System and method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations
A method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations in an environment includes determining when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the one or more processing stations have entered a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations. The method also includes assigning each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority and directing each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the processing stations. Each of the processing stations includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator.
1. A method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations in an environment, the method comprising:
establishing a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations;
determining when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the one or more processing stations has entered the predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations;
assigning each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority; and
directing each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the processing stations; wherein each of the processing stations includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator;
wherein the assigned priority is determined by both the order of entry of each of the plurality of robots into the target zone and an order priority associated with a customer order to be processed by each of the plurality of robots.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the environment is a warehouse space containing items for customer order fulfillment.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the order priority associated with the customer order to be processed by each of the plurality of robots is determined by one or more of the following: shipping priority, item type, customer type, or retailer.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two processing positions of the one or more processing stations and the plurality of queue positions are each defined by a pose to which the robot is capable of navigating.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more processing stations are each configured for one of (a) inducting robots, (b) unloading robots, and (c) both inducting and unloading robots.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of queue positions are grouped into one queue group and the plurality of queue positions are associated with a plurality of processing stations.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the robots from the one queue group are directed in priority order to a next available processing position from any of the plurality of processing stations.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of queue positions include at least two queue groups spaced from each other in the environment.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first plurality of queue positions in the first queue group and the second plurality of queue positions in the second queue group are associated with a plurality of processing stations.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the robots from the first and second queue groups are directed in priority order to a next available processing position from any of the plurality of processing stations.
11. The method of claim 8 including a first plurality of queue positions in a first queue group and a second plurality of queue positions in a second queue group, wherein the first plurality of queue positions in the first queue group and the second plurality of queue positions in a second queue group are all associated with one processing station.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the one processing station includes a first processing position and a second processing position.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein robots from the first queue group are directed to the first processing position and robots from the second queue group are directed to the second processing position.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein robots which have entered the target zone destined for the one processing station are each assigned a priority and are directed to one of the first queue group or the second queue group in an alternating manner based on priority starting with the highest priority robot being assigned to the first queue group.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein robots from the first queue group are directed to the first processing position in sequence based on priority and robots from the second queue group are directed to the second processing position in sequence based on priority.
16. A system for queuing robots destined for at least one processing station in an environment, the system comprising:
a plurality of robots;
at least one processing station configured for processing the plurality of robots; wherein each of the at least one processing station includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator; and
a management system in communication with the plurality of robots and the at least one processing station, the management system configured to:
establish a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing station,
determine when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the at least one processing station has entered a predefined target zone proximate the at least one processing station,
assign each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority,
direct each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the at least one processing stations; and
wherein the assigned priority is determined by both the order of entry of each of the plurality of robots into the target zone and an order priority associated with a customer order to be processed by each of the plurality of robots.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the environment is a warehouse space containing items for customer order fulfillment.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein the order priority associated with the customer order to be processed by each of the plurality of robots is determined by one or more of the following: shipping priority, item type, customer type, or retailer.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least two processing positions of the one or more processing stations and the plurality of queue positions are each defined by a pose to which the robot is capable of navigating.
20. The system of claim 16 wherein the one or more processing stations are each configured for one of (a) induction, (b) packing, and (c) both induction and packing.
21. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of queue positions are grouped into one queue group and the plurality of queue positions are associated with a plurality of processing stations.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the robots from the one queue group are directed in priority order to a next available processing position from any of the plurality of processing stations.
23. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of queue positions include at least two queue groups spaced from each other in the environment.
24. The system of claim 23 wherein the first plurality of queue positions in the first queue group and the second plurality of queue positions in the second queue group are associated with a plurality of processing stations.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein the robots from the first and second queue groups are directed in priority order to a next available processing position from any of the plurality of processing stations.
26. The system of claim 23 including a first plurality of queue positions in a first queue group and a second plurality of queue positions in a second queue group, wherein the first plurality of queue positions in the first queue group and the second plurality of queue positions in a second queue group are all associated with one processing station.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the one processing station includes a first processing position and a second processing position.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein robots from the first queue group are directed to the first processing position and robots from the second queue group are directed to the second processing position.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein robots which have entered the target zone destined for the one processing station are each assigned a priority and are directed to one of the first queue group or the second queue group in an alternating manner based on priority starting with the highest priority robot being assigned to the first queue group.
30. The system of claim 29 wherein robots from the first queue group are directed to the first processing position in sequence based on priority and robots from the second queue group are directed to the second processing position in sequence based on priority.