Amazon Technologies, Inc.

David Levy

Colin Laird Lazier

Jeremiah David Brazeau

Paul David Franklin

James Raymond Allard

James Caleb Kirschner

Samuel Rubin Barrett

Brent James Lutz

Jeffrey Allen Dzado

Andrew Brenden Tinka

Peter R Wurman

Peter K Mansfield

Dennis Polic

Ned Lecky

Stephen Boone

Joshua Lee Davis

Andrew Brendan Tinka

Embodiments herein describe a fault tolerant network connected orchestrator which can handle network outages or hardware resets in a work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator determines the next task to assign to the work cell depending on whether the previous task was successfully completed. However, a network outage or a hardware failure may prevent the orchestrator from receiving the results of the previous action from the work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator recovers from a communication error by requesting the current state of sensors. Using this information, the orchestrator can deduce or determine the current state of the work cell and determine the next task for the work cell. In this manner, the orchestrator is fault tolerant such that it can recover from communication errors.

Self-recovering orchestrator for control systems

Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. In some embodiments, each inventory holder includes a heterogenous mix of data storage device types, the layout of which may be calculated according to the specific mix allocated to a given inventory holder. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.

Heterogenous media storage and organization in automated data storage systems

Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.

Techniques and systems for physical manipulation of data storage devices

Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. In some embodiments, each inventory holder includes a plurality of trays that are independently accessible to the device retrieval unit. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.

Techniques and systems for tray-based storage and organization in automated data storage systems

Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. The inventory holders are configured such that any of the mobile drive units may interchangeably interact with any of the inventory holders and/or the data device reading stations. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.

Flexible media storage and organization in automated data storage systems

Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and associated inventory items. Data can be received from a sensor, a boundary corresponding to a face of the inventory holder can be determined from the data, and items projecting across the boundary can be determined as items protruding from the inventory holder.

Item-detecting overhead sensor for inventory system

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, MA, United States of America

David Levy