US 2024/0182243 A1 · AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING PAYLOADS

Abstract

An automated warehouse storage system including a multilevel storage array is provided. Each aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has storage locations distributed along the aisle. The guideway network extending through the multilevel storage array is configured for autonomous vehicles to move along the guideway network within the multilevel storage array. The guideway network including an inter-aisle guideway spanning at least two of the multiple aisles and a set of guideway levels extending in an aisle of the multiple aisles and disposed so that each guideway level is at a different one of the storage levels and the vehicles on the guideway level can access the storage locations distributed along the aisle. Each set of guideway levels is connected to the inter-aisle guideway forming a common guideway path so that a vehicle can move between inter-aisle guideway and each guideway level along the common guideway path.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An automated system for storage and retrieval of inventory of commercial products, the automated system comprising:

a multilevel storage structure comprising:
multiple vertically arranged levels of storage locations, the storage locations configured to store containers that are configured to store one or more eaches of the inventory;
and
multiple pathways each extending proximate to one or more of the storage locations;
a plurality of workstations coupled to the multilevel storage structure;
and
a plurality of mobile robots configured to move at least partially within the multilevel storage structure to carry the containers between the storage locations and the plurality of workstations;
wherein each of the plurality of mobile robots is configured to:
retrieve a container, of the containers, from one of the storage locations;
travel to one of the plurality of workstations via at least one of the multiple pathways;
move to a position proximate a picker of the one of the plurality of workstation;
allow the picker to remove at least one eaches of the inventory;
and
move away from the position and leave the one of the plurality of workstation.

11 more elements

An automated fulfillment system, comprising:

a storage section with storage shelves configured to store containers configured to store different items of inventory;
a workstation;
a plurality of mobile robots configured to transport the containers between the storage section and the workstation;
and
a central controller comprising one or more processors configured to:
direct a first set of mobile robots of the plurality of mobile robots to transport a first set of containers, of the containers, to the workstation,
direct a transfer, at the workstation, of returned inventory returned by customers into the first set of containers, and
direct the first set of mobile robots to transport the first set of containers with the returned inventory into the storage section.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated system for transporting payloads

Life of this patent

Automated system for transporting payloads

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18