Methods and systems for automated transportation of items between variable endpoints
US9147173B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/01
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automated system for transporting items between variable endpoints includes a guidance system for identifying the endpoints and at least one autonomous mobile robot interacting with the guidance system for automatically moving items between the endpoints. The at least one robot is configured to (a) collect an item to be transported at a source end point, (b) travel to a destination endpoint utilizing the guidance system to locate the destination endpoint, (c) deliver the item to the destination endpoint, and (d) repeat (a) through (c) for a given set of items. The guidance system is dynamically reconfigurable to identify new endpoints.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.