公开(公告)号：US11822343B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17328777

申请日：2021-05-24

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： David C. Winkle ,  John J. O'Brien ,  Robert L. Cantrell

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04W40/22 ,  G01C21/36

CPC classification number: G05D1/0276 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/0214 ,  G05D1/0287 ,  G05D1/101 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04W40/22 ,  G01C21/3691

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for monitoring and controlling communication capabilities of unmanned transport vehicles that via one or more intermediate communication devices that provide relay communications between the unmanned transport vehicles and a control station device when the unmanned transport vehicles travel through areas where the network quality does not permit direct communication between the unmanned transport vehicles and the control station device.

公开(公告)号：US20220106174A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17551130

申请日：2021-12-14

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  David C. Winkle

IPC: B66F9/06 ,  G06V20/56 ,  A47F3/08 ,  A47F10/04 ,  B07C5/28 ,  B07C5/342 ,  B62B5/00 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  G10L13/00 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H04N7/18 ,  H04W4/02 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04W4/029 ,  H04N13/282 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G06V20/20 ,  G06V20/52 ,  A47L11/40 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G10L17/22 ,  B60L53/63 ,  G06V20/40 ,  B65F3/00 ,  E01H5/06 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G06F3/01 ,  H04L67/143 ,  H04W4/80 ,  G06V10/10 ,  G06V30/224 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/33 ,  H04W4/30 ,  B60P3/06 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G08G1/00 ,  H04B10/116 ,  A47F13/00 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04N5/77 ,  B60L53/36 ,  G06V20/64 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  H04W4/40 ,  G06V20/58 ,  G06V10/24 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G10L15/22 ,  H04L67/141 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06Q20/12 ,  A47F10/02 ,  G05B19/12 ,  H04B1/38 ,  G06F16/903 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06V20/00 ,  A47F10/00 ,  G06F21/60

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining item availability are provided. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising: receiving a request for an item for purchase from a customer, querying an inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock, in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database: determining an out of stock response to present to the customer, in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database: instructing a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase, determining whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit, and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space: determining an item unavailable response to present to the customer.

公开(公告)号：US20210039930A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US17081657

申请日：2020-10-27

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Donald R. High ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Karl Kay ,  David C. Winkle

IPC: B66F9/06 ,  G06T7/73 ,  H04W4/30 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04N7/18 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/80 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  B62B5/00 ,  B60P3/06 ,  H04W4/33 ,  A47F10/04 ,  H04W4/029 ,  B07C5/342 ,  E01H5/06 ,  G06K9/18 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  H04W4/02 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  A47F13/00 ,  A47L11/40 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G06K9/78 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H04N5/77 ,  H02J7/00 ,  A47F3/08 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06T7/593 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G10L13/00 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04N13/282 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B07C5/28 ,  G06K9/32 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L17/22 ,  B60L53/63 ,  B65F3/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G05B19/12 ,  H04L29/06 ,  A47F10/00 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06Q20/12 ,  G06F21/60 ,  G06F16/903 ,  G06K7/10 ,  H04B1/38 ,  A47F10/02

Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a retail facility, comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system, wherein the central computer system comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: receive an override command, from a worker associated with the retail facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions; confirm a valid authorization of the worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command.

公开(公告)号：US20200270106A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-27

申请号：US16858403

申请日：2020-04-24

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

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

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

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to address incorrectly placed items. Some systems comprise: a plurality of motorized transport units that are each configured to perform multiple different tasks at a retail shopping facility; and a central computer system configured to instruct various ones of the plurality of motorized transport units to implement at least one of the multiple different tasks relative to the retail shopping facility, receive and analyze input data detected and provided by the motorized transport units while the motorized transport units perform the at least one of the tasks, and detect and categorize each item of multiple items that are incorrectly placed within the retail shopping facility according to one of multiple different predefined categories.

公开(公告)号：US10597270B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US16224536

申请日：2018-12-18

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

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

IPC: B66F9/06 ,  H04N7/18 ,  H04N5/77 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G01S1/02 ,  E01H5/12 ,  E01H5/06 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01C21/20 ,  A47F3/08 ,  H04W4/029 ,  H04W4/021 ,  G05D1/04 ,  B60L53/63 ,  B60L53/36 ,  H04W4/02 ,  H04W4/40 ,  G05B19/048 ,  B65F3/00 ,  B07C5/342 ,  B07C5/28 ,  A47F13/00 ,  H04W4/30 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H02J7/00 ,  G10L17/22 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G06K9/78 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06K9/32 ,  G06K9/18 ,  G06K9/00 ,  A47L11/40 ,  H04N13/282 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04W4/33 ,  H04W4/80 ,  A47F10/04 ,  B62B5/00 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  B60P3/06 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F21/60 ,  H04L29/06 ,  G06Q20/12 ,  G06F16/903 ,  A47F10/02 ,  H04B1/38 ,  A47F10/00 ,  G05B19/12 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06K7/14

Abstract: Some embodiments include a track system comprising: an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a retail store, and configured such that multiple motorized transport units travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the retail store.

公开(公告)号：US10586202B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-10

申请号：US16049420

申请日：2018-07-30

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

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

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for validating products to be delivered to customers via unmanned aerial vehicles. Each UAV includes sensors configured to detect at least one actual physical characteristic and/or actual identifying characteristic of a product being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV to a delivery destination. The actual physical characteristic information and/or the actual identifying information detected by the sensors is compared to predefined physical characteristic information and/or predefined identifying information stored in an electronic database in order to validate that the product that is being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV is not damaged and corresponds to the order being fulfilled. If validation of one or more products is not successful, the UAV is restricted from delivering such products to the delivery destination.

公开(公告)号：US10577103B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-03

申请号：US15697860

申请日：2017-09-07

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

IPC: B64D1/18 ,  B64C39/02 ,  A01B79/02 ,  A01M7/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C13/00

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of dispensing an insecticide to defend a crop-containing area against crop-damaging pests include an unmanned vehicle having a sensor that detects a crop-damaging pest in the crop-containing area and captures pest detection data, and an insecticide output device including at least one insecticide directed at the pest. The unmanned vehicle transmits the captured pest detection data via the network to the computing device and, in response to receipt of the captured pest detection data via the network from the unmanned vehicle, the computing device accesses an electronic database to determine an identity of the at least one pest. Based on the determined identity of the crop-damaging pest, the computing device transmits a control signal to the unmanned vehicle to cause the insecticide output device of the unmanned vehicle to dispense one or more insecticides specific to the identified crop-damaging pest.

公开(公告)号：US20200043350A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-06

申请号：US16506716

申请日：2019-07-09

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

Inventor： Robert L. Cantrell ,  Donald R. High ,  Samantha M. Mangosing ,  David C. Winkle ,  John J. O'Brien

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/04

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for creating and monitoring predefined mission routes along air rails and non-overlapping buffer zones surrounding unmanned vehicles during travel of the unmanned vehicles along the predefined mission routes. The buffer zone may be thought of as a projected movement variation area being associated by the system to the UAV and containing four dimensions, the three positional dimensions, X, Y, and Z, along with a temporal one, time. Generally, the buffer zone will change as ambient conditions, location, and orientation of an unmanned vehicle change during travel of the unmanned vehicle along its predefined mission route.

公开(公告)号：US10546505B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-28

申请号：US16258104

申请日：2019-01-25

Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC

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

IPC: G08G5/00

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) experiencing emergency landings and providing emergency alerts to the predicted emergency landing locations of the UAV. Each UAV includes sensors configured to detect at least one status input associated with the UAV during flight along its flight route. Each UAV analyzes the status inputs while in flight in order to predict an emergency landing location where the UAV would land if unable to fly due to an emergency condition. The UAV is configured to transmit an alert signal to electronic devices proximate the predicted emergency landing location to notify users of the electronic devices that the unmanned aerial vehicle is going to experience an emergency landing at the predicted emergency landing location.

公开(公告)号：US10514691B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-24

申请号：US16372919

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 ,  Brian G. McHale ,  John J. O'Brien ,  John F. Simon ,  Nathan G. Jones ,  Robert C. Taylor

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G07C5/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G06Q10/06

Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned vehicles each comprising: a control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective unmanned vehicles to move themselves; and wherein a first control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles is configured to identify a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle, and direct a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second unmanned vehicle.