A safety system is disclosed for failsafe servicing of areas within an order fulfillment facility. During normal operation, a number of battery-powered robots receive wireless instructions from a management control system (MCS) to transfer items to/from workstations or storage shelves in a multi-level storage structure. The order fulfillment facility may be divided into dynamically configurable service zones. When service is required in a service zone, different safety protocols may be employed based on a determination as to the priority level of service required and/or the estimated length of time service will take. One safety protocol involves physically blocking all access points to a service area with mechanical guards, so that order fulfillment operations may be proceed around the service zone while service is performed.
Configurable service isolation zones for service of equipment employing mobile robots
2023-04-11
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B65G TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS , Transport- oder Lagervorrichtungen, z.B. Förderer zum Laden oder Abladen / A61B DIAGNOSIS , Diagnostik / B60L PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES , Antrieb von elektrisch angetriebenen Fahrzeugen / G01S RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING , Funkpeilung / G05B Steuer- oder Regelsysteme allgemein , CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL / B25J Manipulatoren , MANIPULATORS |
CONFIGURABLE SERVICE ISOLATION ZONES FOR SERVICE OF EQUIPMENT EMPLOYING MOBILE ROBOTS
European Patent Office | 2019
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