US 12,252,343 B1
Automated self-calibration and maintenance for container shuttles
Vivek S. Narayanan, Franklin, TN (US); Rajeev Dwivedi, Sammamish, WA (US); Michael Alan Bray, Elkhorn, NE (US); and Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/694,078.
Int. Cl. G06F 7/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1373 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a set of rails that form a track having a central axis, the set of rails comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis;
a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track;
a first shuttle configured to transport items from a first location to a second location using the set of rails, the first shuttle comprising a first set of wheels and a first conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track;
a second shuttle configured to transport items from the first location to the second location using the set of rails, the second shuttle comprising a second set of wheels and a second conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track;
an automated maintenance bay accessible via the set of rails, the automated maintenance bay comprising a camera and a three-dimensional scanner; and
a controller configured to:
generate an image of the first shuttle using the camera;
generate a digital representation of the first shuttle using the three-dimensional scanner;
determine a first maintenance action to perform on the first shuttle based at least in part on the image and the digital representation; and
determine that the first maintenance action is a manual maintenance action; and
generate a notification indicative of the first maintenance action for presentation at a user device.
 
5. A system for automated repairs, the system comprising:
a track;
a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet, the shuttle configured to move along the track;
an electromagnet disposed along the track, wherein the shuttle is propelled via interaction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet;
a maintenance area accessible via the track;
a set of robotic manipulators disposed about the maintenance area, the set of robotic manipulators configured to perform automated maintenance actions on the shuttle; and
a first controller configured to:
determine that the shuttle is in need of maintenance; and
automatically direct the shuttle to the maintenance area.