US 11,914,354 B2
Systems and methods for automated guided vehicle control
Leung Man Shiu, Gaithersburg, MD (US); and Erich Joseph Petre, Gainesville, VA (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/805,414.
Application 17/805,414 is a continuation of application No. 16/746,524, filed on Jan. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,353,858.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,630, filed on Dec. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/794,490, filed on Jan. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0291672 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05B 19/418 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01); G01S 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/41895 (2013.01) [B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01); G01S 15/04 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); G05B 2219/40298 (2013.01); G05B 2219/45063 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0216 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a sensor system configured to scan a defined area of a distribution facility to detect if item containers for transport are occupying the defined area; and
an automated guided vehicle (AGV) computer controller configured to request an AGV to pick up the item containers in the defined area and drop off the item containers at a drop location if a threshold quantity of item containers are occupying the defined area.
 
12. A method of automating item container movement within a distribution facility, the method comprising:
scanning, with a sensor system, a defined area of the distribution facility to detect if item containers for transport are occupying the defined area;
determining whether a threshold quantity of item containers are occupying the defined area; and
in response to determining that the threshold quantity of item containers is occupying the defined area, causing an automated guided vehicle (AGV), with an AGV computer controller, to retrieve the item containers in the defined area and drop off the item containers at a drop location.