Walmart Apollo, LLC

David A Lachance

William John Fosnight

Matthew W Coady

Michael Chesna

Bryce Germain

Chris Dancewicz

Patrick Renard

Alejandro Sierra

David Eiselen

An opportunistic rail charging system is disclosed for recharging power supplies on mobile robots transporting goods within an automated order fulfillment system. Individual chargers may be incorporated into each mobile robot for converting a facility line voltage from the charge rail to a voltage for which the rechargeable power supplies on each mobile robot are rated.

Opportunistic charging system for an automated storage and retrieval system

A safety system is disclosed for failsafe servicing of areas within an order fulfillment facility. During normal operation, a number of battery-powered robots receive wireless instructions from a management control system (MCS) to transfer items to/from workstations or storage shelves in a multi-level storage structure. The order fulfillment facility may be divided into dynamically configurable service zones. When service is required in a service zone, different safety protocols may be employed based on a determination as to the priority level of service required and/or the estimated length of time service will take. One safety protocol involves physically blocking all access points to a service area with mechanical guards, so that order fulfillment operations may be proceed around the service zone while service is performed.

Configurable service isolation zones for service of equipment employing mobile robots

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Waltham, MA, United States of America

David A Lachance