System and method for securely transporting an item

1. A system, comprising:

an apparatus configured for securely transporting an item from a first location within a facility to a second location within the facility, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile robot; and

a cart coupled to the mobile robot, wherein:

the cart comprises:

a biometric reader; and

at least one secure storage area having the item stored therein;

the cart is configured to automatically unlock the at least one secure storage area; and

the mobile robot is configured to autonomously advance the cart from the first location to the second location; and

a server communicably connected to the apparatus, wherein the server is configured for:

receiving information transmitted from the apparatus, wherein the received information comprises:

information associated with a person who loaded the item into the at least one secure storage area at the first location;

information associated with a position of the cart within the facility; and

information associated with a person who removed the item from the at least one secure storage area at the second location; and

generating and maintaining a chain of custody record for the item based on the received information, wherein the chain of custody record comprises:

the information associated with a person who loaded the item into the at least one secure storage area at the first location;

the information associated with the position of the cart within the facility; and

the information associated with a person who removed the item from the at least one secure storage area at the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile robot comprises a computing device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile robot further comprises a plurality of sensors connected to the computing device.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile robot further comprises a power source connected to the computing device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing device further comprises a motor connected to the battery.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart further comprises an input device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart further comprises a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart further comprises a bar code reader.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart is electrically and mechanically coupled to the mobile robot.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a post configured to couple the mobile robot with the cart.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mobile robot defines a receptacle configured for receiving the post.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interface connected to the cart, wherein the interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other automated device.

13. A method for securely transporting an item, the method comprising:

identifying an item placed into a secured storage area of a cart at a first location within a facility;

utilizing a biometric reader to identify a person who placed the item into the secured storage area of the cart;

transmitting placement information regarding the identified item to a server;

autonomously advancing the cart from the first location to a second location within the facility;

transmitting information regarding a position of the cart within the facility to the server;

automatically unlocking the secured storage area of the cart at the second location;

identifying the item when it is removed from the secured storage area of the cart at the second location; and

transmitting removal information regarding the identified item to the server.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein identifying the item comprises identifying the item with a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein identifying the item comprises identifying the item with a bar code reader.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising maintaining a chain of custody record associated with the item.