A movable body control system (SYS) includes first and second movable bodies (1#1, 1#2) that are movable in a predetermined area (TA) in which a wireless communication network (NW) is built; and a control apparatus (3) for controlling the first and second movable bodies through the wireless communication network, the control apparatus includes: a storage unit (32) for storing a first communication quality information that indicates a communication quality in the predetermined area when the first movable body exists in each of a plurality of different locations in the predetermined area; a generation unit (311) for generating, based on the first communication quality information, a target moving route (TGT#2) that allows the second movable body to move while avoiding a first low quality location (DA_low1) at which the communication quality does not reach a desired quality due to the first movable body; and a control unit (312) for controlling the second movable body so that the second movable body moves along the target moving route.

Transporters and methods for transporting an object. The transporter includes a carrier comprising a plurality of coupling members; a support assembly adapted to support the carrier; and a plurality of automatic guided vehicles configured to obtain kinematic information from a leading automatic guided vehicle of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles. Each of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles includes a carrier connecting member coupled to the respective coupling member of the carrier to enable the carrier to move with the plurality of automatic guided vehicles; and a patrol assembly adapted to enable the respective automatic guided vehicle to move along the predetermined path.

An autonomous guided vehicle includes a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a sensor system, and a supplemental sensor system. The sensor system has electro-magnetic sensors, each responsive to interaction or interface of a sensor emitted or generated electro-magnetic beam or field with a physical characteristic, the electro-magnetic beam or field being disturbed by interaction or interface with the physical characteristic, and which disturbance is detected by and effects sensing of the physical characteristic. The sensor system generates sensor data embodying at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location information and payload pose or location information. The supplemental sensor system supplements the sensor system, and is, at least in part, a vision system with cameras disposed to capture image data informing the at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location and payload pose or location supplement to the information of the sensor system.

Autonomous carriers or totes that include vacuum units are provided. As the totes move or are moved through a warehouse carrying products, they collect debris. The debris can be analyzed at the tote, and actions can be performed based upon the analysis.

A parcel delivery system is provided for use in complex having a plurality of tenant units each having a tenant address, wherein the complex further comprising an intake facility, a delivery facility, and parcel storage boxes, and wherein the intake facility comprises a scanning station and a first automated ground delivery vehicle in communication with the scanning station and wherein the delivery facility comprises a second automated ground delivery vehicle configured to travel between the delivery station and tenant units. In accordance with embodiments, a computer system interfaces with the parcel delivery system to notify tenants when they have a parcel and to further notify tenants when delivery of the parcel has been completed.

An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

A mobile robot is configured to navigate on a sidewalk and deliver a delivery to a predetermined location. The robot has a body and an enclosed space within the body for storing the delivery during transit. At least two cameras are mounted on the robot body and are adapted to take visual images of an operating area. A processing component is adapted to extract straight lines from the visual images taken by the cameras and generate map data based at least partially on the images. A communication component is adapted to send and receive image and/or map data. A mapping system includes at least two such mobile robots, with the communication component of each robot adapted to send and receive image data and/or map data to the other robot. A method involves operating such a mobile robot in an area of interest in which deliveries are to be made.

An own-position estimating device for estimating an own-position of a moving body by matching a feature extracted from an acquired image with a database in which position information and the feature are associated with each other in advance, includes an estimating unit estimating the own-position of the moving body by matching the feature extracted by the extracting unit with the database, and a determination threshold value adjusting unit adjusting a determination threshold value for extracting the feature, in which the determination threshold value adjusting unit acquires the database in a state in which the determination threshold value is adjusted, and adjusts the determination threshold value on the basis of the determination threshold value linked to each of the position information items in the database, and the extracting unit extracts the feature from the image by using the determination threshold value adjusted by the determination threshold value adjusting unit.

The present invention appropriately evaluates the quality of communications, and optimizes the allocation of conveyance instructions by a control device. The control device (10) is provided with: a communication quality determination unit (12) that determines the quality of wireless communications on the basis of a communication state of a telegram from a conveyance robot (20); and an instruction state determination unit (13) that determines, according to the quality of the wireless communications, an instruction state pertaining to whether to transmit an instruction for controlling the conveyance robot.

The present invention makes an instruction for causing a transport robot to carry out transport easier for a person to understand. A transport system (1) is such that an address indicating a transport destination or a transport source is represented by a tree structure including a node indicating loading locations and a node indicating equipment to which the loading locations are provided, and when the address of the transport destination indicates equipment, a transport robot (20) sequentially loads objects to be transported in accordance with a preset loading priority order in loading locations where no objects to be transported have been loaded, from among the loading locations belonging to that equipment.