Abstract:
A chassis and skin of a delivery Autonomous Ground Vehicle include discrete upper and lower thermal management systems. The lower thermal management system is indirect, as is moves air through a closed duct that is in contact with high-heat dissipating components via heat sinks. The upper thermal management system is direct, as it moves air into the interior cavity of the AGV to cool sensors and other electronic equipment.
Abstract:
A skid-steer delivery autonomous ground vehicle has a drive train and suspension that aids in maneuverability. The AGV has six wheels, each of which is powered by its own motor. The AGV has features that diminish the dragging effect on the wheels, either by choice of wheel features or by taking weight off the front wheels during turning.
Abstract:
An inventory packing system and method are described. In some examples, a plurality of items having various dimensions may be accessed. A plurality of trays having various height dimensions into which the plurality of items can be packed may be identified. The plurality of items may be grouped into one or more groups based on height. Allocated inventory trays may be searched to locate free space that can function as a packing location for a first item. If free space is not found in the allocated inventory trays, other inventory trays can be allocated, searched, and free space identified in one of the other inventory trays.
Abstract:
Described herein is an inventory management system and methods of operating a robotic arm assembly in which the level of compliance of the robotic arm assembly is altered in order to achieve a high gross cubic utilization. In at least some embodiments, a robotic arm assembly may adopt a low level of compliance when grasping an item. The inventory management system may identify an appropriate storage location for the item and move the item to that storage location. Upon reaching the storage location, the robotic arm assembly may adopt a higher level of compliance. The robotic arm assembly may then push the item against one or more other items in order to insert the item into the determined storage location.
Abstract:
Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.
Abstract:
A grasp management system and corresponding methods are described. In some examples, information about a grasp by which an end of arm tool of a robotic manipulator successfully grasped an item is accessed. The grasp may be associated with contact points on the item. Other contact points may be simulated based on the contact points in order to define a grasping surface that includes at least a portion of the other contact points. Information about the grasping surface may be accessed to determine a primitive shape that represents a feature of the item. The primitive shape may be used determine other features on the item or other features on other items that may also be graspable by the end of arm tool or other end of arm tools.
Abstract:
Robotic arms may be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information about an inventory item to be grasped can be detected and used to determine a grasping strategy in conjunction with information from a database. Instructions for grasping an inventory item can be generated based on the detected information and the database.
Abstract:
Techniques for controlling mobile drive units (e.g., robots) in proximity to humans in a physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device or another mobile drive unit may send an activity command instructing a mobile drive unit to stop, reduce the speed at which it is traveling, to change its path of travel, or to continue performing its set of activities. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.
Abstract:
The disclosed inventory systems and methods can be used to retrieve and transport items from one location in an inventory system to another. Specifically, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including passive buoyancy element, a thrust unit, and a retention feature, can be controlled by a management component to retrieve one or more items, transport the item or items, and deposit the item or items. For example, a UAV can be controlled to obtain an item at one location in a warehouse such as a first floor and lift said item to a second location in the warehouse such as a second floor, and deposit the item at the second location.
Abstract:
The disclosed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a buoyant airbag, a drive unit, a retention feature, and an onboard control module that can be configured to cause the drive unit to displace the UAV, cause the retention feature to retain one or more items for transport, and receive instructions to transfer items from one location to another. For example, a UAV can be controlled to obtain an item at one location in a warehouse such as a first floor, lift said item to a second location in the warehouse such as a second floor, and deposit the item at the second location.