Container and robot communication in inventory system
The invention is a system in which containers communicate their specifications to a robot, preferably a robotic arm, in order to teach the robot how to handle the individual contents of the containers. Each container has a controller that stores information about that container's contents. In order for the robot to interact with the container's contents, the robot communicates with the controller of the container to receive instructions for interacting with the contents. Preferably, the system is part of an automated storage and retrieval system, and the robot interacts with the contents of the containers as part of an assigned task, such as food preparation. The system may include feedback sensors and a user interface.
1. A system comprising:
one or more containers;
the one or more containers stored in an automatic storage and retrieval system comprising a planar motion mechanism movable in vertical and horizontal planes attached to a frame, the planar motion mechanism comprising an end effector for removable attachment to the one or more containers;
each container comprising means for removable attachment to the end effector and side walls joined by a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising one or more separately designated locations for individual contents within the container, the respective designated locations each comprising at least one weight sensor and a controller comprising information about the individual contents of the container at the respective designated locations; and
a robot that communicates with the planar motion mechanism and the controller of each container to receive instructions how to select, retrieve, and reposition the container within the planar motion mechanism and how to interact with the individual contents at the respective designated locations of the container, wherein
the planar motion mechanism makes the container accessible to the robot and the robot removes the individual contents from its designated location and replaces the individual contents to its designated location and returns the container to the planar motion mechanism according to the instructions.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the robot is a robotic arm.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises physical properties and handling instructions of the individual contents.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises size, shape, weight, position, temperature, texture, and material makeup information for the individual contents of the container.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the individual contents of each container comprise machine reader indicia.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the machine reader indicia are radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are storage bins.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are removed from the automated storage and retrieval system, and wherein the one or more containers are repositioned within the automated storage and retrieval system after use.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated storage and retrieval system further comprises one or more access ports, and wherein the automated storage and retrieval system brings the one or more containers to the one or more access ports, and wherein the robot interacts with the one or more containers and the individual contents of the one or more containers at the one or more access ports.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated storage and retrieval system comprises a central controller that communicates with the controller of each of the one or more containers, and wherein the robot communicates with the controller of the automated storage and retrieval system.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the robot interacts with the one or more containers as part of an assigned task.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the assigned task is food preparation.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are removably mounted to one or more walls.
14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors that provide feedback for the system.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise weight sensors that are in communication with the robot.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise weight sensors that are in communication with the one or more containers.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein feedback from the weight sensor is used to ascertain at least one of the group consisting of whether individual contents have been removed from the one or more containers, whether individual contents have been added to the one or more containers, and current stock levels of the individual contents of the one or more containers.
18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein a user is informed of current stock levels of the individual contents within the one or more containers via the user interface.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein a user assigns tasks to the robot via the user interface.