Walmart Apollo, LLC

Wal-mart Stores, Inc.

Other

Michael D Atchley

Donald R High

David C Winkle

John Paul Thompson

Brian G McHale

Robert C Taylor

Todd Davenport Mattingly

Robert L Cantrell

John Jeremiah O'Brien

John F Simon

Nathan Glenn Jones

Karl Kay

Eric E Welch

Shuvro Chakrobartty

ChandraShekar Natarajan

Nicholas Ray Antel

Bruce Walter Wilkinson

Eric Anthony Letson

Chandrashekar Natarajan

Matthew Allen Jones

Luke Matthew Reynolds

Gary Dewayne Griggs

Martin Thomas Faitak, Iv

Nicholas D Rone

David E Ferrell

Robert Abate

Some embodiments include apparatuses providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a retail facility, comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system, wherein the central computer system comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: receive an override command, from a worker associated with the retail facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions; confirm a valid authorization of the worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command.

Overriding control of motorized transport unit systems, devices and methods

A robotic delivery system includes a server, a dispatch module, and a robotic delivery vehicle. The dispatch module transmits a suggested item to the dispatch application being executable on a client device operated by a user; and receives, from the dispatch application, a selection of the suggested item from the user of the client device.

Autonomous robot delivery systems and methods

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

Shopping facility assistance systems, devices and methods

A robotic delivery system includes a server, a dispatch module, and a robotic delivery vehicle. The dispatch module transmits a suggested item to the dispatch application being executable on a client device operated by a user; transmits an item cost for the suggested item to a dispatch application; receives, from the dispatch application, a selection of the suggested item from the user of the client device; transmits a message directing the robotic delivery vehicle to deliver the suggested item having been selected; and transmits a message to a facility associated with the robotic delivery vehicle.

A distributed robotic delivery system includes a mobile application, a server, a dispatch module, and a plurality of robotic delivery vehicles. The mobile application receives suggested items for purchase, the suggested items selected by having a set of properties suitable for delivery by a selected one of the plurality of robotic delivery vehicles, where the set of properties includes product dimensions and weight; receives item costs to be provided to a user for the suggested items; displays the item costs; and transmits a message directing the dispatch module to deploy the selected one of the plurality of robotic delivery vehicles to deliver one or more items of the suggested items selected by the user.

An electronic shelf label system comprising an electronic display device and a plurality of electronic shelf labels is provided. A computing system transmits data transmissions to the plurality of electronic shelf labels. Each of the electronic shelf labels are configured to receive, from the computing system, data to render on an electronic display of each of the electronic shelf labels. The electronic display device is configured to determine, based on at least one of a set of specified conditions or the data rendered on each of the electronic shelf labels, content to be rendered on the electronic display of the electronic display device, and adjust the display of the electronic display device to render the content based on the determination.

Methods and systems for an electronic shelf label system

A distributed robotic delivery system includes a mobile application, a server, a dispatch module, and a plurality of robotic delivery vehicles. The mobile application receives an item cost, robotic delivery shipping options, and acquisition factors. The mobile device displays the item cost, robotic delivery shipping options, and the acquisition factors in a user interface. Upon a selection of robotic delivery option, the mobile application notifies the dispatch module to deploy the robotic delivery vehicle with the item to the specified delivery point.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for unmanned flight optimization. A system for unmanned flight comprises a set of motors configured to provide locomotion to an unmanned aerial vehicle, a set of wings coupled to a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle via an actuator and configured to move relative to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a sensor system on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: control the unmanned aerial vehicle, cause the set of motors to lift the unmanned aerial vehicle, detect condition parameters based on the sensor system, determine a position for the set of wings based on the condition parameters, and cause the actuator to move the set of wings to the wing position while the unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight.

Apparatus and method for unmanned flight

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for facilitating delivery of products purchased over the internet by the customers to the customers from a selected product stocking facility of the retailer. The products can be delivered to the customer from the selected product stocking facility of the retailer via a worker of the product stocking facility or an unmanned delivery vehicle.

Systems and methods for facilitating delivery of products ordered over the internet to customers

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for developing an item data model for an item. Aspects of the invention can automate the process of data collection of 'facts' for 'items' that information is needed about. Facts can be organized and normalized to eliminate redundant facts, and interpret what is found. Data requirements extraction and automated modeling using a combination of data virtualization, data analytics, extract, transform, and load (ETL), web crawlers, and reverse engineering systems, can be used along with other technologies to develop an item model. A model owner feeds a curating module with the information for locating the facts to be used, and initiating the modeling process. Existing data structures, websites, vendor input, etc. can be described to the import process, and an item model is produced. The model can be imported into existing modeling tools for viewing, or viewed as XML.

Developing an item data model for an item

Some embodiments provide a system comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer comprising: a transceiver, a control circuit and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: receive a request from a customer requesting location information for a requested item; identify the requested item is a category of items, and identify category location information; communicate routing instructions to the motorized transport unit based on the category location information causing the motorized transport unit to initiate physical movement; and communicate to the motorized transport unit a species clarification inquiry instruction configured to cause the motorized transport unit, while implementing routing instructions to move toward the category location, to present a clarification inquiry to the customer seeking clarification in narrowing the identified category to one or more products categorized within the identified category.

Systems, devices and methods of providing customer support in locating products

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

Growing community of inventors

Eureka Springs, AR, United States of America

Michael D Atchley