公开(公告)号：US20230391592A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-07

申请号：US18144759

申请日：2023-05-08

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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分类号： B66F9/06 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q30/0601 ,  G06Q10/087 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G06Q10/1093 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G06Q10/0631 ,  E01H5/06 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  B62B5/00 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G01S1/02 ,  H04N5/77 ,  G06Q10/30 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06Q30/016 ,  H04W4/80 ,  G01S1/70 ,  H02J7/00 ,  G10L13/00 ,  G06V20/20 ,  G06V20/40 ,  G06V20/52 ,  G06V20/56 ,  G06V20/58 ,  G06V20/64 ,  G06V30/224 ,  G06F18/214 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04W4/33 ,  H04W4/30 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04N13/282 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B60L53/63 ,  A47F3/08 ,  A47F10/04 ,  A47F13/00 ,  A47L11/40 ,  B07C5/28 ,  B07C5/342 ,  B60P3/06 ,  B65F3/00 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L17/22 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04L67/141 ,  H04L67/143 ,  H04W4/02

CPC分类号： B66F9/063 ,  G01C21/206 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q30/0633 ,  G06Q30/0605 ,  G06Q10/087 ,  G06Q30/0613 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G01S1/72 ,  G06Q10/1095 ,  G05D1/028 ,  G06Q10/06311 ,  E01H5/061 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06Q30/0601 ,  G06Q30/0619 ,  B62B5/0076 ,  G06Q30/0639 ,  G06Q30/0281 ,  G06Q30/0631 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G06Q30/0641 ,  H04N5/77 ,  G06Q10/30 ,  G06Q30/0617 ,  H04N7/183 ,  G06Q30/016 ,  G06Q30/0635 ,  H04W4/80 ,  G05D1/0297 ,  G01S1/7034 ,  H02J7/0013 ,  G10L13/00 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G06V20/20 ,  G06V20/40 ,  G06V20/52 ,  G06V20/56 ,  G06V20/58 ,  G06V20/647 ,  G06V30/224 ,  G06F18/214 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04W4/33 ,  H04W4/30 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04N13/282 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B60L53/63 ,  A47F3/08 ,  A47F10/04 ,  A47F13/00 ,  A47L11/4011 ,  B07C5/28 ,  B07C5/3422 ,  B60P3/06 ,  B62B5/0026 ,  B62B5/0069 ,  B65F3/00 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G05D1/0011 ,  G05D1/0016 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/0061 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/021 ,  G05D1/0214 ,  G05D1/0219 ,  G05D1/0234 ,  G05D1/0246 ,  G05D1/0255 ,  G05D1/0276 ,  G05D1/0289 ,  G05D1/0291 ,  G05D1/0293 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06Q10/0631 ,  G08G1/20 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L17/22 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04L67/141 ,  H04L67/143 ,  H04N7/18 ,  H04N7/185 ,  H04W4/02 ,  Y10S901/01 ,  G06Q10/06315 ,  G05D2201/0216 ,  Y02W30/82 ,  H04W4/021

摘要： 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：US10815104B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US16191192

申请日：2018-11-14

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： John P. Thompson ,  Michael D. Atchley ,  Donald R. High

IPC分类号： B66F9/06 ,  G01S1/70 ,  G01S1/02 ,  G01S1/72 ,  H02J7/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/593 ,  H04W4/029 ,  H04W4/30 ,  H04W4/80 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/02 ,  H04W4/33 ,  H04N13/282 ,  H04N5/77 ,  H04N7/18 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B60L53/63 ,  A47F13/00 ,  A47F3/08 ,  A47F10/04 ,  A47F10/00 ,  A47F10/02 ,  A47L11/40 ,  B07C5/28 ,  B07C5/342 ,  B65F3/00 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/04 ,  E01H5/06 ,  E01H5/12 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F16/903 ,  G06F21/60 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06K9/18 ,  G06K9/32 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06K9/78 ,  G06K7/10 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06Q10/02 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q30/00 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06Q30/06 ,  G06Q20/12 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G10L13/04 ,  G10L15/22 ,  G10L17/22 ,  H04B10/116 ,  H04B1/38 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04L29/06 ,  B32B5/00 ,  B60P3/06 ,  G05B19/12 ,  G06Q10/00 ,  B62B5/00 ,  G01C21/20

摘要： Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

公开(公告)号：US10423169B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-24

申请号：US15699936

申请日：2017-09-08

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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分类号： G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64D1/16 ,  B64D47/08

摘要： In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that comprise: multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system; and wherein data acquired through a first set of at least one of the multiple UAVs while performing a first set of at least one task is caused to be distributed to a second set of at least two of the multiple UAVs, and cause cooperative computational processing of the data through the UAV control circuits of the second set of UAVs and cooperatively identify based on the cooperative computational processing a second set of at least one task to be performed, and identify a set of at least two tool systems to be utilized by a third set of at least two of the multiple UAVs in cooperatively performing the second set of at least one task.

公开(公告)号：US10360533B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-23

申请号：US15608042

申请日：2017-05-30

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： Michael D. Atchley ,  John P. Thompson

IPC分类号： G06K7/10 ,  G09F3/20 ,  H04W4/20 ,  H04W4/30 ,  G01G19/42 ,  G01G19/52 ,  G06K19/07 ,  G06Q10/08

摘要： A product display surface supports at least one product being offered for sale thereon. This product display surface has a weight-sensitive RFID tag associated therewith. This tag has at least one transmission element that moves with respect to a remaining portion of the tag as a function of weight being supported by the product display surface. So configured, the weight-sensitive RFID tag transmits at a first level when there are no products (or only a few products) on the product display surface and at a second level when there are at least a predetermined number of products on the product display surface, the first transmission level being less than the second transmission level. An RFID-tag reader reads the weight-sensitive RFID tag and a control circuit determines when the first product display surface lacks sufficient displayed inventory as a function, at least in part, of the weight-sensitive RFID tag's transmission strength.

公开(公告)号：US20190210725A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-11

申请号：US16352694

申请日：2019-03-13

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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

IPC分类号： B64C39/02 ,  B64C33/02 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C3/42

CPC分类号： B64C39/024 ,  B64C3/42 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C33/02 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/022 ,  B64C2201/025 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/102 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/162

摘要： Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for unmanned flight optimization. A system for unmanned flight comprises a set of motors configured to provide locomotion to an unmanned aerial vehicle, a set of wings coupled to a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle via an actuator and configured to move relative to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a sensor system on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: control the unmanned aerial vehicle, cause the set of motors to lift the unmanned aerial vehicle, detect condition parameters based on the sensor system, determine a position for the set of wings based on the condition parameters, and cause the actuator to move the set of wings to the wing position while the unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight.

公开(公告)号：US10273001B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-30

申请号：US15698516

申请日：2017-09-07

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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

IPC分类号： B64C39/02 ,  B64C3/42 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C33/02

摘要： Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for unmanned flight optimization. A system for unmanned flight comprises a set of motors configured to provide locomotion to an unmanned aerial vehicle, a set of wings coupled to a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle via an actuator and configured to move relative to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a sensor system on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: retrieve a task profile for a task assigned to the unmanned aerial vehicle, cause the set of motors to lift the unmanned aerial vehicle, detect condition parameters based on the sensor system, determine a position for the set of wings based on the task profile and the condition parameters, and cause the actuator to move the set of wings to the wing position while the unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight.

公开(公告)号：US20180374336A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-27

申请号：US16119657

申请日：2018-08-31

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： Michael D. Atchley ,  John P. Thompson ,  Robert C. Taylor

IPC分类号： G08B25/12 ,  G08B3/10 ,  H04L29/08

摘要： Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing audio notification. A system for providing audio notification comprises a doorbell coupler configured to couple to a stationary doorbell device, and a control circuit coupled to the doorbell coupler. The control circuit being configured to receive a delivery notification from a delivery arrival detection system and cause the stationary doorbell device to produce an audible sound via the doorbell coupler.

公开(公告)号：US10577103B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-03

申请号：US15697860

申请日：2017-09-07

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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分类号： B64D1/18 ,  B64C39/02 ,  A01B79/02 ,  A01M7/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C13/00

摘要： 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：US10514691B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-24

申请号：US16372919

申请日：2019-04-02

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

发明人： 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分类号： G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G07C5/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G06Q10/06

摘要： 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.

公开(公告)号：US20190292030A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-26

申请号：US16442134

申请日：2019-06-14

申请人： Walmart Apollo, LLC

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

IPC分类号： 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

摘要： Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.