US 11,887,049 B1
Systems and methods for light curtain contour detection failure compensation
Kent Belden Meiswinkel, Renton, WA (US); and Rahul Shriram Jinturkar, Edgewood, WA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/359,735.
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); F16P 3/08 (2006.01); F16P 3/14 (2006.01); F21V 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G06Q 10/087 (2013.01) [F16P 3/08 (2013.01); F16P 3/144 (2013.01); G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); F21V 7/00 (2013.01); F21V 7/0025 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0216 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomous shuttle comprising:
a platform configured to support a first foldable container, a second foldable container, and a third foldable container;
a frame coupled to the platform, the frame comprising a first base portion disposed at a front end of the autonomous shuttle, and a second base portion disposed at a rear end of the autonomous shuttle, wherein the first foldable container, the second foldable container, and the third foldable container are loaded onto the platform such that longitudinal axes of the respective foldable containers are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the autonomous shuttle;
a first light curtain assembly comprising a light source configured to emit light that forms a light curtain, and a light sensor configured to detect a portion of light emitted by the light source that is reflected from an ambient environment of the autonomous shuttle, wherein the first light curtain assembly is coupled to the frame on a first side of the autonomous shuttle, and wherein the first light curtain assembly has a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axes of the respective foldable containers;
a first reflective component coupled to the first base portion on the first side of the autonomous shuttle, the first reflective component comprising a first reflective surface disposed on an upper side of the first reflective component that is configured to reflect light emitted by the light source; and
a second reflective component coupled to the second base portion on the first side of the autonomous shuttle, the second reflective component comprising a second reflective surface disposed on an upper side of the second reflective component that is configured to reflect light emitted by the light source;
wherein the autonomous shuttle is configured to be coupled to other autonomous shuttles.