IP Library Granted Patent US 11,724,395
Granted Patent B2
US 11,724,395 · App. 16/265,703 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Robot congestion management

Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson (Ashland, MA); Luis Jaquez (Burlington, MA); Sean Johnson (Danvers, MA); Andrew Alcutt (North Andover, MA)
Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.
B25J9/1666B25J9/0084B25J9/1661
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,724,395
App. No.
16/265,703
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for robot congestion management including a robot monitoring server configured to track a location of a plurality of robots within a navigational space and a plurality of robots in communication with the robot monitoring server, each robot including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to determine, from a task list assigned to the robot, a first pose location corresponding to a first task, receive, from the robot monitoring server, congestion information associated with the first pose location, identify a congested state of the first pose location indicated by the congestion information, select, responsive to the identification of the congested state, a second task from the task list, and navigate to a second pose location corresponding to the second task.

Claims (28)

1. A robot congestion management system comprising:

a robot monitoring server configured to track a location of a plurality of robots and a plurality of human operators within a navigational space; and

the plurality of robots in communication with the robot monitoring server, each robot configured to perform a plurality of tasks with the assistance of a human operator of the plurality of human operators, wherein each task includes at least one of a pick operation and a put operation, each robot including:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to:

determine, from a task list assigned to the robot, a first pose location corresponding to a first task,

receive, from the robot monitoring server, congestion information in an area about the first pose location, wherein the congestion information includes-a number of human operators or a combined number of robots and human operators in the area about the first pose location,

determine, based on the congestion information, if the area about the first pose location is in a congested state,

select a second pose location corresponding to a second task from the task list, the second pose location being selected responsive to the determination of a congested state in the area about the first pose location and responsive to a plurality of efficiency factors regarding the second pose location, including the second pose location not being in a congested state and at least one human operator being detected proximate the second pose location, and

navigate to the second pose location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of efficiency factors further include one or more of the following: the second task being a next sequential task on the task list, the second task being a next highest priority task on the task list, and proximity of the second task to the first task.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of efficiency factors includes minimizing a dwell time of the robot at the second pose location.

4. The system of claim 1 , the memory further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to re-insert the first task into the task list after the second task such that the robot navigates to the first pose location before completion of the task list.

5. The system claim 1 , wherein the robot monitoring server further comprises one or more of a warehouse management system, an order-server, a standalone server, a distributed system comprising the memory of at least two of the plurality of robots, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the navigational space is a warehouse.

7. A method for robot congestion management comprising:

tracking, by a robot monitoring server, a location of a plurality of autonomous robots and a plurality of human operators within a navigational space, each robot configured to perform a plurality of tasks with the assistance of a human operator of the plurality of human operators, wherein each task includes at least one of a pick operation and a put operation;

determining, in a memory and a processor of one of the plurality of autonomous robots, from a task list assigned to the robot, a first pose location corresponding to a first task;

receiving, from the robot monitoring server by a transceiver of the autonomous robot, congestion information in an area about the first pose location; wherein the congestion information includes a number of human operators in the area or a combined number of robots and human operators in the area about the first pose location,

determining, based on the congestion information, if the area about the first pose location is in a congested state;

selecting a second pose location corresponding to a second task from the task list, the second pose location being selected responsive to the determination of a congested state of the area about the first pose location and responsive to a plurality of efficiency factors regarding the second pose location, including the second pose location not being in a congested state and at least one human operator being detected proximate the second pose location; and

navigating to the second pose location.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of efficiency factors further include one or more of the following: the second task being a next sequential task on the task list, the second task being a next highest priority task on the task list, proximity of the second task to the first task.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of efficiency factors includes minimizing a dwell time of the robot at the second pose location.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

re-inserting the first task into the task list after the second task such that the robot navigates to the first pose location before completion of the task list.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the robot monitoring server includes one or more of a warehouse management system, an order-server, a standalone server, a distributed system comprising the memory of at least two of the plurality of robots, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the navigational space is a warehouse.

Assignments (7)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT REEL 007759, FRAME 0295 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: LOCUS ROBOTICS CORP.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069743/0206 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT REEL 007759, FRAME 0314 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: LOCUS ROBOTICS CORP.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069743/0192 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 69386 FRAME 647. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Dec 11, 2024
From: LOCUS ROBOTICS CORP.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 069589/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2024
From: LOCUS ROBOTICS CORP.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069386/0647 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2022
From: LOCUS ROBOTIC CORP.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 060402/0874 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2022
From: LOCUS ROBOTIC CORP.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 060402/0854 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2019
From: JOHNSON, MICHAEL CHARLES; JAQUEZ, LUIS; JOHNSON, SEAN; ALCUTT, ANDREW
To: LOCUS ROBOTICS CORP.
Reel/Frame 048638/0570 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200246972A1 · Aug 6, 2020