Warehouse automation systems and methods
A warehouse automation system adapted to improve warehouse operating productivity includes a plurality of carts for transporting products within a warehouse and a controller. The controller is adapted to associate a first one of the plurality of carts with a first person and to control the first cart to lead the first person around the warehouse. According to one advantage, the time the first person spends restocking, picking, counting, sorting, moving, and packing product into customer orders and shipments, for example, is reduced.
1. A cart, comprising:
a storage location for receiving products for transport; and
a control subsystem adapted to control the cart to automatically move and guide a person around an area where products are stored, wherein guiding the person around the area includes adjusting a movement speed of the cart based on a distance of the person from the cart.
2. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem is adapted to guide the person to a location of a task.
3. The cart of claim 2 , wherein the control subsystem controls the cart to stop or slow down at the location of the task.
4. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem cooperates with a controller to automatically move the cart and guide the person around the area, and wherein the controller is remote from the cart.
5. The cart of claim 4 , wherein the control subsystem is adapted to guide the person to a location of a task assigned by the controller.
6. The cart of claim 4 , further comprising a wireless receiver and transmitter, wherein the control subsystem communicates with the controller using the wireless receiver and transmitter.
7. The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor for monitoring the distance of the person from the cart.
8. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem is adapted to control the cart to automatically move and guide the person around the area where products are stored causes the cart to lead the person around the area where products are stored.
9. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the cart is a first cart of a plurality of carts assigned to the person.
10. The cart of claim 1 , where the movement speed of the cart is further based on a normal pace of the person.
11. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the cart communicates with a graphical user-interface screen to provide an on-screen interface.
12. The cart of claim 11 , wherein the on-screen interface is adapted to communicate information concerning at least one of a physical location of the cart within the area, a physical location of a certain product within the area, a current task assigned to the person, time between various tasks, priorities in the area, or performance of the person.
13. The cart of claim 11 , wherein the graphical user-interface screen is a component of the cart.
14. The cart of claim 11 , wherein the graphical user-interface screen is separate from the cart.
15. The cart of claim 11 , wherein the graphical user-interface screen includes at least one of a headset and a wrist-mounted screen wearable by the person.
16. The cart of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor for detecting obstacles.
17. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the storage location is one of a plurality of receptacles.
18. The cart of claim 17 , wherein at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles is removable from the cart.
19. The cart of claim 18 , further comprising at least one sensor for detecting that a corresponding one of the at least one receptacle removable from the cart is present on the cart.
20. The cart of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of action buttons for confirming that items have been placed in the plurality of receptacles.
21. The cart of claim 17 , further comprising at least one weight sensor associated with the plurality of receptacles used to detect products being placed in the receptacles.
22. The cart of claim 17 , further comprising at least one image sensor for detecting changes in the plurality of receptacles.
23. The cart of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of lights associated with the plurality of receptacles, wherein the cart is adapted to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights to provide a visual indication of at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles associated with a current task.
24. The cart of claim 23 , wherein the cart is adapted to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights to identify a particular one of the plurality of receptacles within which a product is to be placed or from which a product is to be retrieved in association with the current task.
25. The cart of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of lights includes lights along opposed sides of the cart for providing a visual indication as to which side of the cart a product should be placed or from which a product is to be retrieved in association with the current task.
26. The cart of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of lights change color based upon the current task.