DISPENSABLE UNIT IDENTIFICATION
A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.
1 . A system comprising:
a computing device including a processor and a memory;
a container shaped and sized to hold a plurality of dispensable units;
an optical sensor configured to detect an optical property of one of the plurality of dispensable units prior to placement in the container;
a retrieval robot configured to retrieve objects from within the container; and
a measurement device including a strain gauge and circuitry configured to provide a signal indicative of a detected weight of one or more of the container and a dispensable unit,
wherein the processor is configured to use the detected weight and the optical property to execute a blind dispensing operation of one of the plurality of dispensable units from the container using the retrieval robot.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the optical property includes at least one of: a texture of the dispensable unit, a shape of the dispensable unit, and a size of the dispensable unit.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to adjust a speed of the blind dispensing operation based on at least one of the detected weight and the optical property.
4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the speed of the blind dispensing operation is set below a predetermined speed if the detected weight is over a predetermined weight.
5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a light source.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the light source is configured to produce a light having a plurality of frequencies.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect a texture of one of the plurality of dispensable units by measuring diffusion, dispersion, and strength of light returned to the optical sensor when the light is illuminated onto the dispensable unit.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the optical property using light obstruction.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the optical property includes at least one of a size and shape of the dispensable unit.
10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a camera, an acoustic sensor, a capacitive sensor, and an inductive sensor.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect an optical property of a group of the plurality of dispensable units, and the processor is configured to determine whether the group of the plurality of dispensable units includes dispensable units of different types based on the optical property of the group.
12 . A method comprising:
detecting an optical property of a dispensable unit prior to placement in a container shaped and sized to hold a plurality of dispensable units;
providing a first signal to a computing device including a processor and a memory, the first signal indicative of the detected optical property;
detecting a weight of one or more of the container and a dispensable unit using a measurement device;
providing a second signal to the computing device, the second signal indicative of the detected weight;
determining a blind dispensing operation for retrieving one of the plurality of dispensable units from the container with a retrieval robot using information included in at least one of the first signal and the second signal; and
executing the blind dispensing operation.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein an optical sensor is used to detect the optical property of the dispensable unit.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
illuminating the dispensable unit with a light source that produces a light having a plurality of frequencies;
measuring diffusion, dispersion, and strength of light returned to the optical sensor; and
detecting a texture of the dispensable unit from the measured diffusion, dispersion, and strength.
15 . The method of claim 12 further comprising using light obstruction to detect the optical property of the dispensable unit.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the optical property includes at least one of a size and shape of the dispensable unit.
17 . The method of claim 12 wherein the optical property includes at least one of: a texture of the dispensable unit, a shape of the dispensable unit, and a size of the dispensable unit.
18 . The method of claim 12 further comprising adjusting a speed of the blind dispensing operation based on at least one of the detected weight and the detected optical property.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the speed of the blind dispensing operation is set below a predetermined speed if the detected weight is over a predetermined weight.
20 . The method of claim 12 further comprising detecting an optical property of a group of the plurality of dispensable units, and determining whether the group of the plurality of dispensable units includes dispensable units of different types based on the optical property of the group.