System and method for inventory management using mobile drive units
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndrew E. Hoffman, Michael C. Mountz, Michael T. Barbehenn, James R. Allard, Matthew E. Kimmel, Fabrizio Santini, Michael H. Decker, Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter R. Wurman
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Abstract
A method for inventory management includes deploying a first mobile drive unit having first dimensions and deploying a second mobile drive unit having second dimensions, the first and second dimensions being different. The first and second mobile drive units are operable to transport inventory items to a plurality of inventory stations in the same workspace.
Claims42
A method for inventory management, comprising:
- deploying a first mobile drive unit having first dimensions in a workspace;
- deploying a second mobile drive unit having second dimensions in the workspace, wherein the first and second dimensions are different;
- deploying a management module configured to maintain a three-dimensional reservation space in which the first mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a first three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the first dimensions and the second mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a second three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the second dimensions;
- and
- wherein the first and second mobile drive units are operable to transport inventory items to a plurality of inventory stations in the same workspace.
A system for inventory management comprising:
- a first mobile drive unit having first dimensions;
- a second mobile drive unit having second dimensions, wherein the first and second dimensions are different;
- a management module configured to maintain a three-dimensional reservation space in which the first mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a first three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the first dimensions and the second mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a second three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the second dimensions;
- and
- a plurality of inventory holders, the first and second mobile drive units each operable to transport at least one of the inventory holders.
A management module comprising logic encoded in a non-transitory medium and when executed by a processor operable to:
- facilitate management of a first mobile drive unit having first dimensions in an inventory management system;
- facilitate management of a second mobile drive unit having second dimensions in the inventory management system, wherein the first and second dimensions are different;
- and
- maintain a three-dimensional reservation space in which the first mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a first three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the first dimensions and the second mobile drive unit is operable to reserve a second three-dimensional reservation volume corresponding to the second dimensions;
- and
- wherein the first and second mobile drive units are operable to transport inventory items to a plurality of inventory stations in the inventory management system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.