Abstract: Loading last few rows of pallets onto a trailer using an autonomous mobile robot. The robot determines that the next pallet to be loaded is a first in a row where the trailer does not have sufficient space to accommodate the robot. The robot identifies a pose of a previous pallet in an immediately prior row and determines a front plane of the immediately prior row. The robot navigates to a first goal position at least partially inside the trailer, determined by the pose of the previous pallet and the trailer. The robot then side-shifts the fork toward the trailer's side wall until contact is detected and subsequently adjust the fork back to prevent scraping. The robot proceeds to a second goal position, which is within a predetermined threshold distance of the drop position, before lowering and releasing the pallet.

Abstract: Unloading first few rows of pallets from a trailer using an autonomous mobile robot. The robot determines that a pallet is a first in a row where the trailer does not have sufficient space to accommodate the robot. The robot determines a pose of each observable pallet in the trailer and determines a front plane for the pallets in the same row as the target pallet. The robot navigates to a first goal position inside the trailer, based on the pallet and trailer poses, then picks up the pallet. The robot side-shifts toward an adjacent pallet until detecting contact, then adjusts back by a predetermined distance to maximize clearance between the pallet and a side wall of the trailer. The robot navigates backward in a straight line to a second goal position on a ramp, and then proceeds to drop off the pallet in the staging area.

Abstract: Unloading pallets from a trailer using an autonomous mobile robot. The robot determines a pose of the trailer and a pose of each observable pallet inside. The robot identifies a target pallet for retrieval based on the observed poses and determines a front plane for the pallets in the same row as the target pallet. The robot navigates to a first goal position, side-shifts its fork to align the fork with the target pallet's pockets, inserts the fork, and lifts the pallet. The robot then navigates in reverse to a second goal position, determined based on the front plane and trailer pose. From the second position, the robot proceeds to a drop-off point in a staging area, side-shifting the fork towards the center during transit.

Abstract: A method implemented at an autonomous mobile robot equipped with a fork to carry a pallet. The robot transitions between a first and second piecewise flat floor segments with differing geometries. The robot uses sensor data from sensors such as LIDAR, stereo cameras, GPS, and ultrasound sensors to determine the transition between the first and second piecewise flat floor segments. The fork operates based on parameters that meet reference constraints. When the robot detects that a second floor geometry would cause these parameters to no longer meet the reference constraints, the robot determines new parameters that will satisfy the reference constraints. Control signals are then sent to adjust the fork's operation as the robot transitions to the second floor segment.

Abstract: Loading a pallet into a trailer using an autonomous mobile robot. The robot determines a pose of the trailer based on sensor data and navigates to a first goal position inside the trailer, determined based on the pose of the trailer. The robot then side-shifts the fork toward the trailer's side wall until sensors detect contact between the pallet and the side wall, with the pallet positioned above a lip on the trailer wall. The robot retracts the fork by a distance corresponding to the lip's width to prevent the pallet and the side wall of the trailer from scraping each other. The robot then navigates in a straight line forward to a second goal position, which is within a predetermined threshold distance from the drop position. The robot releases the pallet at the second goal position.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed where a robot operating using a first traversal protocol traverses autonomously along a first route that is defined by markers that are detectable by the robot, wherein the robot is configured to move only based on a presence and type of each marker when the robot is configured to operate based on the first traversal protocol. The robot detects, while traversing along the route, a triggering condition corresponding to a change in operation by the robot from the first traversal protocol to a second traversal protocol. Responsive to detecting the triggering condition, the robot is configured to operate in the second traversal protocol, wherein the robot, when configured to operate based on the second traversal protocol, determines a second route autonomously without regard to a presence of any of the markers.

Abstract: A system and method are described that provide for mapping features of a warehouse environment having improved workflow. In one example of the system/method of the present invention, a mapping robot is navigated through a warehouse environment, and sensors of the mapping robot collect geospatial data as part of a mapping mode. A Frontend N block of a map framework may be responsible for reading and processing the geospatial data from the sensors of the mapping robot, as well as various other functions. The data may be stored in a keyframe object at a keyframe database. A Backend block of the map framework may be useful for detecting loop constraints, building submaps, optimizing a pose graph using keyframe data from one or more trajectory blocks, and/or various other functions.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that identifies a source area within a facility comprising a plurality of objects, and determines a destination area within the facility to which the plurality of objects are to be transported and unloaded. The system selects robots within the facility based a capability of the robots and/or a location of the robots within the facility. The system provides an instruction to the robots to transport the plurality of objects from the source area to the destination area. The robots are configured to autonomously select an object based on a position and location of the object within the source area, transport the selected object to a destination area along a route selected by the robot, and unload the selected object at a location within the destination area selected based on a number of objects yet to be unloaded within the destination area.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that generate for display to a remote operator a user interface comprising a map, the map comprising visual representations of a source area, a plurality of candidate robots, and a plurality of candidate destination areas. The system receives, via the user interface, a selection of a visual representation of a candidate robot of the plurality of candidate robots, and detects a drag-and-drop gesture within the user interface of the visual representation of the candidate robot being dragged-and-dropped to a visual representation of a candidate destination area of the plurality of candidate destination areas. Responsive to detecting the drag-and-drop gesture, the system generates a mission, where the mission causes the candidate robot to autonomously transport an object from the source area to the candidate destination area.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that cause a robot to traverse along a route based on a minimum distance to be maintained between the autonomous mobile robot and an obstacle corresponding to a first mode. The robot determines that the route cannot be continued without a distance between the robot and a detected obstacle becoming less than the minimum distance, and responsively determines whether the route can be continued without the distance between the robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than a second minimum distance less than the initial minimum distance, the second minimum distance corresponding to a second mode. Responsive to determining that the route can be continued without the distance between the autonomous mobile robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than the second minimum distance, the robot is configured to operate in second mode and continues traversal of the route.

Abstract: To load and unload a trailer, an autonomous mobile robot determines its location and the location of objects within the trailer relative to the trailer itself, rather than relative to a warehouse. The autonomous mobile robot determines its location the location of objects within the trailer relative to the trailer. The autonomous mobile robot navigates within the trailer and manipulates objects within the trailer from the trailer's reference frame. Additionally, the autonomous mobile robot uses a centerline heuristic to compute a path for itself within the trailer. A centerline heuristic evaluates nodes within the trailer based on how far away those nodes are from the centerline. If the nodes are further away from the centerline, they are assigned a higher cost. Thus, when the autonomous mobile robot computes a path, the path is more likely to stay near the centerline of the trailer rather than get closer to the sides.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot uses a capability-aware pathfinding algorithm to traverse from a start pose to an end pose efficiently and effectively. The robot receives a start pose and an end pose, and determines a primary path from the start pose to the end pose based on a primary pathfinding algorithm. The robot may smooth the primary path using Bezier curves. The robot may identify a conflict point on the primary path where the robot cannot traverse, and may determine a secondary path from a first point before the conflict point to a second point after the conflict point. The secondary path may use a secondary pathfinding algorithm that uses motion primitives of the robot to generate the secondary path based on the motion capabilities of the robot. The robot may then traverse from the start pose to the end pose based on the primary path and the secondary path.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed where an autonomous robot captures an image of an object to be transported from a source to a destination. The robot generates a bounding box within the image surrounding the object. The robot applies a machine-learned model to the image with the bounding box, the machine-learned model configured to identify an object type of the object, and to identify features of the object based on the identified object type and the image. The robot determines which of the identified features of the object are visible to the autonomous robot, and determines a three-dimensional pose of the object based on the features determined to be visible to the autonomous robot.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that generate for display to a remote operator a user interface comprising a map, the map comprising visual representations of a source area, a plurality of candidate robots, and a plurality of candidate destination areas. The system receives, via the user interface, a selection of a visual representation of a candidate robot of the plurality of candidate robots, and detects a drag-and-drop gesture within the user interface of the visual representation of the candidate robot being dragged-and-dropped to a visual representation of a candidate destination area of the plurality of candidate destination areas. Responsive to detecting the drag-and-drop gesture, the system generates a mission, where the mission causes the candidate robot to autonomously transport an object from the source area to the candidate destination area.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed where an autonomous robot captures an image of an object to be transported from a source to a destination. The robot generates a bounding box within the image surrounding the object. The robot applies a machine-learned model to the image with the bounding box, the machine-learned model configured to identify an object type of the object, and to identify features of the object based on the identified object type and the image. The robot determines which of the identified features of the object are visible to the autonomous robot, and determines a three-dimensional pose of the object based on the features determined to be visible to the autonomous robot.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that cause a robot to traverse along a route based on a minimum distance to be maintained between the autonomous mobile robot and an obstacle corresponding to a first mode. The robot determines that the route cannot be continued without a distance between the robot and a detected obstacle becoming less than the minimum distance, and responsively determines whether the route can be continued without the distance between the robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than a second minimum distance less than the initial minimum distance, the second minimum distance corresponding to a second mode. Responsive to determining that the route can be continued without the distance between the autonomous mobile robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than the second minimum distance, the robot is configured to operate in second mode and continues traversal of the route.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that identifies a source area within a facility comprising a plurality of objects, and determines a destination area within the facility to which the plurality of objects are to be transported and unloaded. The system selects robots within the facility based a capability of the robots and/or a location of the robots within the facility. The system provides an instruction to the robots to transport the plurality of objects from the source area to the destination area. The robots are configured to autonomously select an object based on a position and location of the object within the source area, transport the selected object to a destination area along a route selected by the robot, and unload the selected object at a location within the destination area selected based on a number of objects yet to be unloaded within the destination area.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed where a robot operating using a first traversal protocol traverses autonomously along a first route that is defined by markers that are detectable by the robot, wherein the robot is configured to move only based on a presence and type of each marker when the robot is configured to operate based on the first traversal protocol. The robot detects, while traversing along the route, a triggering condition corresponding to a change in operation by the robot from the first traversal protocol to a second traversal protocol. Responsive to detecting the triggering condition, the robot is configured to operate in the second traversal protocol, wherein the robot, when configured to operate based on the second traversal protocol, determines a second route autonomously without regard to a presence of any of the markers.