公开(公告)号：US11498776B1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US16530864

申请日：2019-08-02

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Sandeep Sikka ,  Nitin Verma ,  Michael Bhaskaran

IPC: B07C5/342 ,  B65G47/90 ,  G06N5/04

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method may determine a first candidate item type and a second candidate item type for a container. The method may determine appearance feature(s) of the first candidate item type and appearance feature(s) of the second candidate item type. The method may determine, using a trained dissimilarity model, a distinguishability score between the first candidate item type and the second candidate item type based on the appearance feature(s) of the first candidate item type and the appearance feature(s) of the second candidate item type. The method may determine to store the first candidate item type and the second candidate item type together in the container based on the distinguishability score between the first candidate item type and the second candidate item type. In some instances, the method may place item(s) of the first candidate item type and item(s) of the second candidate item type in the container.

公开(公告)号：US11049065B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-29

申请号：US16024744

申请日：2018-06-30

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Sandeep Sikka ,  Nitin Verma ,  Michael Bhaskaran

IPC: G06Q10/08

Abstract: A method determines a processing cluster including one or more stock keeping units (SKUs); divides the processing cluster into a first cluster and a second cluster based on SKU affinities between the one or more SKUs in the processing cluster; determines a first SKU of the first cluster to be replicated to the second cluster based on a demand correlation between the first SKU of the first cluster and a second SKU of the second cluster; replicates the first SKU of the first cluster to the second cluster; responsive to replicating the first SKU of the first cluster to the second cluster, determines whether the first cluster and the second cluster satisfy a defined constraint; and responsive to determining that the first cluster and the second cluster satisfy the defined constraint, assigns the first cluster to a first physical location and assigning the second cluster to a second physical location.

公开(公告)号：US20190220804A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US15872973

申请日：2018-01-16

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Vishal Musunuri ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Amit Kalra

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B65G1/10

CPC classification number: G06Q10/087 ,  B65G1/10

Abstract: A technology for managing space utilization using self-adjusting inventory slots is described. In an example embodiment, a system comprises a shelving unit including a shelf, and a shelf adjustment system including an electronic display strip extending parallel with the shelf of the shelving unit. The electronic display strip may display a first visual representation of a first adjustable inventory slot horizontally adjacent to a second visual representation of a second adjustable inventory slot, the first visual representation indicating a first portion of the shelf as the first adjustable inventory slot for a first item, and the second visual representation indicating a second portion of the shelf as the second adjustable inventory slot for a second item.

公开(公告)号：US20180137454A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-17

申请号：US15814564

申请日：2017-11-16

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Girish Kulkarni ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Vikranth Gopalakrishnan

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: G06Q10/083 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64D1/02 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/021 ,  G05D1/0212 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G08G1/205 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0043 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: An example system may comprise a docking station remotely located from a fulfillment center, a fulfillment system, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). The fulfillment system manages the fulfillment center and the docking station, receives a request to ship an item, determines an item transfer point based on a delivery point, and calculates a flight path to the item transfer point. The fulfillment system loads the item at the fulfillment center via a handling mechanism of the UAV and deploys the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path. The AGV is coupled for wireless communication with the fulfillment system, the docking station, and the AGV. The item transfer point indicates a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV based on the delivery point.

公开(公告)号：US20240367907A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-07

申请号：US18773376

申请日：2024-07-15

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Jarvis ,  Paolo Gerli Amador ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Amit Kalra ,  Rodney Gallaway ,  Vikranth Gopalakrishnan

IPC: B65G1/137 ,  B60P1/00 ,  B60P1/02 ,  B65G1/04 ,  B66F9/06 ,  G05D1/246 ,  G05D1/247 ,  G05D1/661 ,  G06Q10/087

Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.

公开(公告)号：US11893535B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-06

申请号：US16940138

申请日：2020-07-27

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Jarvis ,  Paolo Gerli Amador ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Vikranth Gopalakrishnan ,  Rodney Gallaway

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/0875 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G05D1/02 ,  B65G43/00

CPC classification number: G06Q10/0875 ,  G01C21/206 ,  G05D1/0225 ,  G05D1/0274 ,  G05D1/0285 ,  G05D1/0297 ,  B65G43/00 ,  B65G2209/06 ,  G05D2201/0216

Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.

公开(公告)号：US11124401B1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-21

申请号：US16371104

申请日：2019-03-31

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Jarvis ,  Paolo Gerli Amador ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Amit Kalra

IPC: B66F9/06 ,  G05D1/02 ,  B65G1/137 ,  G05D1/00

Abstract: A system and method for automated loading of delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles (“AGV”s) is described. In an example implementation, a loading coordination engine may assign a location on a mobile cart to an item and generate a task list including instructions to a first and a second AGV to position the item on the mobile cart based on the assigned location and to transport the mobile cart into a delivery vehicle. The first AGV may transport the item from an item loading area to a point proximate to the assigned location on the mobile cart and place the item at the assigned location based on the task list. The second AGV may transport the mobile cart from a cart loading zone into the delivery vehicle based on the task list and, in some instances, secure the mobile cart to the delivery vehicle based on the task list.

公开(公告)号：US11084410B1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16534974

申请日：2019-08-07

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Bhaskaran ,  Weston Harris ,  Maimuna Rangwala

IPC: B60P1/02 ,  B66F5/00 ,  G05D1/02

Abstract: An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is described. In an example implementation, the AGV may include a lift platform and an AGV controller configured to control one or more operations of the AGV. The lift platform of the AGV may include a support surface adapted to contact a surface of a shelving unit and provide support from underneath the shelving unit when the support surface is in an elevated position and the shelving unit is situated on the support surface, and a lifting mechanism including motor(s) coupled to the support surface and providing a first lifting force via a first portion of the support surface and a second lifting force via a second portion of the support surface, the first lifting force and the second lifting force vertically lifting or lowering the shelving unit via the support surface based on a weight distribution of the shelving unit on the support surface.

公开(公告)号：US11053076B1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-06

申请号：US16687519

申请日：2019-11-18

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Vikranth Gopalakrishnan ,  Daniel Jarvis ,  Rodney Gallaway ,  Michael Bhaskaran

IPC: B65G1/137 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B07C5/00

Abstract: Technology for optimizing carton induction in an order fulfillment picking system is described. In an example embodiment, a method, implemented using one or more computing devices, may include receiving scan data reflecting status of cartons being conveyed by a conveying system, receiving confirmatory input reflecting pick completion for a subset of the cartons being conveyed by the conveying system, and generating an estimated time of arrival for one or more cartons not yet inducted into the conveying system based on the scan data and the confirmatory input. The method may further include generating a load forecast based on the estimated time of arrival and inducting one or more of the one or more cartons into the conveying system based on the load forecast.

公开(公告)号：US11049064B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-29

申请号：US15872973

申请日：2018-01-16

Applicant: Staples, Inc.

Inventor： Vishal Musunuri ,  Michael Bhaskaran ,  Amit Kalra

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06K7/00 ,  G06K19/07 ,  B65G1/10

Abstract: A technology for managing space utilization using self-adjusting inventory slots is described. In an example embodiment, a system comprises a shelving unit including a shelf, and a shelf adjustment system including an electronic display strip extending parallel with the shelf of the shelving unit. The electronic display strip may display a first visual representation of a first adjustable inventory slot horizontally adjacent to a second visual representation of a second adjustable inventory slot, the first visual representation indicating a first portion of the shelf as the first adjustable inventory slot for a first item, and the second visual representation indicating a second portion of the shelf as the second adjustable inventory slot for a second item.