Walmart Apollo, LLC

Jeremy L Velten

Jason D Bellar

Donald R High

Robert L Cantrell

Robert J Taylor

Kurt William Robert Bessel

William Mark Propes

Jeffrey Scott Cruz

Leigh Ann Marie Scobey

Amy J Savaiinaea

Brandon Joel Easterling

There are provided systems and methods for use in arranging merchandise at shelving locations of retailer facilities. In one form, the system may include: a retailer facility with shelving locations for merchandise; a planogram or merchandise database indicating the correspondence of shelving locations to categories of merchandise items; and a pick database containing a first-time pick metric corresponding to each shelving location, the first-time pick metric indicating the frequency of locating the merchandise type at the shelving location. The system may also include a control circuit that determines a set of categories of merchandise items with low first-time pick metrics, determines a subset including certain core merchandise categories and including merchandise categories with the highest sales data, and transmits a notification regarding the subset of categories.

Systems and methods for arranging merchandise at shelving locations

Examples provide a system for a temperature-controlled receiving tunnel. A main body includes an interior compartment and a set of adjustable bulkheads configured to create a set of temperature-controlled zones within the interior compartment. A set of cooling devices are configured to adjust an internal temperature of the set of temperature-controlled zones within the interior compartment. A control device analyzes dynamic truck delivery data and ambient temperature data to generate a predicted cooling time and a cooling initiation time. The predicted cooling time comprises an estimated quantity of time after the cooling initiation time to reach a target temperature within a selected zone in the set of temperature-controlled zones.

Temperature-controlled receiving tunnel

A mobile assembly apparatus and a method of assembling a retail product utilizing a retail assembly are discussed. The mobile assembly apparatus may include a cabinet structure, an expandable work surface, a frame, wheels, an articulated arm, outrigger supports, a power supply, sensors, a hardware dispenser, and a computing device. The mobile assembly apparatus scans a machine readable identifier and retrieves assembly instructions for an item associated with the identifier. The computing device controls the outrigger supports and extendable surface based on the instructions. The computing device monitors the progress of the assembly of the time and validates the assembly based on assembly data from the sensors.

Mobile assembly apparatus

Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for automated product sorting and coordinated delivery using autonomous delivery vehicles within a facility. In exemplary embodiments, a system scans machine readable identifiers affixed to items, and sorts the items into two or more categories. A selected item is identified as scheduled to be picked up in-facility based on the scanning of the machine-readable identifier. An optimal route within the facility from the automated sorting device to an in-facility location is determined for a selected autonomous delivery vehicle based at least in part on at least one of facility traffic patterns, locations of other autonomous delivery vehicles, a number of items to be delivered, and additional tasks that can be performed by the selected autonomous delivery vehicle while delivering the item. The selected autonomous delivery vehicle navigates along the optimal route to the in-facility location to deliver the selected item to the in-facility location.

System and method for automated product sorting and coordinated delivery using autonomous delivery vehicles within a facility

A system and a method for the automated fulfillment of retail orders in a facility is disclosed. A sorting control device aggregates a plurality of orders into a master picklist divides the master picklist into sub-picklists based on a location of the items. The sub-picklists, a first location of an item, and the location of a dock to a conveyor system are transmitted to an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV). The AGV navigates to the first location and obtains the item. The AGV iterates the sub-picklist navigating and retrieving each item. The AGV navigates to the AGV dock of a conveyor system and deposits the items at an inlet of the conveyor system. The conveyor system scans each of the items as they pass through a scan tube. Based on the scanning, each item is directed by a set of computer controlled rollers and actuated platforms to a destination isolation wing.

System and method for automated fulfillment of orders in a facility

An automated bakery kiosktakes orders for customized bakery products, prepares the bakery product, automatically customizes it, stores and dispenses the bakery productwith minimal assistance required from a store associate. It employs a customization subsystemwhich can write or decorate with an edible liquid, such as icing, on the bakery product. It also has temperature-controlled storage compartmentswhich can be used to thaw the bakery productso that it will be ready when it reaches its ultimate destination. There is a cleaning subsystemwhich cleans out the liquid, and an antimicrobial systemwhich reduces microbes on the customization device. The automated bakery kioskalso has a customer interfacethat works with the processorand transport mechanismto transport the customer's bakery productto a pick-up compartmentwhen the customerprovides a proper code to access the bakery product

Automated bakery kiosk with order customization

A disclosed system for transporting items to destination locations, for example when receiving inventory at large retail locations, includes a conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of docking locations; an item identifier operable to read identification data; an orchestrator operable to, based at least on the identification data, pair items with transporter solutions; and a sorting controller operable to, based at least on the identification data and the pairings, route items to specific docking locations where transporter solutions are docked. Transporter solutions may include autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) that bid on delivery tasks and can adjust shelf height in order to facilitate loading and unloading. The AGVs can thus provide an effectively seamless conveyor solution&#x2014;either rollers on the conveyor surface move items or rollers on the underside of the AGV move the AGV with the items.

Flexible automated sorting and transport arrangement

A disclosed system for transporting items to destination locations, for example when receiving inventory at large retail locations, includes an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) having at least one shelf; a shelf elevator operable to raise and lower the at least one shelf; a drive unit operable to move the AGV between a docking location and a destination location; the AGV able to position the at least one shelf at a different heights for loading and offloading items first height and a second height different from the first height, autonomously navigate between the docking location and the first destination location, and bid on delivery tasks. Some examples are further able to use a cartridge unit to expand cargo capacity. An AGV could analyze the currently-loaded weight and the remaining available space, and dynamically adjust the heights of the shelves according to the dimensions of the assigned items.

Autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) cart for item distribution

Embodiments of a vending system are disclosed for delivering custom paints, permitting automated paint mixing and dispensing without the need for assistance. Customizable paint may be ordered locally or remotely, possibly with improved color matching that leverages color references to compare a known color with a color as observed within an image provided by the customer. Dimensional estimates of the surface to be painted may be possible using scale references within an image provided by the customer, to provide quantity suggestions. Common consumer products, having packaging of known color and dimensions, placed within the image provided by the customer may provide both color references and scale references. A preview function may replicate the image provided by the customer, but indicating the new paint color, as adjusted according to an analysis of one or more color references.

Automated paint machine with custom order capability

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are provided for processing of designated items in a facility. In exemplary embodiments, data is received from the scanning of a machine-readable identifier affixed to a first item and that type of item is identified as requiring special handling based on the data and unique criteria derived for the facility. The unique criteria are based at least in part on historical loss data associated with the facility. The item is placed in a secure storage location and one or more images taken by an imaging device of the designated item located in the secure storage location are taken. The images of the designated item in the secure storage location are associated with a record for the designated item in a database.

Growing community of inventors

Bella Vista, AR, United States of America

Jeremy L Velten