Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Stavan Dholakia

Paul Eugene Munger

Matthew Ray DesJardien

Minh Van Le

Robert M Riggs

Andrew James Pierce

Dan Beltzer

Sergio Alfredo Phan Lung Li

Kenneth Edward Doe

Nicholas Hernandez

Jacob Lauer

Shivani Sheopory

Nathan Pius O'Neill

Jacob Drewniak

Alexander Eugene Choi

Mike Mosman

Michael P Mosman

Disclosed are various embodiments for optimizing cubic utilization when loading items into a loading space. A current loading configuration of the loading space can be determined according to image data obtained by 3D sensors. Item data (e.g., volume, mass, type, dimensions, etc.) can be determined for incoming items to be loaded into the loading space. The current loading configuration and the item data can be used to determine an item sequence and optimal placement location for the next item to be loaded such that a cubic efficiency of the loading space is maximized and amount of air gaps between items is minimized. The current loading configuration can further be used to determine if a sensing system or an item loading system needs to be repositioned. Whether the next item was placed in the optimal placement can also be verified based on subsequent image data obtained by the 3D sensors.

Optimized package loading

An impulse strip including a plurality of clips, hooks or other features for attaching items to the impulse strip also includes a plurality of switches associated with each of the clips, hooks or other features. The switches are in communication with illuminators or other indicators that are arranged in an array. When an item is loaded onto the strip, or removed from the strip, a switch may be opened or closed, causing one of the illuminators in the array to be activated or deactivated accordingly. An image captured of the illuminators is processed to determine which of the illuminators is activated and which is deactivated, and an inventory level of the strip may be determined based on the statuses of the respective illuminators corresponding to the clips, the hooks or the other features of the impulse strip.

Determining inventory levels using switch-equipped strips and patterns of activated or deactivated indicators

A platform is supported at four corners by four half-bridge load cells. Adjacent load cells are oppositely polarized. During operation, analog output from a pair of oppositely polarized half-bridge load cells is provided to an instrument amplifier. Analog output from the instrument amplifier is provided to an analog to digital converter to provide digital data. The digital data is then used to determine weight data indicative of a weight as measured by the pair of half-bridge load cells at that time. A set of switching elements, such as a quad bilateral switch controlled by a microcontroller, rapidly switch between pairs of oppositely polarized load cells. The weight data may be used to determine an overall weight change on the platform, such as a pick or a place of an item. Weight data from the four pairs of load cells may be used to determine a change in center of gravity.

Position sensing weight measuring device

Disclosed are various embodiments for optimizing cubic utilization when loading packages into a loading space. A current loading configuration of the loading space can be determined according to image data obtained by 3D sensors. Package data (e.g., volume, mass, type, dimensions, etc.) can be determined for incoming packages to be loaded into the package data. The current loading configuration and the package data are used to determine a package sequence and optimal placement location for the next package to be loaded such that a cubic efficiency of the loading space is maximized and amount of air gaps between packages is minimized.

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Shoreline, WA, United States of America

Stavan Dholakia