Self-driving systems with inventory holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097760-B2
Application number	US-201816083847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2018
Priority date	Aug 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a self-driving system that can engage and move an inventory holder. The self-driving system includes a mobile base comprising motorized wheels, an actuator disposed within the mobile base, the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base, a console having an upper portion and a main body, the main body being coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration, and a first camera disposed on a first side of the upper portion of the console, the first camera facing a second end of the mobile base opposing the first end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising motorized wheels;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base, the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base;
a console having an upper portion and a main body, the main body being coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration;
a first camera disposed on a first side of the upper portion of the console, the first camera facing a second end of the mobile base opposing the first end; and
a second camera disposed on a second side of the upper portion, the second side opposing the first side, and the second camera is operable to detect and avoid an obstacle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first camera is operable to identify boundaries of an object to be supported by an upper surface of the mobile base.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the object is in a form of a handcart, a basket, a bin, or a wheeled container.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first camera is operable to scan a barcode or identifier placed on the object.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is held at an angle of about 105 degrees to about 165 degrees with respect to the main body.

6. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising motorized wheels;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base, the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base;
a console having an upper portion and a main body, the main body being coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration;
a first camera disposed on a first side of the upper portion of the console, the first camera facing a second end of the mobile base opposing the first end; and
a second camera disposed on a second side of the upper portion, the second side opposing the first side, and the second camera is operable to follow a target.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors disposed on an upper surface of the mobile base, the one or more sensors are operable to detect the presence of an object to be supported by the upper surface of the mobile base.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors are reflective-type photosensors.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a push button disposed at a rear side of the mobile base, the button is operable to cause the actuator to adjust the height of the mobile base.

10. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising a support surface and motorized wheels disposed under the support surface, the support surface having a first sensor disposed at a first end of the mobile base and a second sensor disposed at a second end of the mobile base opposing the first end;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base; and
a console coupled to the first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration,
wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base when the first and second sensors detect a change of state from non-blocked to being blocked or from being blocked to non-blocked.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors are reflective photosensors.

12. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, a support surface, and motorized wheels disposed under the support surface, wherein the first sensor is disposed at a first side of the mobile base, the second sensor is disposed at a second side of the mobile base opposing the first side, and the first and second sensors are configured to scan a field of view of up to 360 degrees;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base; and
a console coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration,
wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base when the first and second sensors detect a change of state from non-blocked to being blocked or from being blocked to non-blocked.

13. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising a support surface and motorized wheels disposed under the support surface;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base;
a console coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration; and
a plurality of proximity sensors disposed on long sides of the mobile base,
wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base when the plurality of proximity sensors on long sides of the mobile base detect a change of state from non-blocked to being blocked or from being blocked to non-blocked.

14. A self-driving system, comprising:
a mobile base comprising a support surface and motorized wheels disposed under the support surface, the support surface having a first sensor and a second sensor;
an actuator disposed within the mobile base;
a console coupled to a first end of the mobile base in a standing configuration; and
a contact sensor disposed on an upper surface of the mobile base,
wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a height of the mobile base when the contact sensor detects a contact with an object.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the contact sensor is disposed at a periphery of the upper surface near the console.

Assignees

• Lingdong Tech Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tang Yaming
• Chen Chiung Lin

Classifications

• G05D1/667

  Delivering or retrieving payloads · CPC title

• G05D1/2446

  the passive navigation aids having encoded information, e.g. QR codes or ground control points · CPC title

• G05D2111/10

  Optical signals · CPC title

• G05D2105/28

  of freight · CPC title

• G05D2107/70

  Industrial sites, e.g. warehouses or factories · CPC title