US 9,636,825 B2Granted

Robotic logistics system

AssigneeRoboteX Inc.

InventorsTaylor J. Penn, Andrew G. Stevens, Gabriella L. Seal, Eric D. Ivers

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Abstract

A robotic logistics system is disclosed. The system includes multiple robots each having an image capture unit and a server communicatively coupled to the multiple robots. The server is configured to transmit a location of a first item to a first robot and the location of a second item to a second robot; track the positions of the first robot and the second robot; transmit a first image of the first item captured by the first robot to an operator device; receive a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image; transmit a second image of the second item captured by the second robot to the operator device; and receive a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A robotic logistics system, comprising:

a first robot comprising a first image capture unit;
a second robot comprising a second image capture unit;
a server comprising a control unit coupled to a communication unit, wherein the server is configured to:
transmit, through the communication unit, a location of a first item to the first robot and the location of a second item to the second robot;
track, using the control unit, a position of the first robot relative to the first item and the position of the second robot relative to the second item;
transmit, through the communication unit, a first image of the first item captured by the first image capture unit to an operator device when the first robot arrives at the location of the first item;
receive, through the communication unit, a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image;
transmit, through the communication unit, a second image of the second item captured by the second image capture unit to the operator device when the second robot arrives at the location of the second item;
and
receive, through the communication unit, a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image;
wherein the operator device is a consumer mobile communication device.

8 more elements

A robotic logistics system, comprising:

a first robot comprising a first image capture unit;
a second robot comprising a second image capture unit;
a server comprising a control unit coupled to a communication unit, wherein the server is configured to:
transmit, through the communication unit, a location of a first item to the first robot and the location of a second item to the second robot;
track, using the control unit, a position of the first robot relative to the first item and the position of the second robot relative to the second item;
transmit, through the communication unit, a first image of the first item captured by the first image capture unit to an operator device when the first robot arrives at the location of the first item;
receive, through the communication unit, a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image;
transmit, through the communication unit, a second image of the second item captured by the second image capture unit to the operator device when the second robot arrives at the location of the second item;
and
receive, through the communication unit, a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image
wherein the server is further configured to:
determine, using the control unit, a priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item;
calculate, using the control unit, a proximity of the first robot to at least one of the first item and the second item and the proximity of the second robot to at least one of the first item and the second item;
and
transmit, through the communication unit, the location of at least one of the first item and the second item to at least one of the first robot and the second robot based on the calculation of the proximity;
and
wherein the priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item is determined from the relative profitability of a transaction for the purchase of the first item and the relative profitability of a transaction for the purchase of the second item.

14 more elements

A robotic logistics system, comprising:

a first robot comprising a first image capture unit;
a second robot comprising a second image capture unit;
a server comprising a control unit coupled to a communication unit, wherein the server is configured to:
transmit, through the communication unit, a location of a first item to the first robot and the location of a second item to the second robot;
track, using the control unit, a position of the first robot relative to the first item and the position of the second robot relative to the second item;
transmit, through the communication unit, a first image of the first item captured by the first image capture unit to an operator device when the first robot arrives at the location of the first item;
receive, through the communication unit, a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image;
transmit, through the communication unit, a second image of the second item captured by the second image capture unit to the operator device when the second robot arrives at the location of the second item;
and
receive, through the communication unit, a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image
wherein the server is further configured to:
determine, using the control unit, a priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item;
calculate, using the control unit, a proximity of the first robot to at least one of the first item and the second item and the proximity of the second robot to at least one of the first item and the second item;
and
transmit, through the communication unit, the location of at least one of the first item and the second item to at least one of the first robot and the second robot based on the calculation of the proximity;
and
wherein the priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item is determined from the membership status of a purchaser of the first item and the membership status of the purchaser of the second item.

14 more elements

A robotic logistics system, comprising:

a first robot comprising a first image capture unit;
a second robot comprising a second image capture unit;
a server comprising a control unit coupled to a communication unit, wherein the server is configured to:
transmit, through the communication unit, a location of a first item to the first robot and the location of a second item to the second robot;
track, using the control unit, a position of the first robot relative to the first item and the position of the second robot relative to the second item;
transmit, through the communication unit, a first image of the first item captured by the first image capture unit to an operator device when the first robot arrives at the location of the first item;
receive, through the communication unit, a first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image;
transmit, through the communication unit, a second image of the second item captured by the second image capture unit to the operator device when the second robot arrives at the location of the second item;
and
receive, through the communication unit, a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image
wherein the server is further configured to:
determine, using the control unit, a priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item;
calculate, using the control unit, a proximity of the first robot to at least one of the first item and the second item and the proximity of the second robot to at least one of the first item and the second item;
and
transmit, through the communication unit, the location of at least one of the first item and the second item to at least one of the first robot and the second robot based on the calculation of the proximity;
and
wherein the priority level of at least one of the first item and the second item is determined from a shipping cutoff deadline.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/749,218Filed 24 Jun 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Jun 2014
Published: US 2015/0375398 A131 Dec 2015
Granted: 2 May 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification28 codes

B25J 9/1697
Characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor…:…
B25J 5/005
Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages: mounted on endless tracks or belts
B25J 9/0084
Program-controlled manipulators: comprising a plurality of manipulators
B25J 13/08
Controls for manipulators: by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices