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US 9,996,805 B1Granted
Systems and methods for automated shipping optimization
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory Karl Lisso, Sean Maylone, Sumeet Suresh Vispute
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for automated shipping optimization are described herein. In some embodiments, items may be loaded into a receptacle. As items are loaded into a receptacle, a imaging device monitors the items in order to determine if a package is inefficiently oriented in a receptacle. If a package is inefficiently oriented in a receptacle, in some embodiments, the imaging device may send instructions to a robotic device to re-orient the inefficiently oriented item. The imaging device and robotic device, in some embodiments, can monitor multiple receptacles.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a first station comprising:
- a first item loader;
- and
- a first receptacle configured to receive items supplied by the first item loader;
- a first imaging device comprising a first camera configured to capture at least one image of a first plurality of items loaded into the first receptacle;
- a processor operable to:
- receive image information based on the at least one image from the first imaging device;
- and
- process the image information to determine that at least one item of the first plurality of items has an undesired orientation within the first receptacle;
- communications circuitry operable to send a first instruction in response to detecting the undesired orientation, the first instruction indicating a direction to change the orientation of the at least one item of the first plurality of items;
- and
- a first robotic device operable to:
- receive the first instruction;
- and
- change the orientation of the at least one item of the first plurality of items to a different orientation when loaded in the first receptacle in response to the received first instruction.
12 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- at least a second item;
- receiving the first image at a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is in a first orientation;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the second item is in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
- and
- sending, using the processor, a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented to a different orientation when loaded in the first receptacle.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- at least a second item;
- receiving the first image at a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is in a first orientation;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the second item is in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
- and
- sending, using the processor, a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented to a different orientation when loaded in the first receptacle;
- capturing, using the imaging device, in response to sending the first instruction, a second image of the first receptacle;
- and
- determining, using the processor, based on the second image, that the first item is in a desired orientation.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- at least a second item;
- receiving the first image at a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is in a first orientation;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the second item is in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
- sending, using the processor, a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented;
- sending, using the processor, prior to sending the first instruction, a second instruction to a system, the second instruction causing the system to prevent additional items from being sent to the first receptacle;
- determining, using the processor, that the robotic device has re-oriented the first item;
- and
- sending, using the processor, after sending the first instruction, a third instruction to the system, the third instruction causing the system to allow the additional items to be sent to the first receptacle.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- at least a second item;
- receiving the first image at a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is in a first orientation;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the second item is in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
- sending, using the processor, a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented;
- capturing, using the imaging device, a second image of the first receptacle;
- determining, using the processor, based on the second image, that the first item is in a different orientation than the second orientation;
- and
- sending, using the processor, a second instruction to the robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- at least a second item;
- receiving the first image at a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is in a first orientation;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the second item is in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
- sending, using the processor, a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be re-oriented;
- and
- determining, using the processor that the first item is located at a first location within the first receptacle such that the first instruction comprises the first location, the first location comprising at least:
- a depth of the first item;
- a first distance from a first side of the first receptacle;
- and
- a second distance from a second side of the first receptacle.
11 more elements
A method comprising:
- capturing, using an imaging device, a first image of a first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising:
- a first item;
- and
- a first layer of items;
- transmitting the first image to a processor;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first item is on top of the first layer of items;
- determining, using the processor, based on the first image, that the first layer of items comprises empty space;
- and
- sending, using the processor a first instruction to a robotic device such that the robotic device causes the first item to be moved.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.