US 12,248,320 B2
System and method for removing debris from a storage facility
Brian C. Roth, Bentonville, AR (US); Paul E. Durkee, Centerton, AR (US); and James Benjamin Edwards, Centerton, AR (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/081,105.
Application 18/081,105 is a continuation of application No. 16/995,273, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,579,608.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/890,463, filed on Aug. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0120098 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); A47L 7/00 (2006.01); A47L 9/00 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); G01C 21/20 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0088 (2013.01) [A47L 7/0085 (2013.01); A47L 9/009 (2013.01); A47L 9/281 (2013.01); A47L 9/2852 (2013.01); A47L 9/2894 (2013.01); G01C 21/206 (2013.01); G05B 19/042 (2013.01); G05D 1/0212 (2013.01); G05D 1/0287 (2013.01); A47L 2201/04 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomous carrier for removing debris from a product storage facility, the autonomous carrier comprising:
a product store volume that is configured to store products as the autonomous carrier moves through a storage facility;
a vacuum unit that is configured to remove debris from the product storage facility and place the debris in a debris chamber;
a control circuit coupled to the vacuum unit, the control circuit being configured to selectively actuate the vacuum unit;
wherein autonomous carrier is configured to traverse selected ones of a plurality of pathways, the plurality of pathways being disposed throughout the storage facility, the pathways extending between or around product storage units;
wherein the vacuum unit is configured to remove debris from the pathways as the autonomous carrier traverses the pathways as it carries the products through the storage facility.