Abstract: Flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems and processes may include one or more blocks of shelving systems, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of robotic drive units may traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between processing stations and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems.

Abstract: Automated mobile sortation and delivery systems may include a track or rail system positioned within a cargo area of a vehicle, a plurality of carrier robots that move along the track system, and a plurality of package or item racks that are engaged and moved by the carrier robots. The carrier robots may load and unload package racks relative to the cargo area, may sort or shuffle the package racks among a plurality of positions, and may position or place package racks at an access position to enable access to packages loaded within the package racks by associates for delivery. The automated mobile sortation and delivery systems may facilitate faster, more reliable, and more efficient delivery of packages using automated and highly organized sortation and retrieval processes, thereby reducing the time and effort associated with finding, identifying, and delivering correct packages to delivery destinations according to a delivery route or schedule.

Abstract: High density, robotic warehouse systems and processes may include one or more blocks of a storage system, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of first robotic drive units may transfer barges carrying totes between various processing stations and the storage system. A plurality of second robotic drive units may operate within the storage system and traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between barges and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units, barges, and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the high density, robotic warehouse systems.

Abstract: Flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems and processes may include one or more blocks of shelving systems, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of robotic drive units may traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between processing stations and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the flexible, robotic automated storage and retrieval systems.

Abstract: High density, robotic warehouse systems and processes may include one or more blocks of a storage system, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of first robotic drive units may transfer barges carrying totes between various processing stations and the storage system. A plurality of second robotic drive units may operate within the storage system and traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between barges and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units, barges, and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the high density, robotic warehouse systems.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for an end effector for automated identification and handling of an object. The end effector includes an entangling structure that can be positioned over an entanglement point of an overpackage in which a desired object is location using sensors. Using the location information, the end effector can identify a path to the entanglement location and detect whether the overpackage is engaged by detecting environmental changes at the end effector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing fault-tolerant inertial measurement data includes a sensor for measuring an inertial parameter and a processor. The sensor has less accuracy than a typical inertial measurement unit (IMU). The processor detects whether a difference exists between a first data stream received from a first inertial measurement unit and a second data stream received from a second inertial measurement unit. Upon detecting a difference, the processor determines whether at least one of the first or second inertial measurement units has failed by comparing each of the first and second data streams to the inertial parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing fault-tolerant inertial measurement data includes a sensor for measuring an inertial parameter and a processor. The sensor has less accuracy than a typical inertial measurement unit (IMU). The processor detects whether a difference exists between a first data stream received from a first inertial measurement unit and a second data stream received from a second inertial measurement unit. Upon detecting a difference, the processor determines whether at least one of the first or second inertial measurement units has failed by comparing each of the first and second data streams to the inertial parameter.