Google Inc.

Adam Morton

Avinash Panga

Michael Rees Helsel

Ned Lecky

Michael Helsel

An apparatus for handling objects such as information technology equipment racks in an environment such as a data center. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a body having a first mount on a first interior side of the body; and second mount on a second interior side of the body and in same horizontal position as the first mount; and a lifting system comprising one or more lifting elements with one or more retractable wheels coupled each of the one or more lifting elements, wherein, when the lifting system extends outside of the body to handle an object, the object rests on the one or more retractable wheels that are in an extended position, and when the lifting system is substantially inside the body, the retractable wheels are in a retracted position, and the object rests on the first mount and the second mount of the body.

Object transporting apparatus

Methods, systems, and apparatus for transporting workcells. In one aspect, a system includes a first fleet of AGVs that each include electro-mechanical interface that is adapted to (i) connect to or lift multiple different types of workcells and (ii) provide charging power to or receive charging power from multiple different types of workcells. A second fleet of multiple different types of workcells are each adapted to perform one or more particular tasks. A control system is configured to identify a set of tasks to be performed by the second fleet of workcells and, for each task, select a workcell to perform the task, select an AGV to transport the selected workcell to a location at which the task is to be performed, and provide, to the selected AGV, instructions that cause the selected AGV to transport the selected workcell to the location at which the task is to be performed.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Adam Morton