Patents by Inventor Amit Kalra

Amit Kalra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200207250
    Abstract: A system and method for automated loading of delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles is described. In an example implementation, a loading coordination engine may determine a delivery destination of a first item based on item data associated with the first item, assign the first item to a location in a delivery vehicle, and generate a task list including an instruction to an automated guided vehicle to position the first item in the delivery vehicle based on the assigned location in the delivery vehicle. In some instances, the automated guided vehicle may navigate to a loading area to retrieve the first item from the loading area, navigate to a point proximate to the assigned location in the delivery vehicle, and place the first item at the assigned location based on the task list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
  • Publication number: 20200198894
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10683171
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10589931
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20190220804
    Abstract: A technology for managing space utilization using self-adjusting inventory slots is described. In an example embodiment, a system comprises a shelving unit including a shelf, and a shelf adjustment system including an electronic display strip extending parallel with the shelf of the shelving unit. The electronic display strip may display a first visual representation of a first adjustable inventory slot horizontally adjacent to a second visual representation of a second adjustable inventory slot, the first visual representation indicating a first portion of the shelf as the first adjustable inventory slot for a first item, and the second visual representation indicating a second portion of the shelf as the second adjustable inventory slot for a second item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Vishal Musunuri, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
  • Publication number: 20180127211
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20180127212
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20180089612
    Abstract: Technology for optimizing automated inventory management is described. In an example implementation, a method, implemented using one or more computing devices, may generate unit identifier sets based on affinities between items uniquely identified by the unit identifiers, determine first and second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, and calculate a difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets. The method may further calculate an incremental carton and expense prevention opportunity (ICEPO) value for the unit identifier sets, calculate an adjusted fulfillment center stocking score using the ICEPO value and the difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, select a subset of the unit identifier sets based on the adjusted fulfillment center stocking score, and output the subset to an inventory replenishment system that manages stocking of items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Amit Kalra, Maimuna Rangwala, Ehsan Ardjmand, Christine DeJesse