Other

Vecna Robotics, Inc.

Vecna Technologies, Inc.

Veena Technologies, Inc

Daniel Theobald

Siddharth Ram Chhatpar

Thomas Allen

Josh Ornstein

Andreas G Hofmann

Michael Kokko

Andreas Holmann

Zachary Dydek

A method is disclosed for enabling a user to move items from one container to another. The method includes identifying a location of a user who will transfer items from a first container, attached to a first robot, to a second container, attached to a second robot, positioning the first container at a first position near the location of the user and positioning the second container via movement of the second robot at a second position near the location of the user. The method includes providing instructions to the user regarding how many items to move from the first container to the second container, receiving at least one item in the second container from the user and moving the second container from the second position to a destination position for the at least one item.

System and method of providing delivery of items from one container to another container for a user in an ergonomic manner

An example system includes a vehicle having a platform, a linear slide configured on the platform, a robotic retrieval system configured on the linear slide, a shelf configured adjacent to the linear slide and a control system that controls a reception of a first item and a second item by the robotic retrieval system and a placement of the first item and the second item, by the robotic retrieval system, on the shelf. A drone can be configured to retrieve the first item or the second item from the robotic retrieval system on the vehicle and deliver the first item or the second item to a destination location. The vehicle can thereby enable delivery of many items without the vehicle stopping or even driving to a specific destination location.

System and method of providing a robotic retrieval system in a vehicle for use in delivering items

A method is disclosed for using robots to move items from one container to another. The method includes positioning a source container under a suction robot having two degrees of freedom only, the suction robot having a flexible suction end having a variable suction component that can cause suction to occur within the suction end upon contact with an item in the source container. The contact can be non-orthogonal of an end of the flexible suction and a surface of the item. The robot retrieves the item from the source container with the flexible suction end by lowering the flexible suction end into the source container to retrieve the item and lifts the retrieved item from the source container. The robot then moves the retrieved item horizontally from the source container to a destination container.

System and method of providing delivery of items from one container to another container using a suction attachment system

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for fully automated order fulfillment. A method includes identifying a shelf tote having an item contained therein for transfer to an order tote; dispatching a first carrier to pick up the shelf tote and a second carrier to pick an order tote; causing the picker to pick the item from the shelf tote while the shelf tote is moving through the transfer station; and transferring the item to the order tote by the picker.

System and method of asynchronous and automated order fulfillment

A method includes receiving, at a robot being in communication with a control center communication module of a control center, an instruction to relocate a cart to a location where a set of items are stored. The method further includes moving, by the robot, to a second location where the cart is positioned; (2) activating, by the robot, a motor of a latch fastening system to cause movement of a latch arm resulting in a latch being exposed; (3) removably engaging, by the robot and using the latch, the cart via a latching feature of the cart; (4) moving, by the robot, the cart from the second location to the location where the set of items are stored; and (5) transitioning, by the robot, a subset of the set of items to the cart in accordance with the instruction.

System and method of moving carts using a robot

A fully autonomous mobile robot is provided that transports items from one area to another. The mobile robot includes a variety of mechanisms that capture an item from a first surface and moves the item within the confines of the mobile robot. The item can then be transported to another surface either within the confines of the mobile robot or to another location.

Autonomous device for transporting items

An elevator system can include an elevator car comprising an elevator floor, the elevator car connected to a control system, wherein the elevator floor is configured to enable a rolling device to roll from a floor level onto the elevator floor, an elevator wireless communication module connected to the control system, an elevator framework in which the elevator car is configured and an elevator motor configured to raise and lower the elevator car as instructed by a mobile robot and as controlled by the control system according to instructions to the elevator system received via the elevator wireless communication module. The elevator system can be attached to a rack of shelves and be used to autonomously move mobile robots up and down to or from respective shelfs and/or a floor level.

System and method of providing an elevator system for mobile robots

An example method includes gathering, via a first module of a first type, first simultaneous localization and mapping data and gathering, via a second module of a second type, second simultaneous localization and mapping data. The method includes generating, via a simultaneous localization and mapping module, a first map based on the first simultaneous localization and mapping data and the second simultaneous localization and mapping data, the first map being of a first map type and generating, via the simultaneous localization and mapping module, a second map based on the first simultaneous localization and mapping data and the second simultaneous localization and mapping data, the second map being of a second map type. The map of the first type is used by vehicles with module(s) of the first and/or second types and the map of the second type is used by vehicles with a module of the second type exclusively.

System and method of providing a multi-modal localization for an object

A method is provided for delivering source containers, via a mobile robotic container delivery system, to a first shelf and a second shelf, and in a particular order. Each source container has a position on one of the first shelf or the second shelf. The method includes delivering recipient containers on a floor level below the first shelf, wherein each container of the recipient containers is configured on a respective mobile robot, providing instructions to a user to retrieve an item from a first respective source container on one of the first shelf or the second shelf, moving a respective first recipient container on its respective first mobile robot out from underneath the first shelf to receive the item retrieved from the respective first source container and receiving a confirmation that the item has been retrieved from the respective first source container and placed appropriately.

System and method of providing delivery of items from one container to another container

A method includes arranging, on a robot, a set of suctions cups on an actuator of the robot to allow for removable engagement of the set of suction cups to a container surface. The method further includes initiating movement of the actuator to cause the robot to (1) engage the set of suction cups to the container surface, generating a pressure within at least a subset of the set of suction cups; (2) detect the pressure within the subset of the set of suction cups; (3) connect the subset of the set of suction cups to a set of vacuum pumps to generate a vacuum, resulting in a grip on the container; and (4) move the container on to a platform of the robot to prepare the container for delivery.

System and method of retrieving containers in a hybrid environment

Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.

System and method of asynchronous robotic retrieval and delivery of items

Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a system including a first depot and a first mobile robot at a first site and a second depot and a second mobile robot at a second site. A centralized control system manages asynchronous delivery of items through the first depot and the second depot such that the first mobile robot can retrieve an item from the first depot and deliver the item to a transportation systems for transition to the second site, such that the second depot at the second site can, in an asynchronous fashion, receive the item and deliver the item to the second mobile robot for transportation to the ultimate destination at the second site. Two or more sites can be coordinated by the centralized control system for management of movement of items through a supply chain using asynchronous item delivery and movement through each respective site to an ultimate destination.

System and method of asynchronous robotic retrieval and delivery of items between two sites

Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. In one method, a mobile robot performs a hospitality service for a guest of a hospitality business. The mobile robot is operated at the hospitality business.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Daniel Theobald