Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for autonomous vehicle operation, in which a processor is configured to receive sensor data collected by a first sensor of a first autonomous vehicle during navigation of the first autonomous vehicle through a particular location and prior to a control signal subsequently generated by a controller of the first autonomous vehicle; determine based on the sensor data an event that triggered the control signal. A communication device coupled to the processor is configured to transmit to a second autonomous vehicle an instruction, based on the determined event, to adjust sensor data collected by a second sensor of the second autonomous vehicle during navigation of the second autonomous vehicle in the particular location.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for autonomous vehicle operation. A computing system can include a communication device configured to receive a plurality of event signals from at least a first autonomous vehicle that is traversing a path, and a processor in electrical communication with the communication device and configured to determine whether the event signals are indicative of an obstacle in a portion of the path. The communication device can be configured to receive, from at least a second autonomous vehicle, at least one characteristic of the obstacle captured by at least one sensor of the second autonomous vehicle, and transmit, to at least a third autonomous vehicle, at least one task to clear the obstacle from the portion of the path. The processor can be configured to determine, based on the characteristic of the obstacle, the at least one task to be transmitted by the communication device.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying an available product for an unavailable product to minimize a deviation or distance from an original planned pick path. A computer can transmit instructions corresponding to a path through a location where products are stored to collect a plurality of products stored at locations along the path. In response to receiving a notification for a particular product that the particular product is not at the location where it is stored, the computer can modify the path to include a location of a substitute product for the particular product. The computer can identify a substitute product for the particular product based on a distance from a location of the one more available products to a location along the path and determine a revised path with the substitute product. The path can be revised to include the location for the available product.

Abstract: Example systems, methods, and apparatus to optimize autonomous vehicle workflows are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; instructions; and a processor to execute the instructions to determine an expected arrival time for an autonomous vehicle at a first location, the autonomous vehicle to deliver a first product to the first location in response to a first task assigned to the autonomous vehicle, the first product associated with a first order; perform a comparison between the expected arrival time for the autonomous vehicle and an expected arrival time associated with a second task; select a third task to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based on the comparison, the third task selected for having the autonomous vehicle arrive at the first location after performance of the third task within a threshold time of the expected arrival time; and instruct the autonomous vehicle to perform the third task.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying an available product for an unavailable product to minimize a deviation or distance from an original planned pick path. A computer can transmit instructions corresponding to a path through a location where products are stored to collect a plurality of products stored at locations along the path. In response to receiving a notification for a particular product that the particular product is not at the location where it is stored, the computer can modify the path to include a location of a substitute product for the particular product. The computer can identify a substitute product for the particular product based on a distance from a location of the one more available products to a location along the path and determine a revised path with the substitute product. The path can be revised to include the location for the available product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making autonomous vehicle handover decisions are described. A handover decision involves deciding if an autonomous vehicle should be handed off from one worker to another worker. The methods allow for decisions to be made in real or near real time shortly before an autonomous vehicle changes location. Worker time, if a handover is not implemented, is considered including the amount of worker time involved with the worker moving with the autonomous vehicle to the new location as compared to a new worker meeting the autonomous vehicle at the new location or on the way to the new location. Handover decisions can consider worker distribution and/or order priority. Such factors can be used to weight one or more time based cost values with a cost value representation of the cost if a handover is not implemented vs implementing a handover being compared to make the handover decision.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for dynamically re-routing a pick path to an alternate pick location in response to identifying a shorted product at a pick location. The dynamic decision to re-route an autonomous vehicle is based on completion scores representing a likelihood of completing order in an autonomous vehicle, a maximum remaining time, an additional pick time, and order priorities. Based on various weights for factors of the orders, a system may re-route the autonomous vehicle to fulfill a shorted order at an alternate location when no orders have a high likelihood of completion, the additional pick time associated with re-routing the autonomous vehicle to the alternate pick location is less than the maximum remaining time for each order on the autonomous vehicle, and/or none of the orders on the autonomous vehicle have a higher priority than the shorted order.

Abstract: A warehouse automation system adapted to improve warehouse operating productivity includes a plurality of carts for transporting products within a warehouse and a controller. The controller is adapted to associate a first one of the plurality of carts with a first person and to control the first cart to lead the first person around the warehouse. According to one advantage, the time the first person spends restocking, picking, counting, sorting, moving, and packing product into customer orders and shipments, for example, is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically reprioritizing pick jobs in a fulfillment center are described herein. The example systems can be configured to periodically classify pick jobs in order to optimize throughput of the fulfillment center. The classifying can include determining an estimated completion time for pick jobs and identifying at-risk jobs that may complete after their associated due dates. The at-risk jobs can be assigned to autonomous vehicles based primarily on their associated due dates. Other pick jobs that are not at-risk can be assigned to autonomous vehicles based primarily on efficiency. The at-risk pick jobs can be assigned to autonomous vehicles before the other pick jobs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using kits as a source of inventory in a fulfillment center are described herein. The example systems can be configured to receive a determination to use a kit as a source of a first item, where the kit comprises the first item and a second item. The determination can be based on a low inventory threshold for the first item as well as order data for the first item and the kit. The systems can identify the kit location and create a kit disassembly pick job. The kit disassembly pick job can identify the kit location and provide instructions for disassembling the kit. The systems can transmit the kit disassembly pick job to an autonomous vehicle for completion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making autonomous vehicle handover decisions are described. A handover decision involves deciding if an autonomous vehicle should be handed off from one worker to another worker. The methods allow for decisions to be made in real or near real time shortly before an autonomous vehicle changes location. Worker time, if a handover is not implemented, is considered including the amount of worker time involved with the worker moving with the autonomous vehicle to the new location as compared to a new worker meeting the autonomous vehicle at the new location or on the way to the new location. Handover decisions can consider worker distribution and/or order priority. Such factors can be used to weight one or more time based cost values with a cost value representation of the cost if a handover is not implemented vs implementing a handover being compared to make the handover decision.

Abstract: Systems for collision avoidance by an autonomous vehicle include a navigational controller adapted to (i) control a driving path of the autonomous vehicle, (ii) process sensor signals from a first sensor system, and (iii) determine whether an object is present in the driving path of the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor signals from the first sensor system. The systems can also include a processor, operationally independent from the navigational controller, adapted to (a) process sensor signals from a second sensor system and (b) determine whether an object is present in the driving path of the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor signals from the second sensor system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for managing exceptions to orders collected by autonomous vehicles. The exemplary systems may be configured to receive an indication of an exception that at least one item for an order cannot be collected with a first autonomous vehicle carrying a container associated with the order and determine a reconfigured path for the first vehicle responsive to receiving the indication of the exception. The reconfigured path may include a stop at a storage location configured to store containers associated with the exception. The systems may be configured to receive an indication that the container was removed from the first vehicle and deposited at the storage location, transmit an instruction to a second autonomous vehicle to collect the at least one item for the order, and receive an indication that the at least one item has been matched with the container deposited at the storage location.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making autonomous vehicle handover decisions are described. A handover decision involves deciding if an autonomous vehicle should be handed off from one worker to another worker. The methods allow for decisions to be made in real or near real time shortly before an autonomous vehicle changes location. Worker time, if a handover is not implemented, is considered including the amount of worker time involved with the worker moving with the autonomous vehicle to the new location as compared to a new worker meeting the autonomous vehicle at the new location or on the way to the new location. Handover decisions can consider worker distribution and/or order priority. Such factors can be used to weight one or more time based cost values with a cost value representation of the cost if a handover is not implemented vs implementing a handover being compared to make the handover decision.

Abstract: A warehouse automation system adapted to improve warehouse operating productivity includes a plurality of carts for transporting products within a warehouse and a controller. The controller is adapted to associate a first one of the plurality of carts with a first person and to control the first cart to lead the first person around the warehouse. According to one advantage, the time the first person spends restocking, picking, counting, sorting, moving, and packing product into customer orders and shipments, for example, is reduced.