Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Gavin Cotter

Jeremiah David Brazeau

Peter R Wurman

Michael Cordell Mountz

John Joseph Enright

Michael Harrison Decker

Ishan Mukherjee

Eric Fitting

Morris Choun Chung

Vikas Reddy Enti Ranga Reddy

Lisa Michelle Goldman

Eric James Fitting

A system to provide additional functionality to robots in automated warehouse systems is disclosed. The system can include a number of additional components that can be attached to existing components of the warehouse system to improve safety, functionality, and decrease costs. The system can provide modular tools to enable robots to perform additional tasks without having equipment permanently installed on the robots. The bases or shelves for the automated warehouse system can be equipped with robotic arms, lights, cameras, sensors, actuators and other components to enable a robot to utilize a particular tool for a particular job. The robot and the bases or shelving units can also comprise complementary electronic connections to provide power and/or data communications between the robot, the bases or shelving units, and/or a management module.

Modular, multi-function smart storage containers

An inventory system includes inventory holders, container holders, containers carried by the container holders, mobile drive units, stations, and a management module. The management module instructs the mobile drive units to move the inventory holders and container holders to stations. Container holders are loaded with containers of inbound inventory items at a first station. Inbound inventory items are transferred from containers to inventory holders at a second station. Outbound inventory items are transferred from inventory holders to containers at a third station. Containers of outbound inventory items are removed from container holders at a fourth station.

Container holder utilization and selection

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Gavin Cotter