Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Kiva Systems, Inc.

Patrick R Dingle

Peter K Mansfield

Raffaello D'Andrea

Michael Cordell Mountz

Dennis Polic

Peter R Wurman

Andrew Stubbs

Matthew David Verminski

Sean Hugh Breheny

Dennis Polle

Raffaello D'ANDREA

A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.

Method and system for transporting inventory items

Some examples include charging an onboard power source of a mobile drive unit (MDU) of an inventory system while the MDU is operating in the inventory system, rather than removing the MDU from service for recharging. As an example, the MDU may receive instructions to retrieve an inventory holder, and an onboard power source of the MDU may be charged while the MDU and the inventory holder are located at the charging station.

Mobile drive unit charging

Growing community of inventors

Salem, MA, United States of America

Patrick R Dingle