Abstract: A method for performing tasks on items located in a space using a robot, includes receiving an order to perform a task on at least one item and obtaining a pose associated with the at least one item. The pose is in a coordinate system defined by the space and the pose is where the task is to be performed on the at least one item. The method includes navigating the robot toward the pose associated with the at least one item and detecting, when in proximity to the pose, if the pose is obstructed by an object. If the pose is obstructed by an object, halting the robot at a location spaced from the pose and then causing the robot to provide a first signal indicating that the robot is in a holding mode at the location spaced from the pose.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving operator performance by robot gamification, the method including parking a robot at a pose location within a navigational space, identifying, by a sensor in electronic communication with an interactive display device, an operator located within a zone proximate the robot for acquiring an item to be picked, receiving, at the interactive display device, operator performance data associated with the acquiring of the item, and rendering, on the interactive display device in response to the received operator performance data, at least one graphic representation of operator achievement within a gamified performance tracking environment.

Abstract: A robot system includes at least one robot configured to interact with a plurality of operators in a warehouse. The robot has a proximity detector configured to detect the presence of an operator of the plurality of operators when they are within a predetermined distance of the at least one robot. There is a processor configured to retrieve from a memory a set of operator interaction preferences for the operator detected. And, there is a display device configured to allow the at least one robot to interact with the detected operator based on the set of operator interaction preferences of the detected operator.

Abstract: A robot capable of autonomously navigating through a warehouse to execute orders on items at locations in the warehouse with the assistance of the human operators. There is a mobile base unit and a display device associated with the mobile base unit having a display area to allow the human operators to interact with the robot. And, there is a processor configured to display on a first portion of the display area information corresponding to an item on which an operator is to assist the robot execute the order at a first location and to display on a second portion of the display area icons representing other robots within a predetermined area surrounding the first location.

Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations in an environment includes determining when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the one or more processing stations have entered a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations. The method also includes assigning each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority and directing each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the processing stations. Each of the processing stations includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator.

Abstract: A method for executing orders by at least one robot on a plurality of items stored at locations throughout a warehouse including reading a bar code affixed to an item storage array disposed on said at least one robot. The item storage array includes a plurality of interconnected containers each for storing items associated with an order. The method also includes using the read bar code to retrieve information about at least one characteristic of the item storage array and assigning an order associated to each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array. The orders are based in part on the at least one characteristic of the item storage array. The method further includes navigating the at least one robot to locations throughout the warehouse to execute the orders associated with each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array.

Abstract: A method for executing orders by at least one robot on a plurality of items stored at locations throughout a warehouse including reading a bar code affixed to an item storage array disposed on said at least one robot. The item storage array includes a plurality of interconnected containers each for storing items associated with an order. The method also includes using the read bar code to retrieve information about at least one characteristic of the item storage array and assigning an order associated to each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array. The orders are based in part on the at least one characteristic of the item storage array. The method further includes navigating the at least one robot to locations throughout the warehouse to execute the orders associated with each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array.