Container and Robot Communication in Inventory System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018150661-A1
Application number	US-201615362195-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 28, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention is a system in which containers communicate their specifications to a robot, preferably a robotic arm, in order to teach the robot how to handle the individual contents of the containers. Each container has a controller that stores information about that container's contents. In order for the robot to interact with the container's contents, the robot communicates with the controller of the container to receive instructions for interacting with the contents. Preferably, the system is part of an automated storage and retrieval system, and the robot interacts with the contents of the containers as part of an assigned task, such as food preparation. The system may include feedback sensors and a user interface.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
One or more containers, each container comprising a controller comprising information about individual contents of the container; and A robot that communicates with the controller of each container to receive instructions how to interact with the individual contents of the container.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the robot is a robotic arm.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises physical properties and handling instructions of the individual contents.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises size, shape, weight, position, temperature, texture, and material makeup information for the individual contents of the container.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the individual contents of each container comprise machine reader indicia.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the machine reader indicia are radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are storage bins.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are components of an automated storage and retrieval system, and wherein the one or more containers are repositioned within the automated storage and retrieval system.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated storage and retrieval system further comprises one or more access ports, and wherein the automated storage and retrieval system brings the one or more containers to the one or more access ports, and wherein the robot interacts with the one or more containers and the individual contents of the one or more containers at the one or more access ports.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated storage and retrieval system comprises a central controller that communicates with the controller of each of the one or more containers, and wherein the robot communicates with the controller of the automated storage and retrieval system.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the robot interacts with the one or more containers as part of an assigned task.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the assigned task is food preparation.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are removably mounted to one or more walls.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors that provide feedback for the system.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise weight sensors that are in communication with the robot.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise weight sensors that are in communication with the one or more containers.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein feedback from the weight sensor is used to ascertain at least one of the group consisting of whether individual contents have been removed from the one or more containers, whether individual contents have been added to the one or more containers, and current stock levels of the individual contents of the one or more containers.

18 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein a user is informed of current stock levels of the individual contents within the one or more containers via the user interface.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein a user assigns tasks to the robot via the user interface.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Blanch Joseph

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Blanch Joseph

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• B25J11/008 Primary

  Manipulators for service tasks · CPC title

• G06K7/10366 Primary

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title