Abstract: An order consolidation system and method in a storage facility is disclosed. An item received at an order consolidation station by way of a robotic apparatus is transferred by the order consolidation station to another robotic apparatus by way of instructions received from a control server. The control server detects a side of the order consolidation station at which the robotic apparatus arrives, compares received data of placed items on the order consolidation station with stored data to determine a match between the received data and the stored data, and controls the transfer based on the match between the received data and the stored data and detection of the robotic apparatus at the other side of the order consolidation station. The transport of the robotic apparatus with the items to a packaging station is further controlled by the control server for packaging an order.

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: 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.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing and recovering from faults in a robot includes providing markers affixed to a floor surface, where each marker has a positional indicia thereon, navigating an area by the robot using the markers, acquiring the positional indicia on at least one marker, processing the acquired positional indicia to determine a position and angle of the at least one marker, computing a position offset and angle offset of markers with respect to a reference position and angle, adjusting the reference position and angle when the computed position offset and angle offset meets a first predetermined criteria, and alerting an external entity when the computed position offset and angle offset does not meet the first predetermined criteria.

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 method for handling items using a plurality of movable-bots includes defining a conveyance path to be followed by the plurality of movable-bots, where the conveyance path is configured as a closed loop. The method further includes defining, for each of the plurality of movable-bots, a plurality of path attributes associated with the conveyance path. The method further includes instructing each of the plurality of movable-bots to synchronize a movement with respect to at least one other movable-bot based on the plurality of path attributes when moving along the conveyance path.

Abstract: A method for handling items using a plurality of movable-bots includes defining a conveyance path to be followed by the plurality of movable-bots, where the conveyance path is configured as a closed loop. The method further includes defining, for each of the plurality of movable-bots, a plurality of path attributes associated with the conveyance path. The method further includes instructing each of the plurality of movable-bots to synchronize a movement with respect to at least one other movable-bot based on the plurality of path attributes when moving along the conveyance path.

Abstract: Described herein are an apparatus and a method of fulfilling an order. The method includes: determining, by circuitry of an information processing apparatus, the order to be processed; selecting an operator station where the order will be fulfilled, a rack that includes an item required to fulfill the order, and a vehicle to transport the rack to the operator station; transmitting at least a portion of a transportation path to the selected vehicle; and monitoring locations of the selected vehicle along the transportation path based on marker information received for each marker of a plurality of markers that is detected by the selected vehicle, wherein the plurality of markers is located at predetermined positions.

Abstract: A method for handling items using a plurality of movable-bots includes defining a conveyance path to be followed by the plurality of movable-bots, where the conveyance path is configured as a closed loop. The method further includes defining, for each of the plurality of movable-bots, a plurality of path attributes associated with the conveyance path. The method further includes instructing each of the plurality of movable-bots to synchronize a movement with respect to at least one other movable-bot based on the plurality of path attributes when moving along the conveyance path.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing and recovering from faults in a robot includes providing markers affixed to a floor surface, where each marker has a positional indicia thereon, navigating an area by the robot using the markers, acquiring the positional indicia on at least one marker, processing the acquired positional indicia to determine a position and angle of the at least one marker, computing a position offset and angle offset of markers with respect to a reference position and angle, adjusting the reference position and angle when the computed position offset and angle offset meets a first predetermined criteria, and alerting an external entity when the computed position offset and angle offset does not meet the first predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to transport an item from a first location to a second location; selecting a bot for transporting the item from the first location to the second location; determining a first vertical level associated with an initial location of the selected bot and a second vertical level associated with a destination of the selected bot; determining whether the first vertical level associated is different than the second vertical level. The method further includes, in response to the determination that the first vertical level is different from the second vertical level, (a) selecting a transport device configured to transfer the selected bot from the first vertical level to the second vertical level in a vertical direction; and (b) outputting a control signal to the selected bot causing the selected bot to move to a first position associated with the selected transport device.

Abstract: Described herein are an apparatus and a method for path correction of a vehicle travelling from a first marker to a second marker. The method includes the steps of: computing, by circuitry of an information processing apparatus, an offset in a location of the vehicle with respect to the first marker; dividing a distance between the first maker and the second marker into a predetermined number of segments; computing a speed profile of the vehicle based on the distance between the first marker and the second marker; generating a compensation curve based on the computed offset and a plurality of interpolation points; and modifying, upon each segment being traversed by the vehicle, the speed profile of the vehicle.

Abstract: Described herein are an apparatus and a method for path correction of a vehicle travelling from a first marker to a second marker. The method includes the steps of: computing, by circuitry of an information processing apparatus, an offset in a location of the vehicle with respect to the first marker; dividing a distance between the first maker and the second marker into a predetermined number of segments; computing a speed profile of the vehicle based on the distance between the first marker and the second marker; generating a compensation curve based on the computed offset and a plurality of interpolation points; and modifying, upon each segment being traversed by the vehicle, the speed profile of the vehicle.

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.

Abstract: Described herein are an apparatus and a method of fulfilling an order. The method includes: determining, by circuitry of an information processing apparatus, the order to be processed; selecting an operator station where the order will be fulfilled, a rack that includes an item required to fulfill the order, and a vehicle to transport the rack to the operator station; transmitting at least a portion of a transportation path to the selected vehicle; and monitoring locations of the selected vehicle along the transportation path based on marker information received for each marker of a plurality of markers that is detected by the selected vehicle, wherein the plurality of markers is located at predetermined positions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure refer to an article collation system and method for collating articles where ‘article’ may indicate an object, thing, item, unit, piece of merchandise, commodity, product, good or an entity synonymous with the definition provided. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an article collation system comprises at least one identifier associated with each article where one or more attributes are associated with each identifier. Further, the system comprises one or more transporters for moving each article along a common path to one of a plurality of collection points, where a plurality of diverters are associated with one or more said transporters for routing each article to said collection point, and a controller dynamically adapting operation of said transporters and said diverters to fulfill user requirements considering the attributes of each article and optimizing the system functions based on instantaneous load conditions.