Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for use with mobile modular displays. An apparatus for product display comprises a housing of a mobile modular display, a wheel system coupled to the housing and configured to travel on the ground and provide mobility to the housing, a plurality of shelf spaces configured to hold a plurality of types of products in a specified arrangement during transport and display the plurality of types of products for customer selection and purchase on a sales floor of a store location, and a location device coupled to the housing, a control circuit coupled to the housing and configured to determine a location of the housing based on the location device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for managing residual mobile display inventory. A system for managing a store inventory comprises a plurality of mobile modular displays, a mobile modular display inventory database, and a control circuit coupled to the mobile modular display inventory database and configured to: track, in the mobile modular display inventory database, inventory levels of mobile modular displays in a store location, detect a modular display replacement condition, cause a replacement mobile modular display to be deployed to replace the at least one mobile modular display on at a sales floor of the store location in response to detecting the modular display replacement condition, and determine a residual handling instruction selected from a plurality of residual handling methods for the residual products, and communicate the residual handling instruction to a user interface device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for managing mobile modular displays. A system for store management comprises a plurality of mobile modular displays, a store layout database; and a control circuit coupled to the store layout database and configured to: determine a store layout of the store location based on products assigned to mobile modular displays assigned to the store location, the store layout comprising in-store locations for the mobile modular displays assigned to the store location, aggregate location information from the mobile modular displays on display in the store location, compare the store layout associated with the store location in the store layout database and the location information of the mobile modular displays, and in an event that a discrepancy is detected between the store layout and the location information, generate a layout correction alert for the store location.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for stocking a store. A system for stocking a store comprises a plurality of mobile modular displays, a store inventory database, and a control circuit. The control circuit configured to detect a modular display replacement condition at a store location selling products on a plurality of deployed mobile modular displays, select a plurality of products to stock a mobile modular display based on a sales history of the store location and a current inventory of the store location, determine a planogram for the plurality of products selected for the mobile modular display, and output an instruction to a stocking system to stock the mobile modular display with the plurality of products in the plurality of shelf spaces according to the planogram and to transport the mobile modular display to the store location for display.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for facilitating delivery, via unmanned aerial vehicles, of products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a customer-selected physical location of a person other than the customer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to autonomously completing a task. In some embodiments, a drone comprises a propulsion mechanism, an attachment point configured to releasably receive and secure at least one tool to the drone, a plurality of sensors configured to detect information regarding a performance of the task by the drone when a particular tool is secured to the attachment point, and a control circuit configured to receive the information regarding the performance of the task by the drone, determine that the performance of the task is inadequate, and in response to a determination that the performance of the task is inadequate, at least one of (a) select a new tool with which to perform the task to replace the particular tool and (b) transmit a notification indicating that a new drone is needed to perform the task using the particular tool.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a motorized transport unit providing customer assistance at a shopping facility, comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; a motorized wheel system; a lift system; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: activate a motorized wheel system, while continuing to monitor location information, to position the motorized transport unit under the item container and aligned, based on the location information, relative to a frame of the item container; and activate the lift system to lift on the frame of the item container lifting a first portion of the item container such one or more wheels of the item container are lifted off of a floor while two or more other wheels of the item container remain in contact with the floor.

Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.

Abstract: Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for autonomously delivering lockers. In some embodiments, a system comprises a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising a storage area, a docking station including a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to secure at least one locker, wherein the docking station is located within the storage area, and a retrieval point, a plurality of lockers each configured to house at least one product, a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker, and a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker, and cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for receiving and storing delivered items. In some embodiments, a secured delivery locker is described herein that can communicate with delivery vehicles and/or users. In several embodiments, an autonomous delivery vehicle can communicate with a secured delivery locker to authenticate itself. The secured delivery locker can then grant access to the delivery vehicle, such as by opening a door to an interior thereof, so that the delivery vehicle can deposit a package therein. The locker can then confirm receipt of the package and close the door. Thereafter, the locker and/or the delivery vehicle can update a system to indicate that the package was delivered.

Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system, wherein the central computer system comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: receive an override command, from a worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions; confirm a valid authorization of the worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to selecting tools and drones for completing a task. In some embodiments, the system comprises an autonomous vehicle configured to transport the tools and the drones including a plurality of sensors configured to detect properties of the tools and the drones, the drones, the tools, and a control circuit configured to receive, from the sensors, indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, select, based on the service requests and the indications of the properties of the tools and the drones, at least one of the tools and at least one of the drones to perform at least one of the service requests, cause the at least one of the drones to be equipped with the at least one of the tools, and transmit instructions that are based on the at least one of the service requests.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods of labeling products are provided. An item representing one unit of a consumer product may be labeled with a unique label via automatically generating a random identifier unique to the item, associating the generated random identifier with the item in a record of an electronic database, creating a label comprising a substrate and the random identifier, and applying the label to the item. Products labeled with unique identifiers via such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments include systems, methods, and apparatuses capable of determining a leader of a group of autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a system of autonomous vehicles comprises two or more autonomous vehicles each having a communication device and in communication with one another, each of the two or more autonomous vehicles configured to travel as a group, receive and transport goods, communicate with others of the two or more autonomous vehicles in the group, and conduct a negotiation to establish at least one leader, wherein any one of the two or more autonomous vehicles can become the at least one leader.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are configured to track palletized products. Some embodiments comprise: a first array of sensors positioned relative to multiple products collectively arranged on a first transport pallet configured to support the multiple products while being transported; a wirelessly transceiver; and a pallet control circuit communicatively coupled with the wireless transceiver and the first array of sensors, wherein the pallet control circuit is configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors of the first array of sensors, determine a condition of one or more products of the multiple products at least as the multiple products are transported based on the sensor data, and cause condition information to be wirelessly transmitted to a separate notification system configured to provide notification to a worker regarding the condition of the one or more products.

Abstract: A housing contains a plurality of motorized transport units in a stacked relationship to one another, with a bottom-most one of the plurality of motorized transport units serving as a locomotion mechanism that selectively causes movement of the housing with the plurality of motorized transport units contained therein. By one approach the aforementioned housing has a cylindrical form factor and includes a cylindrically-shaped chamber configured to receive the motorized transport units. By one approach, for example, this housing includes no lifting mechanism to lift any of the motorized transport units into itself and further has no integral locomotion mechanism by which the housing can move itself. The interior of the housing can include at least one track formed therein to receive a corresponding part of each of the plurality of motorized transport units which the motorized transport units can engage to thereby lift themselves into the interior of the housing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided that limit the change in temperature and/or control a temperature of a product during delivery. Some embodiments provide systems comprising an unmanned delivery vehicle (UDV) comprising: a body comprising a nanotechnology insulation material, wherein the nanotechnology insulation material comprises material having been manipulated at a molecular level during the macroscale fabrication of the nanotechnology insulation material to enhance insulation effectiveness; at least one propulsion system; a control circuit coupled with the at least one propulsion system to control the operation of the at least one propulsion system and control a direction of travel of the UDV, wherein the body physically supports the propulsion system and the control circuit; and a product cavity defined within the body and configured to receive at least one product while the at least one product is transported by the UDV to a delivery location.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to enable the delivery of retail products. Some embodiments include product receiving systems comprising: a first access door and a package compartment cooperated with the first access door; a wireless communication transceiver; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: determine that a delivery vehicle is within a threshold distance and intends to deliver a package into the package compartment; determine whether a time that the delivery vehicle intends to deliver the package corresponds with a customer specified delivery restriction; and wirelessly communicate a denial notification to the delivery vehicle denying the delivery when the time that the delivery vehicle intends to deliver the package is inconsistent with the delivery restriction.

Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that include a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the first UAV to move itself; and wherein the UAV control circuit when implementing code stored in memory is configured to identify, based at least in part on a first task performed using a first tool system temporarily coupled with the first UAV, a second task to be performed by the first UAV and to identify a different second tool system to be used to perform the second task.

Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that comprise: multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable UAV to move itself; and wherein a first UAV control circuit of a first UAV of the multiple UAVs, when implementing code stored in memory, is configured to identify, based at least in part on a first task performed using a first tool system temporarily coupled with the first UAV, a set of at least one task to be cooperatively performed by the first UAV and at least a second UAV of the multiple UAVs.