:

• moving the autonomous robot to a predetermined location relative to a pallet by operating at least one wheel of a body of the autonomous robot;
• capturing images of at least a portion of the pallet by cameras mounted at ends of two or more forks;
• sending signals from the cameras to a controller circuit;
• processing the signals at the controller circuit to further move the autonomous robot and to individually operate the two or more forks based on the captured images;
• extending the two or more forks from a retracted position into an extended position to place at least portions of the two or more forks under a deckboard of the pallet with lifting devices comprising sets of extendable columns or jacks raised from a ground surface;
• raising the two or more forks to lift the pallet by operating lifting devices of the two or more forks by extending the set of extendable columns or jacks to come into contact with the ground surface;
• moving the body below the pallet by operating the at least one wheel responsive to raising the two or more forks;
• moving the two or more forks from the extended position into the retracted position responsive to raising the two or more forks, wherein the operating of the at least one wheel and the moving of the two or more forks are coordinated so that the pallet remains in a stationary location until the body is located below the pallet;
• and
• lowering the two or more forks to mount the pallet onto an upper surface of the body of the autonomous robot.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

• move an autonomous robot to a predetermined location relative to a pallet by operating at least one wheel of a body of an autonomous robot;
• capture images of at least a portion of the pallet by cameras mounted at ends of two or more forks;
• receive signals from the cameras;
• process the signals to further move the autonomous robot and to individually operate the two or more forks based on the captured images;
• extend the two or more forks from a retracted position into an extended position to place at least portions of the two or more forks under a deckboard of the pallet with lifting devices comprising sets of extendable columns or jacks raised from a ground surface;
• raise the two or more forks to lift the pallet by operating lifting devices of the two or more forks by extending the set of extendable columns or jacks to come into contact with the ground surface;
• move the body below the pallet by operating the at least one wheel responsive to raising the two or more forks;
• move the two or more forks from the extended position into the retracted position responsive to raising the two or more forks, wherein the operating of the at least one wheel and the moving of the two or more forks are coordinated so that the pallet remains in a stationary location until the body is located below the pallet;
• and
• lower the two or more forks to mount the pallet onto an upper surface of the body of the autonomous robot.