Mobile robots for a fulfillment center and methods of automatic order fulfillment using same

Abstract

Conventional automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRSs) are expensive, time consuming to implement, require an appreciable amount of space, and difficult to change after implementation. Accordingly, various mobile robots are described herein that provide on the spot retrieval, picking, and/or placement of items without relying upon any infrastructure to facilitate movement through an environment, thus simplifying deployment and providing a highly scalable solution to automate order fulfillment. In one example, a mobile picker apparatus includes movable platforms to load or unload boxes, a camera assembly to acquire imagery of the items in a box to locate an item for picking, and a picker robot to pick the item from the box and place the item in another box. In another example, a mobile runner apparatus includes a set of movable platforms to load or unload boxes and can be used with a stationary picker apparatus or a picking station.