Abstract: A method is provided for delivering source containers, via a mobile robotic container delivery system, to a first shelf and a second shelf, and in a particular order. Each source container has a position on one of the first shelf or the second shelf. The method includes delivering recipient containers on a floor level below the first shelf, wherein each container of the recipient containers is configured on a respective mobile robot, providing instructions to a user to retrieve an item from a first respective source container on one of the first shelf or the second shelf, moving a respective first recipient container on its respective first mobile robot out from underneath the first shelf to receive the item retrieved from the respective first source container and receiving a confirmation that the item has been retrieved from the respective first source container and placed appropriately.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more fluid actuated devices; e.g., actuators such as hydraulic cylinders. A method is provided, for example, involving actuation fluid, a first actuator and a second actuator. During this method, a quantity of the actuation fluid within the second actuator is pressurized using a quantity of the actuation fluid within the first actuator.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of autonomously operating a vehicle. The method provides at least two cameras in operable communication with the vehicle for providing substantially similar views relative to the vehicle. The at least two cameras receive information relating to the views. The method also provides a laser in operable communication with the vehicle for selectively shining a single discrete mark on at least a portion of the views provided by the at least two cameras. Further, the method determines whether the information received by the at least two cameras is ambiguous regarding the views. The method activates the laser on at least a portion of the views based on whether the information received by the at least two cameras is ambiguous.

Abstract: Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a system including a first depot and a first mobile robot at a first site and a second depot and a second mobile robot at a second site. A centralized control system manages asynchronous delivery of items through the first depot and the second depot such that the first mobile robot can retrieve an item from the first depot and deliver the item to a transportation systems for transition to the second site, such that the second depot at the second site can, in an asynchronous fashion, receive the item and deliver the item to the second mobile robot for transportation to the ultimate destination at the second site. Two or more sites can be coordinated by the centralized control system for management of movement of items through a supply chain using asynchronous item delivery and movement through each respective site to an ultimate destination.

Abstract: Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling torsional rotation and/or stiffness of a member by the use of artificial style activation elements.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for picking at least one item is provided. The method includes providing at least one container, the container at least containing a plurality of substantially the same items randomly arranged within the container, providing at least one mechanism for collecting at least one item from the container, enabling the mechanism to roughly determine the position of the mechanism with respect to the items in the container utilizing the least amount of power, moving the mechanism so that it is at least in close proximity to the items in the container, collecting at least one item in the container with the mechanism, moving the mechanism and the collected at least one item at least a predetermined distance away from the remaining non-collected items in the container and determining the number of items collected by the mechanism utilizing the least amount of power.

Abstract: Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. In one method, a mobile robot performs a hospitality service for a guest of a hospitality business. The mobile robot is operated at the hospitality business.

Abstract: A mobile robot is provided for use in an operating environment. The mobile robot may include a mobile robot base, a conveyor system and a drive system. The conveyor system may be supported by the mobile robot base. The conveyor system may include a conveyor belt configured to receive an item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot. The conveyor system may be configured to support the item during movement of the mobile robot within the operating environment. The drive system may be arranged with the mobile robot base. The drive system may be configured to move the mobile robot within the operating environment and position the conveyor system such that the conveyor belt is operable to receive the item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method includes operating, at an initial stage, a fully automated warehouse in which robots handle in an automated way the transfer of items from container to container on an automated basis and receiving an indication of a change in needed throughput through the warehouse. When a spike exceeds a completely automated system threshold, the method implements a hybrid operation for the warehouse, such that (1) the movement of drawer swapping robots and low-profile room robots is modified to create a pre-staging operation in preparation for humans to participate in the process, (2) scheduling humans at particular times to take their turn in manually managing the movement of items from source containers to destination containers. The method includes causing a pre-staging event to occur such that source containers and destination containers can be pre-stage and for the characteristics of the worker.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for monitoring a plurality of articles that are arranged on a support surface according to an article arrangement modeled with a first processing device. One of the methods includes receiving image data generated from the modeled article arrangement. The image data is received by a second processing device, and is indicative of an image of the arranged articles on the support surface. The received image data is used to inspect the arranged articles.