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US 8,948,914 B2Granted
System and method for securely transporting an item
AssigneeAethon, Inc.
InventorsAldo Zini, Barry Mark Skirble, Peter T. Seiff, Kevin F. Seip
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system. The system includes an apparatus and a server. The apparatus is configured for securely transporting an item from a first location to a second location, and includes a mobile robot and a cart. The cart is coupled to the mobile robot and includes at least one secure storage area. The server is communicably connected to the apparatus and includes a module. The module is configured to maintain a chain of custody record for the item.
Claims16
A system, comprising:
- an apparatus configured for securely transporting an item from a first location within a facility to a second location within the facility, the apparatus comprising:
- a mobile robot;
- and
- a cart coupled to the mobile robot, wherein:
- the cart comprises:
- a biometric reader;
- and
- at least one secure storage area having the item stored therein;
- the cart is configured to automatically unlock the at least one secure storage area;
- and
- the mobile robot is configured to autonomously advance the cart from the first location to the second location;
- and
- a server communicably connected to the apparatus, wherein the server is configured for:
- receiving information transmitted from the apparatus, wherein the received information comprises:
- information associated with a person who loaded the item into the at least one secure storage area at the first location;
- information associated with a position of the cart within the facility;
- and
- information associated with a person who removed the item from the at least one secure storage area at the second location;
- and
- generating and maintaining a chain of custody record for the item based on the received information, wherein the chain of custody record comprises:
- the information associated with a person who loaded the item into the at least one secure storage area at the first location;
- the information associated with the position of the cart within the facility;
- and
- the information associated with a person who removed the item from the at least one secure storage area at the second location.
21 more elements
A method for securely transporting an item, the method comprising:
- identifying an item placed into a secured storage area of a cart at a first location within a facility;
- utilizing a biometric reader to identify a person who placed the item into the secured storage area of the cart;
- transmitting placement information regarding the identified item to a server;
- autonomously advancing the cart from the first location to a second location within the facility;
- transmitting information regarding a position of the cart within the facility to the server;
- automatically unlocking the secured storage area of the cart at the second location;
- identifying the item when it is removed from the secured storage area of the cart at the second location;
- and
- transmitting removal information regarding the identified item to the server.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.