Abstract: A method and a system for traversing a planned path in a marked facility are provided. A transport vehicle transits from a first location to a second location in the marked facility for traversing the planned path. The first and second locations are indicated by first and second location markers, respectively. The transport vehicle records a movement pattern of the transport vehicle, while transiting from the first location to the second location. The transport vehicle halts at an intermediate location when the transport vehicle fails to detect the second location marker at the second location. A first path traversed to reach the intermediate location from the first location is retraced by the transport vehicle based on the recorded movement pattern. On reaching the first location, the transport vehicle re-attempts to transit from the first location to the second location.

Abstract: A method for facilitating operations in storage facilities. A server receives a service request for performing a first operation in the storage facility. The server identifies a first storage unit based on the service request. The server identifies an operation zone of the first storage unit for performing the first operation. The server determines an ergonomic score for each operator for performing the first operation based on characteristics of the operation zone and the fatigue level of the corresponding operator. The server allocates the first storage unit to a first operator for performing the first operation, based on the determined ergonomic scores, thereby ensuring an increased throughput of the storage facility.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for transporting payloads is provided. The transport vehicle includes primary and secondary chassis, and first and second sets of wheels for supporting the respective primary and secondary chassis. A guide arrangement is mounted on the primary chassis and the secondary chassis is slidably mounted on the guide arrangement. The primary and secondary chassis are parallel and spaced apart from each other. A payload lifting arrangement is positioned on a top surface of the secondary chassis to lift a payload. When a weight of the payload is below or equal to a threshold weight, the weight is distributed across the second set of wheels by way of the suspension arrangement. When the weight of the payload exceeds the threshold weight, the weight is distributed across the first and second sets of wheels by way of the guide arrangement and the suspension arrangement, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing a battery having a plurality of cells connected in series. The system includes a plurality of reactive charge transfer units connected with the plurality of cells, a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit is configured to determine a state of charge of the plurality of cells, determine a reference value associated with the battery, identify an overcharged cell or a discharged cell in the battery, and determine a charge differential between state of charge of the overcharged cell or the discharged cell and the reference value associated with the battery. The second control unit is configured to arrange charge transfer between the overcharged cell or the discharged cell, and remaining pack of cells in the battery. The first and the second control units are configured to function iteratively until cell balancing is attained.

Abstract: A hybrid gripper that is used as end effector of a robotic manipulator for handling objects that are arranged in top, middle, and bottom shelves of a storage unit. The hybrid gripper may include first and second end effectors, where the first end effector is pivotally coupled to the second end effector. The first end effector includes a first longitudinal support member and an axle member that telescopically moves in and out of the first longitudinal support member. The axle member is attached to a gripper assembly that houses first and second suction cups to grip and pick the objects. The second end effector includes a second longitudinal support member and a spatula that is rotatably attached to the second longitudinal support member. Here, the spatula and the first longitudinal support member move relative to the second longitudinal support member.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and a corresponding method for performing warehouse zoning and further monitoring the zoned warehouse. The apparatus includes circuitry that partitions a workspace into a plurality of zones based on an area of the workspace, and a number of transportation vehicles and a number of item racks that are to be deployed in the workspace. A location of each zone within the workspace is determined based on a location of a first type of station that is disposed outside the workspace. The apparatus determines for each zone, an area of the zone and receives a signal indicating occurrence of an event in one of the zones. Further, the apparatus determines a degree of criticality of the occurred event which indicates whether workspace operation in the zone can be continued, and initiates an operation at a timing that is based on the determined degree of criticality.

Abstract: A robotic manipulator for handling an object is provided. The robotic manipulator includes a first robotic arm and a first end effector coupled to the first robotic arm. A movement of the first robotic arm orients the first end effector with respect to the object. The robotic manipulator includes a housing, a first conveyor operably coupled to the housing, a second conveyor operably coupled to the housing at an angle with respect to the first conveyor, and a first actuation mechanism. The first and second conveyors are arranged to form a top surface and the bottom surface respectively of a spatula-shaped base. The first actuation mechanism operates the first and second conveyors in one of a first direction and a second direction to manipulate the object. The operation of the first conveyor is independent of the operation of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing a battery having a plurality of cells connected in series. The system includes a plurality of reactive charge transfer units connected with the plurality of cells, a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit is configured to determine a state of charge of the plurality of cells, determine a reference value associated with the battery, identify an overcharged cell or a discharged cell in the battery, and determine a charge differential between state of charge of the overcharged cell or the discharged cell and the reference value associated with the battery. The second control unit is configured to arrange charge transfer between the overcharged cell or the discharged cell, and remaining pack of cells in the battery. The first and the second control units are configured to function iteratively until cell balancing is attained.

Abstract: A method for transporting a payload in a storage facility is provided. A structural arrangement that is to be formed at a first location for lifting the payload is determined. The payload is associated with a plurality of fiducial markers. Based on the structural arrangement, a plurality of transport vehicles are selected for transporting the payload to a second location. A path that is to be traversed by the plurality of transport vehicles for transporting the payload is determined. A plurality of instructions are communicated to the plurality of transport vehicles to reach at a respective fiducial marker of the plurality of fiducial markers. Based on the plurality of instructions, the plurality of transport vehicles reach at the respective fiducial markers and form the determined structural arrangement. For transporting the payload, the plurality of transport vehicles move in sync along the determined path, while maintaining the determined structural arrangement.

Abstract: A method and a system for transporting inventory in a storage facility is provided. The system includes an inventory storage unit (ISU) and a transport vehicle. The ISU includes a base shelf, and a plurality of support plates mounted below the base shelf. The transport vehicle includes a top plate and a control device that controls movement of the top plate. Upon actuation of an interlocking mechanism of the transport vehicle that is aligned beneath the ISU, the top plate is lifted to a first height and then rotated for engaging the top plate with the support plates of the ISU. The engaged top plate is further lifted to a second height to lift the ISU off the work floor of a storage facility. Upon lifting the ISU, the transport vehicle transports the ISU to another location in the storage facility.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing movement of transport vehicles in a storage facility is provided. A server determines first and second paths in the storage facility to be traversed by first and second transport vehicles, respectively. The server identifies a common path that corresponds to an overlap between the first and second paths. The server determines a safe distance to be maintained between the first and second transport vehicles, for avoiding a collision therebetween, when the first and second transport vehicles traverse the common path in the same direction. The server communicates a message, indicative of the safe distance, to the second transport vehicle for synchronizing movement of the first and second transport vehicles. Based on the message, the second transport vehicle follows the first transport vehicle along the common path and maintains a distance greater than or equal to the safe distance from the first transport vehicle.

Abstract: A control server controls a dual-arm robotic manipulator (DARM) for handling deformable objects in a stack. The control server receives a set of images of the stack captured by a set of image sensors, and determines a contour of the stack based the set of images. Based on the contour and historical data associated with the deformable objects in the stack, the control server determines a sequence of actions to be performed by the DARM for handling a first deformable object in the stack, and controls the DARM to handle the first deformable object by communicating a set of commands corresponding to each action in sequence of actions. The first deformable object is handled such that original form factors of the first deformable object and the remaining stack are maintained.

Abstract: Described herein is a lifting device for raising and lowering a contact member. The lifting device includes an actuator configured to move the contact member between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein in a first mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator moves the contact member from the lowered position to the raised position without rotating the contact member about a reference axis, and in a second mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator permits rotational motion of the contact member about the reference axis from the raised position to a modified raised position.

Abstract: A method and a system for traversing a planned path in a marked facility are provided. A transport vehicle transits from a first location to a second location in the marked facility for traversing the planned path. The first and second locations are indicated by first and second location markers, respectively. The transport vehicle records a movement pattern of the transport vehicle, while transiting from the first location to the second location. The transport vehicle halts at an intermediate location when the transport vehicle fails to detect the second location marker at the second location. A first path traversed to reach the intermediate location from the first location is retraced by the transport vehicle based on the recorded movement pattern. On reaching the first location, the transport vehicle re-attempts to transit from the first location to the second location.

Abstract: A method and a system for transporting inventory in a storage facility is provided. The system includes an inventory storage unit (ISU) and a transport vehicle. The ISU includes a base shelf, and a plurality of support plates mounted below the base shelf. The transport vehicle includes a top plate and a control device that controls movement of the top plate. Upon actuation of an interlocking mechanism of the transport vehicle that is aligned beneath the ISU, the top plate is lifted to a first height and then rotated for engaging the top plate with the support plates of the ISU. The engaged top plate is further lifted to a second height to lift the ISU off the work floor of a storage facility. Upon lifting the ISU, the transport vehicle transports the ISU to another location in the storage facility.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for transporting payloads is provided. The transport vehicle includes primary and secondary chassis, and first and second sets of wheels for supporting the respective primary and secondary chassis. A guide arrangement is mounted on the primary chassis and the secondary chassis is slidably mounted on the guide arrangement. The primary and secondary chassis are parallel and spaced apart from each other. A payload lifting arrangement is positioned on a top surface of the secondary chassis to lift a payload. When a weight of the payload is below or equal to a threshold weight, the weight is distributed across the second set of wheels by way of the suspension arrangement. When the weight of the payload exceeds the threshold weight, the weight is distributed across the first and second sets of wheels by way of the guide arrangement and the suspension arrangement, respectively.

Abstract: An order consolidation system includes an operation station including a plurality of bins, an identification mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and control circuitry. The control circuitry selects a set of master packages of an item for fulfilling a set of order lines for the item. The control circuitry identifies one or more master packages from the set of master packages that are to be split at unit level. The one or more master packages are conveyed by the conveying mechanism to a first bin that is selected as segregation bin by the identification mechanism for splitting into individual units and segregating into batches. Remaining packages, of the set of master packages, and the batches are conveyed by the conveying mechanism to a second bin that is selected as consolidation bin by the identification mechanism for consolidating into one or more order line packages for fulfilling the set of order lines.

Abstract: Described herein are an apparatus and a method for controlling movement of a vehicle along a transportation path. The method includes receiving, by circuitry of an information processing apparatus, first marker information that is generated based on a first marker being detected by the vehicle, wherein the first marker being one of a plurality of markers located at predetermined positions. The circuitry further determines a second marker of the plurality of markers to which the vehicle is to be moved from the first marker and thereafter generates first control information to control movement of the vehicle from the first marker to the second marker based on the first marker information and pre-determined navigation information associated with the first marker, wherein the predetermined navigation information indicates the location of the second marker relative to the first marker. The circuitry further transmits the first control system station information to the vehicle.