Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Kiva Systems, Inc.

Other

Andrew E Hoffman

Michael Cordell Mountz

Peter R Wurman

Michael T Barbehenn

Raffaello D'Andrea

Raffaello D'andrea

James Raymond Allard

Michael Harrison Decker

Fabrizio Santini

David C Koehler

Matthew E Kimmel

Matthew David Verminski

Dennis Polic

Matthew D Verminski

Eryk Brian Nice

Sean H Breheny

Raffaello D'ANDREA

Raffaello D`Andrea

A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

Method and system for transporting inventory items

A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace includes receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction. The method further includes determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment and determining whether the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction. Additionally, the method includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is not moving in the first direction. The method also includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction.

System and method for coordinating movement of mobile drive units

Transporting inventory items using mobile drive units and conveyance equipment

A method of rotating an inventory holder includes moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction. The rotation area includes a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders. The method further includes moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment. The method additionally includes executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area and moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.

Maneuvering a mobile drive unit

A method for inventory management includes deploying a first mobile drive unit having first dimensions and deploying a second mobile drive unit having second dimensions, the first and second dimensions being different. The first and second mobile drive units are operable to transport inventory items to a plurality of inventory stations in the same workspace.

System and method for inventory management using mobile drive units

Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.

System and method for transporting personnel within an active workspace

A system for transporting inventory items includes a mobile drive unit, a management module, and a plurality of inventory holders. The management module is operable to determine a capability state of the mobile drive unit, select a location for the mobile drive unit based on the capability state of the mobile drive unit, and transmit information to the mobile drive unit identifying the selected location.

System and method for positioning a mobile drive unit

A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder has a frame with device openings. The mobile drive unit is operable to dock with an inventory holder and undock with an inventory holder. When undocked from an inventory holder, the mobile drive unit is further operable to traverse a path from a first location to a second location. The path passes through at least a first device opening of the inventory holder such that the mobile drive unit passes beneath the inventory holder while moving along the path.

Generating a path for a mobile drive unit

System and method for maneuvering a mobile drive unit

System and method for transporting inventory items

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Andrew E Hoffman