Abstract: A warehousing system includes a control terminal and a robot. The control terminal is configured to send a first control instruction including running path information to the robot. The robot is configured to carry a first material, move in a running path according to the running path information, and transport the first material to a conveyor line. The conveyor line includes at least one conveyor line inlet and at least one conveyor line outlet. The robot is configured to dock with the conveyor line and place the first material on the conveyor line at the at least one conveyor line inlet. The running path includes a first path section passes through the at least one conveyor line inlet, a second path section passes through the at least one conveyor line outlet and a third path section connected between the first path section and the second path section.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that identifies a source area within a facility comprising a plurality of objects, and determines a destination area within the facility to which the plurality of objects are to be transported and unloaded. The system selects robots within the facility based a capability of the robots and/or a location of the robots within the facility. The system provides an instruction to the robots to transport the plurality of objects from the source area to the destination area. The robots are configured to autonomously select an object based on a position and location of the object within the source area, transport the selected object to a destination area along a route selected by the robot, and unload the selected object at a location within the destination area selected based on a number of objects yet to be unloaded within the destination area.

Abstract: A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer.

Abstract: A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails. Moving the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first motion mode to position the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is turned over a corner of the intersection that is accessible from the first position and that includes continuous rails connecting a vertical track and a horizontal track, whereby positioning the pinion-driven lift-robot in a second position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is moved in a second motion mode towards a designated direction.

Abstract: A sequencing system and a robotic storage and picking system include a plurality of containers disposed in stacks beneath a grid having a first set of tracks and second set of tracks, the first and second sets of tracks being disposed substantially perpendicular to each other. Plural load handling devices are operable on the grid, the load handling devices lifting and depositing containers from and to the stacks. The load handling devices can deposit containers on to conveyor belts into predetermined positions, the positions being fillable in any random order and multiple positions being fillable at any one time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for flexible container pods for use with robotic systems. In one embodiment, an example flexible container pod may include a center plate having a plurality of apertures, a first member coupled to an upper end of the center plate, a second member coupled to the upper end of the center plate, and a base coupled to the center plate. The flexible container pod may include a first net extending from the first member to the base, a second net extending from the second member to the base, a first shelf member coupled to the first net, and a second shelf member coupled to the second net. A container can be removably positioned on the first shelf member and the second shelf member.

Abstract: A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a retrieval conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the retrieval conveyance system for receiving the storage bins from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination bins.

Abstract: A method of notifying personnel in an operating room of a potential hazard comprising, at a computing system: capturing at least one image of the operating room by at least one camera that can detect light outside of a visible spectrum; determining that at least one potential hazard is in the operating room based on analysis of the at least one image; and in response to determining that the at least one potential hazard is in the operating room, generating at least one notification for notifying the personnel in the operating room that there is the at least one potential hazard in the operating room.

Abstract: An example luggage processing station comprises: an injector adapted to receive a piece of luggage, the injector comprising an injector conveyor belt integrated into a floor of the injector; a group of sensors positioned around the injector directed towards the injector conveyor belt; a controller adapted to assess the piece of luggage compared to an acceptance parameter whilst the piece of luggage is stationary on the injector conveyor belt; and the controller is configured to actuate the injector conveyor belt when the controller assesses the piece of luggage as meeting the acceptance parameter.

Abstract: An example processing station for registering a passenger's luggage for a trip is provided, the processing station comprising: an injector for receiving a piece of luggage associated with the passenger; at least one sensor associated with the injector for sensing whether the dimensions of the piece of luggage exceed a predetermined limit; a weighing machine associated with the injector for weighing the piece of luggage whilst in the injector; a controller associated with the at least one sensor and weighing machine, the controller being adapted to accept the piece of luggage if feedback from the at least one sensor and weighing machine indicate that dimensions and weight of the piece of luggage are within respective predetermined limits; and an injector conveyor in the floor of the injector for conveying the piece of luggage in a first direction, if accepted, to a downstream collector conveyor system.

Abstract: A customisable, modular storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. The stacks are contained within towers formed of stacks of bin receiving units. A grid network of tracks is provided on the top of the bin receiving units upon which load handling devices run. The load handling 30 devices take containers from the stacks and deposit them at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out.

Abstract: A package sort cell includes a robot with an end of arm tool for transporting packages from an in-feed conveyor to a selected one of a plurality of out-feed conveyors or bins, the robot receiving instruction from the package reader as to which of the plurality of conveyors or bins to hand-off the package. An end of arm tool may be in the configuration of a conveyor which may be aligned with the out-feed conveyor on a bottom up movement. The end of arm tool may also be in the configuration of a hanging carriage frame suspending a conveyor in a top down movement. A worker platform may be provided which may be movable between in-use and out-of-use positions whereby upon robot downtime, the platform may move into the in-use position for a worker to temporarily takeover the transfer functions of the robot. A plurality of sort cells may be arranged in side by side relation adjacent a like plurality of package delivery points (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for sorting a wide variety of packages, including, but not limited to, parcels, mail pieces, bundles, and other similar items. Embodiments of the invention specifically relate to interchangeable sorting modules with sort stations that may be used to quickly and accurately sort packages of varying shapes and sizes. Additional embodiments of the invention relate to a control architecture for operating the aforementioned interchangeable sorting modules. Such control architecture may comprise a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling each of the interchangeable sorting modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for commanding, controlling, and guiding automated guided vehicles (“AGVs”). Automated systems translate AGV commands according to AGV manufacturers. AGVs can be summoned and destinations be determined automatically.

Abstract: A gripper for a transport system of a picking device having horizontal storage surfaces for storing and dispensing small piece goods of different shapes and/or surface properties is provided. The gripper comprises a drop table extending in first and a second horizontal directions and having a storage and dispensing end face. Two elongated gripping jaws are arranged above the drop table extending in the first horizontal direction, and are fastened to a gripping jaw guide arrangement. At least one of the gripping jaws is movable in the second horizontal direction and at least one of the gripping jaws has a gripper coupler in its end portion facing away from the gripping jaw guide arrangement, and at least one transport attachment with an attachment coupler. The gripper and attachment couplers interact so that a transport attachment is releasably fixed at an end portion of a gripping jaw.

Abstract: Method for adjusting a transport vehicle for a container handling system, where the transport vehicle comprises two oppositely disposed secondary parts which can be driven electromagnetically as an armature by way of a linear motor system of the container handling system, wherein in a device for adjusting, a first magnetic force of the first secondary part is determined with a sensor, in that a second magnetic force of the second secondary part is determined with the sensor; and in that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are compared with one another and/or with at least one reference force, and the two secondary parts are adjusted based thereon at the transport vehicle in such a way that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are of the same magnitude.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for supplying one or more goods to a physical store location. The goods may be received at a distribution center (DC). At the DC, the goods may be decanted from their shipping containers into one or more sub-totes, which are contained within one or more product totes. The sub-totes may be transferred from the one or more product totes to one or more order totes based on a velocity of movement of the plurality of goods at the physical store location.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a system for identifying products on a production line includes image capturing devices that acquire images of containers moving along a production line at an inspection location. The system also includes a rejection device and a controller that configures the image capturing devices for image acquisition based on properties of the containers, identifies a product associated with each of the containers based on a portion of a product identification code and a portion of additional features detected in the images, and determines whether the identified product matches predetermined properties or characteristics, resulting in a pass result, otherwise a non-pass result occurs. When a non-pass result occurs, the controller outputs a signal to actuate the rejection device that removes the container from the production line.

Abstract: Systems, method and computer readable medium are provided for automated storage and retrieval. User authentication information is received via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device. The user identity is verified based upon the authentication information and previously stored authentication data. Order information is retrieved for an order associated with the user following the verifying of user identity, the order information indicating one or more locations for items associated with the order. Instructions are transmitted to initiate a physical opening of at least one of the dynamic storage and retrieval device and at least one static storage location to enable the user to retrieve at least one item of the order, the static storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device.

Abstract: A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.