公开(公告)号：US09663292B1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-30

申请号：US15261581

申请日：2016-09-09

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jeremiah David Brazeau ,  Tristan Bellman-Greenwood ,  Colin Brazeau

IPC: G06F7/00 ,  B65G1/04 ,  B65G1/10 ,  G06Q10/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0214 ,  B65G1/10 ,  G05D1/0297 ,  G05D2201/0216 ,  G06Q10/04

Abstract: Forecasted drive unit dispatch is described. An inventory pod associated with a materials handling action is identified, and a first drive unit is requisitioned and dispatched to retrieve the inventory pod and return it to a materials handling station. Concurrently, the ongoing status of other materials handling actions are monitored over time. Based on the ongoing status, a timeframe for the completion of another materials handling action is determined. An inventory pod zone associated with the other materials handling action is identified, and a second drive unit is dispatched on a forecasted route toward the inventory pod zone based on the timeframe. Later, the second drive unit is redirected to a particular inventory pod within the inventory pod zone. The second drive unit arrives at the particular inventory pod in less time because it was dispatched on the forecasted route toward the inventory pod zone earlier.