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:
Dec. 23, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 18, 2009
Charles M. Grinnell, Groton, MA (US);
Joseph L. Jones, Acton, MA (US);
Paul E. Sandin, Brookline, NH (US);
Clara VU, Cambridge, MA (US);
Charles M. Grinnell, Groton, MA (US);
Joseph L. Jones, Acton, MA (US);
Paul E. Sandin, Brookline, NH (US);
Clara Vu, Cambridge, MA (US);
Harvest Automation, Inc., Billerica, MA (US);
Abstract
An adaptable handling system featuring a boundary subsystem and one or more robots. Each robot typically includes a chassis, a container lift mechanism moveable with respect to the robot chassis for transporting at least one container, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a boundary sensing subsystem, a container detection subsystem, and a controller. The controller is responsive to the boundary sensing subsystem and the container detection subsystem and is configured to control the drive subsystem to follow a boundary once intercepted until a container is detected and turn until another container is detected. The controller then controls the container lift mechanism to place a transported container proximate the second detected container.