Abstract: A method includes: at a mobile robot, travelling according to a current path; using a sensor of the mobile robot, capturing sensor data representing a vicinity of the mobile robot; detecting, based on the sensor data, an obstacle obstructing the current path; in response to detecting the obstacle, outputting a request for a status change corresponding to the obstacle; receiving at the mobile robot, in response to the request for a status change, data defining an updated status of the obstacle; selecting, based on the updated status data, a navigational action between (i) continuing to travel according to the current path and (ii) generating a new path circumventing the obstacle; and executing the selected navigational action.

Abstract: A method includes: storing, at a mobile robot, a local repository of self-assigned task definitions; determining, at a processor of the mobile robot, that a local activity metric associated with tasks assigned to the mobile robot by a central server meets an idle criterion; in response to determining that the local activity metric meets the idle criterion, selecting, by the processor, one of the self-assigned task definitions from the local repository; and initiating execution of a self-assigned task corresponding to the selected self-assigned task definition at the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method includes: capturing, via a navigational sensor of a mobile automation apparatus, three-dimensional point cloud data depicting a portion of an aisle containing a support structure, the support structure having a forward plane facing into the aisle; generating, from the point cloud data, a two-dimensional projection in a facility coordinate system; retrieving, from a stored map, an expected location of the forward plane of the support structure in the facility coordinate system; selecting, from the projection, a subset of regions satisfying a positional criterion relative to the location of the forward plane; determining, based on the selected subset of regions from the projection, an actual location of the forward plane of the support structure in the facility coordinate system; and providing the actual location of the forward plane to a navigational controller of the mobile automation apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes: maintaining a map of occupied regions of a facility; controlling a sensor of a mobile apparatus to capture sensor data within a field of view (FOV); based on a current location of the mobile apparatus in the facility, identifying an unobservable occupied region, located outside the FOV, in the map; selecting, from the map, a first reference occupied region having a first reference identifier, and a second reference occupied region having a second reference identifier; generating a first connection score associating the unobservable occupied region with the first reference occupied region, and a second connection score associating the unobservable occupied region with the second reference occupied region; selecting a handling operation for the unobservable occupied region, based on the first and second connection scores; updating the map according to the selected handling operation; and controlling a locomotive assembly of the mobile apparatus according to the updated map.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.

Abstract: A system for facility monitoring and reporting to improve safety using one or more robots includes: a network; a plurality of autonomous mobile robots operating in a facility, the robots configured to monitor facility operation, the robots further configured to detect a predetermined critical condition, the robots operably connected to the network; a server operably connected to the robots over the network; and an individual robot operably connected to the server over the network, the individual robot operating in the facility, the robots not comprising the individual robot, the individual robot configured to monitor facility operation; wherein the robots are configured to regularly produce a regular report under normal operating conditions, the report displaying data received from the server, wherein the robots are further configured to produce to the server a critical condition report upon occurrence of the critical condition.