The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 2014
Filed:
May. 06, 2013
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Gary M. McClelland, Palo Alto, CA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method according to one embodiment includes causing, using a controller, a mobile robot having a volume of less than about 1000 cubic inches to selectively retrieve one or more of a plurality of tape reels; and causing the mobile robot to transport the one or more retrieved tape reels to a tape drive that is configured for reading data from tape stored on at least one of the plurality of tape reels. A method according to another embodiment includes causing, using a controller, at least one mobile robot to selectively retrieve at least one of a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface; and causing the mobile robot(s) to transport the retrieved tape reels to a tape drive. Preferably, the mobile robot(s) in either embodiment move unconstrained, e.g., along an upper surface that overlies the plurality of tape reels.