B65G1/1373

CONVEYANCE SYSTEM AND CONVEYING METHOD

A conveyance system according to this disclosure includes a movement request acceptor which accepts a movement request to an automatic conveying device; and a section travel-route setter which sets a section travel route with a predetermined length constituting a part of a travel route from a current position of a first automatic conveying device to a destination position so that the section travel route of the first automatic conveying device does not overlap the section travel route set for another second automatic conveying device on the basis of the movement request accepted by the movement request acceptor, in which the section travel-route setter repeatedly executes processing of setting a second section travel route with an end position of a first section travel route as a start position of the subsequent second section travel route while the automatic conveying device is traveling on the first section travel route.

TRANSPORT OF OBJECTS USING ROBOTS
20220379479 · 2022-12-01 · ·

A method of transporting an object using a system comprising a plurality of robots. The method comprises one or more robots of the plurality of robots arranging themselves to each exert a respective transporting force on the object. Each of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies a transport criterion while arranged to exert the respective transporting force on the object. If all of the one or more robots satisfy the transport criterion, the one or more robots exert the respective transporting forces on the object to transport the object towards a destination. At least one of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies the transport criterion based on observations of other robots of the plurality of robots within its vicinity.

MANUFACTURING SYSTEM WITH AN INTERCONNECTED STORAGE STRUCTURE AND MANUFACTURING CELLS SHARING A COMMON ROBOTIC FLEET
20220371825 · 2022-11-24 ·

A manufacturing system including an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) structure with a three-dimensional array of storage locations distributed throughout a two-dimensional footprint of the ASRS structure at multiple storage levels; workpieces stored within the storage locations of the ASRS structure; robotic storage retrieval vehicles (RSRVs) navigable within the ASRS structure in three dimensions to access the storage locations, and multiple manufacturing cells positioned outside the ASRS structure, is provided. The manufacturing system includes a track structure attached to the ASRS structure and defining one or more travel paths traversable by the RSRVs from the ASRS structure. The same fleet of RSRVs that is navigable within the ASRS structure is operable to deliver the workpieces to the manufacturing cells. One or more of the manufacturing cells are positioned along the track structure, thereby receiving convenient access to the workpieces along with associated tool pieces and workpiece supports for manufacturing goods.

WAREHOUSING SYSTEM AND WAREHOUSING CONTROL METHOD APPLIED TO WAREHOUSING SYSTEM
20220374829 · 2022-11-24 · ·

A warehousing system and warehousing control method are disclosed. The warehousing system comprises: an inventory holder, a control module, and a transport device. The inventory holder includes a plurality of layers in the vertical direction, each provided with a plurality of goods locations, where each goods location has a popularity grade. The popularity grade of the goods location is related to the layer, where the goods location is located, and/or the distance between the goods location and an entrance of the inventory holder. The goods location stores goods of which the popularity grade matches the popularity grade of the goods location. For example, the higher the popularity grade of the goods, the higher the in-warehouse/ex-warehouse frequency, so that a transport device can save time when acquiring goods having high popularity grade a plurality of times, improving the efficiency of the transport device in picking up and storing goods.

HANDLING ROBOT
20220371821 · 2022-11-24 ·

A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

Picking systems and methods

A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Autonomous robots performing concerted operation based on shared sensory access and holistic flow of information

Increased robotic sophistication and more efficient autonomous operation is implemented by providing separate physical autonomous robots shared and remote access to the sensory array and information from the sensory array of one another. Each robot can access a sensor of any other robot, or scans or other information obtained from the sensor of any other robot. The robots leverage the shared sensory access in order to perform batch order fulfillment, dynamic rearrangement of item or tote locations, and opportunistic charging. These coordinated robotic operations based on the shared sensory access increase the efficiency and productivity of the robots without adding resources or hardware to the robots, increasing the speed of the robots, or increasing the number of deployed robots.

Warehousing management system and method
11584589 · 2023-02-21 · ·

Provided are a warehousing management system and method. The system includes: a control server, an inventory container, an access device, a temporary container, a workstation and a carrying device. The control server is configured to, in response to a current task, determine a first target inventory container in which a target storage container hit by the current task is located, a first target access device, a target temporary container, a target workstation, and a first target carrying device, and control the first target access device to take out the target storage container from the first target inventory container, carry and store the target storage container to the target temporary container; and control the first target carrying device to move the target temporary container to the target workstation for operation.

Robot-based warehouse order picking method, apparatus and system, electronic device, and storage medium
11587034 · 2023-02-21 · ·

A robot-based electronic commerce warehouse order picking method is provided, box body identity information of a circulation box is acquired and the circulation box and a robot are bound based on the box body identity information, the circulation box includes at least one circulation position, a tag and a goods placement mark are correspondingly arranged at the circulation position, and the box body identity information includes information of the tag and information of the goods placement mark; warehouse order information is acquired and the warehouse order information is associated with the box body identity information to obtain order binding information; an interaction terminal of the robot is controlled according to the order binding information to display an interaction interface to instruct a picker to pick goods at a corresponding goods position and place the goods at the circulation position according to the goods placement mark.

Parcel and article sorting system and method with destination container removal

System includes an article supply location that includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container, and one or more removal devices that transport the container to a location of further processing. System further includes a control system configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container, deposit the article in the destination container, and transport the destination container to a location for further processing by manipulation of the removal device.