Autonomous vehicle for inventory tracking and/or transport and related systems and methods

A mobile inventory tracking system for tracking and updating inventory of items within a target area, the system comprising:

• a) an autonomous robot comprising:
• i) a base;
• ii) a transport apparatus in the base, the transport apparatus comprising at least one drive wheel and a motor operably coupled to the at least one drive wheel to propel and orient the robot within the target area;
• iii) a navigation sensor set configured to gather navigation and obstacle avoidance data;
• iv) a sensor mast coupled to and extending upwardly from the base and comprising a main portion and a pole coupled to the main portion, the pole being vertically adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position,
• v) an adjustable sensor array mounted along the sensor mast and comprising a plurality of adjustable sensors positioned at different heights and angular orientations along the sensor mast and configured to detect items on different vertical levels at multiple heights within the target area;
• vi) a charging interface on the base configured to couple the robot to an external power source;
• and
• vii) a robot processor operably coupled to the navigation sensor set and the adjustable sensor array and configured to receive sensor data and determine at least one of presence, identity, or location information for items;
• b) a server system having a processor and memory storing an inventory database and executable instructions, the server system being communicatively coupled with the robot via a network interface,
• wherein the processor of the robot is further configured to:
• a) associate the determined presence, identity, or location information with robot pose and location data;
• b) transmit inventory updates to the server system for storage in the inventory database;
• and
• c) receive navigation or task instructions from the server system, and
• wherein the executable instructions of the server system are configured to:
• a) cause the server system to receive the inventory updates from the robot;
• b) update records in the inventory database with item identity and location information;
• and
• c) transmit route planning or coverage pattern instructions to the robot such that the robot autonomously traverses the target area to detect items at multiple heights;
• and
• c) a docking and charging station disposed within the target area and configured to couple with the charging interface of the robot, the robot processor being configured to initiate a docking routine to the robot based on at least one operating condition including a state of charge or completion of a tracking routine.

A method of tracking and updating inventory of items within a target area, the method comprising:

• operating an autonomous robot to move and orient within the target area using a transport apparatus;
• acquiring navigation and obstacle avoidance data with a navigation sensor set of the robot;
• receiving, at the robot, route planning or coverage pattern instructions from the server system;
• autonomously traversing the target area according to the route planning or coverage pattern instructions to detect items;
• detecting items at multiple heights with an adjustable sensor array mounted along a sensor mast, the adjustable sensor array comprising a plurality of adjustable sensors positioned at different heights and angular orientations;
• detecting at least one of presence, identity, or location information for items based on sensor data received from the adjustable sensor array;
• associating detected information with robot location data;
• transmitting inventory updates from the robot to a server system via a network interface;
• and
• updating records in an inventory database at the server system with item identity and location information.