公开(公告)号：US20190284034A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16434816

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Brian G. McHale ,  Robert C. Taylor ,  David C. Winkle

IPC: B66F9/06 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  H04N5/77 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G05D1/00 ,  A47F3/08 ,  B60L53/63 ,  B60L53/36 ,  G05D1/04 ,  H04W4/33 ,  G01C21/20 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/029 ,  H04W4/80 ,  A47F10/04 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H04N13/282 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  A47F13/00 ,  H04W4/30 ,  A47L11/40 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H02J7/00 ,  G10L17/22 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G06K9/78 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06K9/32 ,  G06K9/18 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G05B19/048 ,  B65F3/00 ,  B07C5/342 ,  B07C5/28 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04W4/02 ,  B60P3/06 ,  B62B5/00 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  E01H5/06

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided, some apparatuses comprise: a location controller separate from a motorized transport unit, comprising: a transceiver configured to receive communications from the motorized transport unit; a control circuit; a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from the communications, a unique light source identifier of a light source detected by the motorized transport unit, and relative distance information determined by the motorized transport unit through an optical measurement; process the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information relative to a mapping of the shopping facility; and determine, in response to the processing, a location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility as a function of the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information.

公开(公告)号：US20190268371A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-29

申请号：US16272385

申请日：2019-02-11

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  David C. Winkle ,  John J. O'Brien ,  Robert L. Cantrell ,  Todd D. Mattingly

IPC: H04L29/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H04B17/318 ,  H04W4/80

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to identifying a hacked data communication received by an unmanned vehicle (UV). In some embodiments, there is provided a system for identifying a hacked data communication received by a UV including a retail UV a first antenna; a second antenna; a timing device; a memory device; a transport device; and a control circuit configured to determine whether data communication is hacked based on at least: an estimated location of a signal source, a determined timestamp, a determined source device identifier, a determined data type of a data content, and a source antenna; and in response to a determination that the data communication is not hacked, modify a first mission data to a second mission data; and initiate operation of the transport device to move the UV through a modified route based on the second mission data.

公开(公告)号：US20190227554A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-25

申请号：US16373380

申请日：2019-04-02

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Robert L. Cantrell ,  John P. Thompson ,  David C. Winkle ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Donald R. High ,  Todd D. Mattingly ,  John J. O'Brien ,  John F. Simon ,  Nathan G. Jones ,  Robert C. Taylor

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for field monitoring. A system for field monitoring comprises a plurality of types of sensor modules, an unmanned vehicle comprising a sensor system, and a control circuit configured to: receive onboard sensor data from the sensor system of the unmanned vehicle, detect an alert condition at a monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, select one or more types of sensor modules from the plurality of types of sensor modules to deploy at the monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, and cause the unmanned vehicle and/or one or more other unmanned vehicles to transport one or more sensor modules of the one or more types of sensor modules to the monitored area and deploy the one or more sensor modules by detaching from the one or more sensor modules at the monitored area.

公开(公告)号：US20190206263A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-04

申请号：US16299818

申请日：2019-03-12

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  David C. Winkle

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/006 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D1/106 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system to identify geographic zones into which unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are inhibited from flying. In some instances, the system detects, while the UAS is in flight and traveling along a flight path to a delivery location where the UAS is scheduled to deliver a package, a no fly zone (NFZ) into which the UAS is to avoid flying; obtains a revised flight path to the delivery location that includes a detour route around the no fly zone; directs the motor controller to control the motors to implement the revised flight path; and detects when the UAS is at a threshold distance from the delivery location and initiate delivery of the package.

公开(公告)号：US20190193853A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-27

申请号：US16288999

申请日：2019-02-28

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Robert L. Cantrell ,  John P. Thompson ,  David C. Winkle ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Donald R. High ,  Todd D. Mattingly ,  Brian G. McHale ,  John J. O'Brien ,  John F. Simon ,  Nathan G. Jones ,  Robert C. Taylor

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64D1/22

Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that include a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; propulsion system; and a universal coupler configured to interchangeably couple with and decouple from one of multiple different tool systems each having different functions to be put into use while carried by a UAV, wherein a coupling system of the universal coupler is configured to secure a tool system with the UAV and enable a communication connection between a communication bus and the tool system, and wherein the multiple different tool systems comprise at least a package securing tool system configured to retain and enable transport of a package while being delivered, and a sensor tool system configured to sense a condition and communicate sensor data of the sensed condition to the UAV control circuit over the communication bus.

公开(公告)号：US20190164439A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16265129

申请日：2019-02-01

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  Robert C. Taylor ,  David C. Winkle ,  John P. Thompson

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06F16/22

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to allocate unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Some embodiments, provide UAS allocation systems, comprising: a UAS database that stores for each registered UAS an identifier and corresponding operational capabilities; an allocation control circuit configured to: obtain a first set of multiple task parameters specified by a first customer and corresponding to a requested first predefined task that the customer is requesting a UAS be allocated to perform; identify, from the UAS database, a first UAS having operational capabilities to perform the first set of task parameters while implementing the first task; and cause an allocation notification to be communicated to a first UAS provider, of the multiple UAS providers, associated with the first UAS requesting the first UAS provider to allocate the identified first UAS to implement the first task.

公开(公告)号：US20190156282A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-23

申请号：US16259281

申请日：2019-01-28

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： David C. Winkle ,  Robert C. Taylor ,  Todd D. Mattingly ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Robert L. Cantrell ,  John J. O'Brien

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G07C9/00

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for receiving and storing delivered items. In some embodiments, a secured delivery locker is described herein that can communicate with delivery vehicles and/or users. In several embodiments, an autonomous delivery vehicle can communicate with a secured delivery locker to authenticate itself. The secured delivery locker can then grant access to the delivery vehicle, such as by opening a door to an interior thereof, so that the delivery vehicle can deposit a package therein. The locker can then confirm receipt of the package and close the door. Thereafter, the locker and/or the delivery vehicle can update a system to indicate that the package was delivered.

公开(公告)号：US10296005B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-21

申请号：US15697293

申请日：2017-09-06

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Robert L. Cantrell ,  John P. Thompson ,  David C. Winkle ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Donald R. High ,  Todd D. Mattingly ,  John J. O'Brien ,  John F. Simon ,  Nathan G. Jones ,  Robert C. Taylor

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for field monitoring. A system for field monitoring comprises a plurality of types of sensor modules, an unmanned vehicle comprising a sensor system, and a control circuit configured to: receive onboard sensor data from the sensor system of the unmanned vehicle, detect an alert condition at a monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, select one or more types of sensor modules from the plurality of types of sensor modules to deploy at the monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, and cause the unmanned vehicle and/or one or more other unmanned vehicles to transport one or more sensor modules of the one or more types of sensor modules to the monitored area and deploy the one or more sensor modules by detaching from the one or more sensor modules at the monitored area.

公开(公告)号：US10280054B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-07

申请号：US15060953

申请日：2016-03-04

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Shuvro Chakrobartty ,  Karl Kay ,  Brian G. McHale ,  Robert C. Taylor ,  John P. Thompson ,  Eric E. Welch ,  David C. Winkle

IPC: A47F3/08 ,  B07C5/28 ,  B60P3/06 ,  B62B5/00 ,  B65F3/00 ,  B66F9/06 ,  E01H5/06 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06K9/18 ,  G06K9/32 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  A47F10/04 ,  H04W4/80 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  H04W4/04 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  H04N5/77 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  H04W4/33 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04N13/282 ,  A47L11/40 ,  B60L11/18 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06K9/78 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L17/22 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04W4/30 ,  A47F13/00 ,  B07C5/342 ,  G05B19/048 ,  H04W4/02 ,  H04W4/40 ,  G06F21/60 ,  H04L29/06 ,  G06Q20/12 ,  A47F10/02 ,  H04B1/38 ,  A47F10/00 ,  G05B19/12 ,  G06F17/30

Abstract: Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

公开(公告)号：US10254766B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-09

申请号：US15708686

申请日：2017-09-19

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  David C. Winkle ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Brian G. McHale ,  Nicholas Ray Antel ,  John J. O'Brien ,  Todd D. Mattingly ,  Nathan G. Jones

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C1/20

Abstract: Some embodiments include systems, methods, and apparatuses capable of determining a leader of a group of autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a system of autonomous vehicles comprises two or more autonomous vehicles each having a communication device and in communication with one another, each of the two or more autonomous vehicles configured to travel as a group, receive and transport goods, communicate with others of the two or more autonomous vehicles in the group, and conduct a negotiation to establish at least one leader, wherein any one of the two or more autonomous vehicles can become the at least one leader.