US 11,939,162 B2
System-directed robotic cart picking
Matthew Robert Douglas, Orlando, FL (US); Stephen Nilsen, Clayton, NC (US); Paolo Gerli Amador, Framingham, MA (US); and Gregory Patrick Cox, Sleepy Hollow, NY (US)
Assigned to Staples, Inc., Framingham, MA (US)
Filed by Staples, Inc., Framingham, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/173,115.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/972,545, filed on Feb. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0245956 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
19. A system comprising:
an automated guided vehicle (AGV) adapted to transport a cart in an order fulfillment center according to pick-to-cart routing;
a picker client device adapted to output pick instructions directing a picker to perform a task; and
a processor performing operations including:
generating a picking itinerary based on one or more locations of items in the order fulfillment center and received order data identifying the items, the picking itinerary including the pick-to-cart routing for the AGV;
determining a zone of the order fulfillment center to which to assign the picker based on the picking itinerary including:
determining a zone score for each of a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including the zone; and
assigning the picker to the zone based on the zone scores;
determining the task located in the zone for the picker, the task including picking at least one of the items from the one or more locations to the cart in coordination with transportation of the cart by the AGV;
transmitting the pick instructions to the picker client device directing the picker to perform the task; and
responsive to the task being performed, transporting the cart to a defined point by the AGV.