Abstract: Autonomous mobile robots include transfer systems that may receive multiple items for delivery to one or more destinations. The transfer systems may be specifically configured to detect and identify items that are placed on loading surfaces, and to independently discharge specific items at selected destinations or to selected recipients. The transfer systems feature loading surfaces that may be defined by a plurality of independently operable conveyors to receive or discharge items, by independently operable floors that allow items to pass therethrough, or by independently operable diverters for detecting and expelling items therefrom. The transfer systems may receive items from, or discharge items to, one or more humans, other robots, or other systems such as conveyors, chutes, robotic arms or other mechanical implements or effectors, and be aligned at any angle or provided at any height, as desired.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a network of autonomous vehicles, such as autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) that deliver items to and/or from a destination location and/or perform a service. For example, a community (e.g., neighborhood, apartment complex) may include a plurality of autonomous vehicles that deliver payloads to different locations (e.g., homes, apartments) within the community for use or consumption. Some of the payloads are community items (e.g., microwave, stove top, cooking utensils) that are shared by members of the community and transferred between locations within the community by autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: An intermediary device may be configured to allow an authorized visitor to access a secure facility (such as a home) on behalf of an owner. The intermediary device may generate an authenticator and provide the authenticator to a service provider, who may then present the authenticator to the intermediary device upon arriving at the facility. The intermediary device may unlock or open, or lock and close, any doors within the facility as necessary in order to grant access to a specific portion of the facility and restrict access to other portions of the facility. The intermediary device may also capture, or cause the capture of, images or other data regarding actions taken by the service provider, and establish a communications channel with the owner for the exchange of information or data regarding such actions, or any events or conditions of the facility.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for an overpackage that can contain an object and provide for automated identification and handling of the object by a robotic retrieval system. The automated identification and handling are enabled through self-identifying marks on the overpackage that indicate the identity of the overpackage as well as the relative location of the mark on the overpackage. Using the location information, a robot or other autonomous actor of the robotic retrieval system can identify a path to a pick point and detect whether the proper pick point is engaged through additional identifiers on the overpackage or a pick point.

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) receive items from transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) for delivery to specified locations (e.g., user residences, etc.). The AGVs may travel along travel paths to and from the delivery locations to deliver the items, and may be equipped with access mechanisms (e.g., which transmit remote control signals) to open and close access barriers (e.g., garage doors, etc.) that are encountered along the travel paths. Transportation vehicles may transport items from materials handling facilities, and the AGVs may travel to meeting locations to meet the transportation vehicles to receive the items for delivery.

Abstract: A modular sorting station includes a frame defining an inbound bay and an outbound bay, each of the bays being sized to receive an inventory holder containing inventory. A robotic grasper is mounted to the frame and positioned above one of the inbound and outbound bays and operable to transfer inventory items from the inbound bay to the outbound bay, and a sensor mounted to one of the frame or robotic grasper and operable to identify inventory at the inbound bay when the inventory holder is present in the inbound bay. The frame is sized and arranged to align with a material handling grid and permit drive units to transport inventory holders into and out of the inbound bay and/or outbound bays while moving along the material handling grid; and the frame is portable such that the modular sorting station can be moved as a modular unit for deployment.

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) receive items from transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) for delivery to specified locations. After the items are received, the AGVs may navigate along travel paths to delivery locations (e.g., at user residences) to deliver the items. The AGVs may include navigation systems and sensors (e.g., imaging sensors, distance detection sensors, etc.) to assist with the navigation, and may include locking mechanisms that lock the storage compartments of the AGVs while travelling.

Abstract: Autonomous mobile robots include transfer systems that may receive multiple items for delivery to one or more destinations. The transfer systems may be specifically configured to detect and identify items that are placed on loading surfaces, and to independently discharge specific items at selected destinations or to selected recipients. The transfer systems feature loading surfaces that may be defined by a plurality of independently operable conveyors to receive or discharge items, by independently operable floors that allow items to pass therethrough, or by independently operable diverters for detecting and expelling items therefrom. The transfer systems may receive items from, or discharge items to, one or more humans, other robots, or other systems such as conveyors, chutes, robotic arms or other mechanical implements or effectors, and be aligned at any angle or provided at any height, as desired.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for an end effector for automated identification and handling of an object. The end effector includes an end effector that can be positioned over a pick 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 pick point and detect whether the pick point is engaged by detecting environmental changes at the end effector.

Abstract: An intermediary device may be configured to allow an authorized visitor to access a secure facility (such as a home) on behalf of an owner. The intermediary device may generate an authenticator and provide the authenticator to a service provider, who may then present the authenticator to the intermediary device upon arriving at the facility. The intermediary device may unlock or open, or lock and close, any doors within the facility as necessary in order to grant access to a specific portion of the facility and restrict access to other portions of the facility. The intermediary device may also capture, or cause the capture of, images or other data regarding actions taken by the service provider, and establish a communications channel with the owner for the exchange of information or data regarding such actions, or any events or conditions of the facility.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) receive items from transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) for delivery to specified locations. After the items are received, the AGVs may navigate along travel paths to delivery locations (e.g., at user residences) to deliver the items. The AGVs may include navigation systems and sensors (e.g., imaging sensors, distance detection sensors, etc.) to assist with the navigation, and may include locking mechanisms that lock the storage compartments of the AGVs while travelling.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) containing ordered items travel (e.g., from materials handling facilities, etc.) to pickup areas (e.g., on a street, in a parking lot, inside a store, etc.) where users may retrieve the ordered items from the AGVs. In various configurations, an AGV may have a single storage compartment or may have multiple storage compartments, and multiple AGVs may congregate at a pickup area which may include various facilities/services for the AGVs (e.g., a charging station, a common control station for the AGVs, etc.). Multiple AGVs at a pickup area may be arranged in a particular configuration (e.g., according to a particular order, stacked, etc.), and the configuration may be changed (e.g., when a new AGV arrives and/or when an AGV departs, such as after an ordered item is retrieved from an AGV which then leaves the pickup area to return to a materials handling facility, etc.).

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) are utilized to transport items to delivery locations and may be modular in that a storage compartment portion (e.g., which may hold an ordered item) may be removable (i.e., separable) from a propulsion portion. In various implementations, the storage compartment portion may be securely attached to the propulsion portion during transport (e.g., requiring an access code to remove and/or open), and the storage compartment portion may similarly be securely attached to the delivery location (e.g., at a docking station) when delivered. In various implementations, the storage compartment portion may be refrigerated, heated, etc., and may include various sensors on the inside and outside of the storage compartment portion (e.g., temperature sensors, motion sensors, image sensors to determine the presence and condition of items and/or to assist with navigation and other operations of the propulsion portion, etc.).

Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) may be deployed from facilities (e.g., materials handling facilities, etc.) to deliver items to specified locations (e.g., user residences). In various implementations, AGVs may utilize various techniques for long-range travel between materials handling facilities and delivery locations (e.g., solar charging, strategically placed charging stations, energy efficient travel paths, etc.). In various implementations, AGV facilities (e.g., smaller types of materials handling facilities) may be sized to be more easily located in compressed urban areas (e.g., to be closer to various delivery locations, etc.) and may function as home base locations where AGVs are stationed and/or where items are received (e.g., from transportation vehicles) for delivery to local delivery locations.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to autonomous vehicles, such as autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) that may be utilized to transport items to specified locations (e.g., residences, dormitory rooms, etc.), operate as a safety escort for a human moving from one location to another (e.g., from a campus library to a dormitory room), form ad-hoc wireless networks with other autonomous vehicles, and/or to operate as a mobile security station that can provide direct connection between a person at the location of the autonomous vehicle and security, rescue, and/or other personnel.