Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Ganesh Krishnamoorthy

Vivek S Narayanan

Rajeev Dwivedi

Michael Alan Bray

Mohit Malik

Shahid Azad

Erika Regan Storvick

Sudhakar Teegavarapu

Vinodhkumar Somavar Muniappan

Gurjinder Singh Dhami

Divya Natarajan

Daniel Lais

Michael D Assadi

Zahin Nambiar

Jon Stuart Battles

Kevin W Keck

Max Alfonso Bruccoleri

Sean O Maylone

Enrico Fortunato

Stephan Pochon

Zechariah Ives

Raja Santosh Akella

Systems and methods are disclosed for systems and methods for container shuttle calibration. An example method for calibration of a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet may include positioning the shuttle on a calibration table, energizing an electromagnet coupled to the calibration table, and determining a detected edge of the permanent magnet. Some methods may include determining a first location to position a connector of the shuttle along an X-axis based at least in part on the detected edge and a mechanical template coupled to the calibration table, and securing the connector in the first location.

Systems and methods for container shuttle calibration

Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, and a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle having a conveyor, and a first induction coil. The system may include a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, where the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.

Wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for a shuttle sortation system having linear actuators for unloading items from shuttles and deposing the items into totes. For example, an item shuttle may transport items in an item holder which may contain an item and that is removable from a base of the item shuttle. The item holder may be constrained from moving with respect to the base and a depositing area may unlock the item holder from the base, permitting the item holder to separate from the base. An upper linear actuator may engage the item holder and may move the item over a tote receiving the area having a tote. The item holder may not have a bottom portion, such that once the item holder is separated from the based, the item is free to fall through to the tote below.

Systems and methods for unloading shuttles and loading totes using linear actuators

Systems and methods are disclosed for rapid braking of shuttles powered by electromagnets. An example system may include a first brake coupled to a track at a first location, the first brake including a first housing, a first retractable pin, a second retractable pin, a first actuator configured to actuate one or more of the first retractable pin and the second retractable pin from a retracted position to an extended position, a second actuator configured to actuate one or more of the first retractable pin and the second retractable pin from the extended position to the retracted position, and a first controller configured to control operation of the first brake.

Rapid braking of shuttles powered by electromagnets

Systems and methods are disclosed for removal and replacement of container shuttles from rail tracks. An example system for a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet may include a track comprising a first rail segment and a second rail segment. The system may include an electromagnet disposed along the track, where the permanent magnet is separated from the electromagnet by a first vertical distance when the shuttle is coupled to the track. The system may include a first ramp comprising a first angled portion and a first flat portion, and a second ramp comprising a second angled portion and a second flat portion, the ramps configured to be removably coupled to the track. A vertical distance between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet may be equal to or greater than the first vertical distance as the shuttle moves upwards along the ramps.

Removal and replacement of container shuttles from rail tracks

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated self-calibration and maintenance for container shuttles. An example system for automated repairs may include a track, a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet, the shuttle configured to move along the track, and an electromagnet disposed along the track, where the shuttle is propelled via interaction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. The system may include a maintenance area accessible via the track, and a set of robotic manipulators disposed about the maintenance area, the set of robotic manipulators configured to perform automated maintenance actions on the shuttle. The system may include a first controller configured to determine that the shuttle is in need of maintenance, and automatically direct the shuttle to the maintenance area.

Automated self-calibration and maintenance for container shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors. An example system may include a first rail segment that forms a first side of the track, the first rail segment having a first aperture, a second rail segment that forms a second side of the track, the second rail segment having a second aperture, and a first camera disposed adjacent to the first aperture. The system may include a second camera disposed adjacent to the second aperture, and a controller configured to determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle using the first camera, determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera, and determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images.

Wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors

Systems and methods are disclosed for a shuttle track system having a calibration shuttle for determining portions of the track having non-conforming geometry for optimum use of the shuttle track system. For example, the shuttle track system may include a track having an electromagnetic propulsion system (e.g., linear synchronous motor) embedded between two sides of the track. The calibration shuttle may move to various locations on the track and may use imaging systems for generating image data of a portion of the track. A trained model may process the image data to determine edges and surfaces of the components of the track and may determine distances between reference points on the track. The distances may be compared to threshold values to determine if they are in conformity with desired track geometry.

Systems and methods for calibrating a shuttle track

Systems and methods are disclosed for seamless disengagement of shuttles powered by electromagnets. An example system may include a frame coupled to a track, a first conveyor disposed along the first side of the track, a second conveyor disposed along the second side of the track, and an actuator configured to drive the first conveyor and the second conveyor, where the first conveyor and the second conveyor are configured to engage a first bar disposed on a lower surface of the shuttle. The system may be configured to (i) move the shuttle from a first location along the track to a second location along the track, and (ii) pause movement of the shuttle between the first location and the second location.

Seamless disengagement of shuttles powered by electromagnets

Systems and methods are disclosed for elevators for material handling shuttles. In one embodiment, an example system configured to change elevation of a shuttle may include an elevator track disposed between a loading zone and an unloading zone, and a platform coupled to the elevator track and configured to move between the loading zone and the unloading zone. The platform may be configured to engage with a lower surface of the shuttle at the loading zone. The platform may be configured to lift the shuttle off a first set of rails at the loading zone, and to position the shuttle onto a second set of rails at the unloading zone.

Elevators for material handling shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated lateral transfer and elevation of sortation shuttles. An example system may include a track having a first portion arranged in a first direction, a shuttle configured to move along the track, and a shuttle carriage system configured to move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, where the shuttle is configured to move from the track to the shuttle carriage system. The shuttle carriage system may include a first frame configured to support the shuttle, a first electromagnet configured to propel the first frame, and a second electromagnet coupled to the first frame, the second electromagnet configured to propel the shuttle off the first frame.

Automated lateral transfer and elevation of sortation shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for passive braking systems for container shuttles. An example system may include a track having a first portion and a ramp portion disposed at an angle, a first electromagnet disposed along the first portion, a shuttle with a permanent magnet that is configured to interact with the first electromagnet to propel the shuttle along the track, and a first metal block disposed along the ramp portion. The shuttle may enter the ramp portion at a first speed and exit the ramp portion at a second speed due to an eddy current induced in the first metal block by the permanent magnet.

Passive braking systems for container shuttles

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for helical container conveyance. In one embodiment, an example container conveyance system may include a set of rails having a first rail and a second rail, the set of rails configured to guide a container from an upright position at a first point along the set of rails to an inverted position at a second point along the set of rails. The system may include a drive mechanism configured to propel the container along the set of rails, and a conveyor disposed under a portion of the set of rails corresponding to the second point.

Helical container conveyance systems

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for automated securing and releasing of items on shuttles. In one embodiment, an example item sortation system may include a shuttle having a conveyor, a first gate portion having a second width that is about half a first width of the conveyor, a second gate portion having the second width, an optional third gate portion having the second width, and an optional fourth gate portion having the second width, wherein the third gate portion and the fourth gate portion are disposed at a second side of the conveyor. The first gate portion, the second gate portion, the third gate portion, and the fourth gate portion may be configured to: (i) secure the at least one item on the conveyor during transport, and (ii) guide the at least one item along the conveyor when the item is unloaded.

Automated securing and releasing of items on shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for container shuttles having omnidirectional wheels. In one embodiment, an example system for shuttle transportation may include a first linear synchronous motor arranged in a first orientation, a second linear synchronous motor arranged in a second orientation that is offset with respect to the first linear synchronous motor, and a shuttle having a permanent magnet and a plurality of omnidirectional wheels. The shuttle may be configured to be propelled in a first direction via the first linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet, and to be propelled in a second direction via the second linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Ganesh Krishnamoorthy