公开(公告)号：US20210133671A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-06

申请号：US17143810

申请日：2021-01-07

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  Brian MCHALE

IPC分类号： G06Q10/08 ,  B65G1/137 ,  G06Q30/02

摘要： The present invention is directed to systems and methods for Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory replenishment. A computer-implemented method may include: analyzing, by a sales data engine, historical sales data of products to obtain sales patterns of the products; determining a demand and a time to be replenished for each of the products; detecting, by a sensor at a retail store, an arrival of a delivery vehicle loaded with the products; autonomously unloading, via a conveyor system, the products from the delivery vehicle to a queue area of the retail store; scanning and identifying the products; ranking and ordering, by an inventory replenishment engine, the products to determine a quantity, a priority and a time to dispense each of the products; autonomously sorting the products into a plurality of carts; moving the products from the queue area to a dispensing area; and alerting assistants to automatically restock the products to sales floor.

公开(公告)号：US20190238338A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16262494

申请日：2019-01-30

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  Joseph JURICH ,  Brian MCHALE ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  Todd MATTINGLY

IPC分类号： H04L9/32 ,  H04L9/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04L29/06

CPC分类号： H04L9/3242 ,  B64C39/024 ,  G08G5/0008 ,  H04L9/0637 ,  H04L63/062 ,  H04L2209/38 ,  H04W4/40

摘要： A method of drone-drone communications using blockchain includes: determining operational parameters of a first drone; encrypting the operational parameters of the first drone; storing the encrypted operational parameters of the first drone in a block of a blockchain; determining when a second drone is in proximity of the first drone; retrieving the encrypted operational parameters of the first drone from the block of the blockchain; decrypting the encrypted operational parameters of the first drone; retrieving the operational parameters of the first drone based on the decryption; and configuring the second drone with the operational parameters of the first drone.

公开(公告)号：US20190235494A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16260838

申请日：2019-01-29

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： Robert CANTRELL ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  Brian MCHALE ,  Patricia BIRD

IPC分类号： G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/04 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02

CPC分类号： G05D1/0055 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64D1/12 ,  G05D1/042 ,  G06K9/00087

摘要： Disclosed herein are systems and methods for defending an unmanned aerial vehicle from threats on the ground. The UAV may perform distracting or deterring measures to prevent the threat from coming into contact with the UAV such as releasing a package attached to the UAV. In other embodiments, the UAV may release a package or cord connected to the UAV if either has been captured by a threat on the ground so that the UAV may escape unharmed.

公开(公告)号：US20190233109A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16257268

申请日：2019-01-25

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： Donald R. HIGH ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  Brian MCHALE

IPC分类号： B64D1/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01G1/26 ,  G01M1/12

CPC分类号： B64D1/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  G01G1/26 ,  G01M1/127

摘要： A system and method for moving an item using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described herein. The system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and a mechanism attached to the UAV. The mechanism is configured to grab an item located substantially horizontally vis-à-vis the UAV or to a lateral side of the UAV. The mechanism is configured to maintain a balance of the UAV such that a center of gravity of the UAV including the mechanism is located substantially on a vertical line containing an original center of gravity of the UAV without the mechanism.

公开(公告)号：US20210076219A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US16219627

申请日：2018-12-13

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  David WINKLE ,  Todd MATTINGLY ,  Donald R. HIGH

IPC分类号： H04W12/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G05D1/00

摘要： Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for determining that an undesired entity is attempting to gain control over an unmanned vehicle, or, in other words, how to determine that an unmanned vehicle is being attacked. In instances of a physical attack, the unmanned vehicle must recognize the physical actions taken against it as hostile. In instances of RF hacking, or attempts to take remote control, the unmanned vehicle must recognize that the signals being received are from a hostile source. With each type of attack, the unmanned vehicle must (1) identify the actions being taken against it, whether physical or electromagnetic; (2) compare the identified actions to previous actions to determine if the actions fit a hostile profile; and (3) upon identifying the actions as hostile, enact counter-measures to prevent the hostile actions.

公开(公告)号：US20190392379A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16449669

申请日：2019-06-24

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  Brian MCHALE

IPC分类号： G06Q10/08 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G09F3/00

摘要： A method of managing products on a shelf by using a computer system in communication with an electronic shelf label (ESL) and a scanning device includes scanning by the scanning device the electronic shelf label attached to the shelf in a vicinity of one or more products, and detecting an out area on the shelf. The method also includes receiving by the computer system a position of the electronic shelf label transmitted by the electronic shelf label, communicating by the scanning device the location of the out area to the computer system, identifying by the computer system a location of the electronic shelf label based on the position, identifying a backroom electronic shelf label associated with products associated with the out area, and activating the backroom electronic shelf label with an action message.

公开(公告)号：US20190389064A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16450183

申请日：2019-06-24

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： Donald R. HIGH ,  John J. O'BRIEN ,  Brian MCHALE ,  Robert CANTRELL

IPC分类号： B25J9/16 ,  B25J13/08

摘要： A support system for an autonomous robot may include a diagnostic component coupled to the autonomous robot; one or more on-board sensors coupled to the autonomous robot, the one or more on-board sensors configured to communicate with the diagnostic component; a servicing alignment engine configured to store information, the servicing alignment engine configured to communicate with the diagnostic component; and an auxiliary robot configured to communicate with the diagnostic component. The diagnostic component is configured to continuously monitor a status of the autonomous robot, determine if the status is within a predetermined operating value, and send a notification to the auxiliary robot based on the status. The auxiliary robot is configured to determine a remedial action based on a notification that the status is outside of the predetermined operating value and initiate the remedial action on the autonomous robot when the status is not within the predetermined operating value.

公开(公告)号：US20190263522A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-29

申请号：US16281667

申请日：2019-02-21

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John SIMON ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  John J. O'BRIEN ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  Brian MCHALE ,  Justin SCHUHARDT

IPC分类号： B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00

摘要： An aerial vehicle for delivering a package includes a package deployment system coupled to the aerial vehicle, a package coupled to the securing point, and a monitoring system couple to one of the aerial vehicle or the package deployment system. The package deployment system includes a spool coupled to the aerial vehicle; a lowering line fixedly coupled to the spool at a first end, the lowering line having a bitter end at a second end, a securing point coupled to the lowering line between the first end and the second end, and the bitter end coupled to the aerial vehicle at a securing device. The package deployment system is configured to deliver the package at a delivery location and the securing device is configured to release the bitter end to deliver the package. A method for delivering a package with an aerial vehicle having the package deployment system.

公开(公告)号：US20190235527A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16264287

申请日：2019-01-31

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Donald R. HIGH ,  Brian MCHALE ,  Justin SCHUHARDT ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  Samantha M. MANGOSING

IPC分类号： G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/02 ,  B64C17/04 ,  B64D9/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC分类号： G05D1/0816 ,  B64C17/04 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64D9/003 ,  G05D1/0204

摘要： An assembly for reducing a pendulum effect of a package suspended from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The assembly includes a curved rail having a first rail connection and a second rail connection, the first rail connection and the second rail connection rotationally coupling the curved rail to a body of the UAV. The assembly includes a trolley assembly moveably coupled to the curved rail, the trolley assembly comprising a housing having a first trolley with four wheels and a second trolley with four wheels. The assembly includes a tether coupled to the housing of the trolley assembly, the tether configured to couple to the package. The assembly allows movement of the package in three-axes with respect to the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20190187239A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US16219615

申请日：2018-12-13

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John J. O'BRIEN ,  Robert CANTRELL ,  David WINKLE ,  Todd MATTINGLY ,  Donald R. HIGH

IPC分类号： G01S5/02 ,  G01S5/14 ,  G01S5/16 ,  G01S17/48

CPC分类号： G01S5/0263 ,  G01S5/0242 ,  G01S5/14 ,  G01S5/16 ,  G01S17/48

摘要： Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for identifying, on an autonomous vehicle which is traveling, a loss of a primary location system, and activating a secondary location system. The secondary location system performs a radio frequency sweep of a geographic area around the autonomous vehicle to identify radio frequency beacons, compares the radio frequency beacons to known ground stations, performs a visual scan of the geographic area to identify visual beacons, each visual beacon having a particular visual frequency, and compares the particular visual frequency of each of the visual beacons to known visual beacons. The secondary location system then identifies a current location of the autonomous vehicle by triangulating the verified radio frequency beacons and the verified visual beacons and the autonomous vehicle generates a route to a stopping location based on the current location produced by the secondary location system.