Apparatus, systems, and methods for payload pick-up and drop-off with a self-driving material-transport vehicle

1. A system for providing smart pick-up and drop-off, comprising:

a payload transfer surface supported by at least one vertical support member, the payload transfer surface having an access channel;

a sensor associated with the payload transfer surface for sensing a presence or absence of a payload on the payload transfer surface;

a fleet-management system in communication with the sensor for managing a fleet of self-driving vehicles;

at least one self-driving material-transport vehicle in communication with the fleet-management system, the vehicle having a lift appliance for elevating the payload;

wherein, the sensor communicates a signal to the fleet-management system indicative of the presence or absence of the payload and the fleet-management system sends instructions to the vehicle based on the signal to autonomously drive the vehicle under the payload transfer surface and elevate the lift appliance so that the lift appliance is positioned within the access channel and the payload is elevated above the payload transfer surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage shelf supported by the at least one vertical support member and located above the payload transfer surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second sensor associated with the payload transfer surface.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a communications transceiver in communication with the sensor and the at least one second sensor, wherein the sensor and the at least one second sensor communicate the signal via the communications transceiver, the signal being indicative of the presence and the type of payload.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the communication transceiver is configured to communicate with a programmable logic controller.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor and the at least one second sensor detect different form factors of payload.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the access channel extends across the entire payload transfer surface thereby defining two payload transfer surface sections.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprises a ballast on each payload transfer surface section.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the two payload transfer surface section comprises one or more horizontal members defining a perimeter and an open area therein.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a limit switch and a proximity sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fleet-management system operates to generate instructions for autonomously driving the vehicle to the payload transfer surface.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein when the signal indicates the presence of the payload on the payload transfer surface, the fleet-management system operates to generate instructions for:

autonomously positioning the vehicle under the payload transfer surface;

elevating the lift appliance on the vehicle through the access channel of the payload transfer surface such that the payload is elevated above the payload transfer surface;

autonomously driving the vehicle to a first distance away from the payload transfer surface;

lowering the lift appliance on the vehicle to a travel height;

autonomously driving the vehicle to a destination location such that the payload is transported from the payload transfer surface to the destination location.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first distance away from the payload transfer surface is determined based on at least one of a detected proximity to the payload transfer surface or a point specified in the vehicle's mission, the point being defined relative to an electronic map.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the lift appliance is lowered while the vehicle is autonomously driving.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein when the payload is on the vehicle and the signal indicates the absence of the payload on the payload transfer surface, the fleet-management system operates to generate instructions for:

autonomously driving the vehicle to a first distance from the payload transfer surface;

elevating the lift appliance on the vehicle such that the payload is elevated to a height above the payload transfer surface;

autonomously driving the vehicle to the payload transfer surface such that the lift appliance enters the access channel of the payload transfer surface;

lowering the lift appliance on the vehicle such that the payload is placed on the payload transfer surface; and

autonomously driving the vehicle away from the payload transfer surface.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first distance from the payload transfer surface is determined based on at least one of a detected proximity to the payload transfer surface or a point specified in the vehicle's mission, the point being defined relative to an electronic map.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the lift appliance is elevated while the vehicle is autonomously driving.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is autonomously positioned under the payload transfer surface prior to the lift appliance being elevated.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is autonomously positioned under the payload transfer surface subsequent to the lift appliance being elevated.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is indicative of a change in the presence or absence of the payload.