Seegrid Corporation

A robotic vehicle, such as an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), is provided, comprising a chassis; a navigation system configured to navigate the AMR to stacked infrastructures; at least one sensor including a payload presence sensor configured to perform a vertical scan of the stacked infrastructures; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to estimate a height of the stacked infrastructures using data generated by the payload presence sensor and estimate a height of a target infrastructure using the estimated height of the stacked infrastructures and expected infrastructure heights.

Dynamic allocation and coordination of auto-navigating vehicles uses robotic vehicles and centrally dispatched roaming order selectors to create a significantly more efficient, yet flexible, approach to picking goods within a warehouse. Robotic vehicles are configured to be loaded with goods from pick faces to fill orders. Each robotic vehicle follows a route that includes appropriate pick face locations. The robotic vehicles navigate from pick face to pick face where particular goods are located. Order selectors are dynamically and independently dispatched to meet the robotic vehicles at their pick face locations to load goods. Movement of the order selectors is orchestrated to increase efficiency in the order filling process within the warehouse.

Dynamic allocation and coordination of auto-navigating vehicles uses robotic vehicles and centrally dispatched roaming order selectors to create a significantly more efficient, yet flexible, approach to picking goods within a warehouse. Robotic vehicles are configured to be loaded with goods from pick faces to fill orders. Each robotic vehicle follows a route that includes appropriate pick face locations. The robotic vehicles navigate from pick face to pick face where particular goods are located. Order selectors are dynamically and independently dispatched to meet the robotic vehicles at their pick face locations to load goods. Movement of the order selectors is orchestrated to increase efficiency in the order filling process within the warehouse.

Provided is a path adaptation system and method for a self-driving vehicle, and a self-driving vehicle including path adaptation technology. The method includes providing a vehicle navigation path through an environment; determining a location of the vehicle relative to the path; generating one or more polygons representing a shape of the vehicle projected from the vehicle location in a vehicle travel direction long the path; combining the one or more projections into a projected motion polygon; acquiring object information representing an object shape from one or more sensors; and determining if the object shape overlaps the projected motion polygon. If so, the method includes adjusting the vehicle navigation. If not, the method includes, continuing navigation along the path. The path adaptation system includes one or more processors configured to execute the path adaptation method.

A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.

Provided is a system and method for generating routes for use by a mobile robot. The mobile robot can comprise a navigation system in operative communication with a drive system; one or more sensors configured to collect sensor data, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to collect training data representative of a route or portions of a route as the mobile robot is navigated along the route; a user interface configured to receive user inputs providing route information; and a route generator configured to process the route information and the training data to generate a route network comprising a plurality of route segments. The training data can be generated while the mobile robot is navigated in a first direction and the mobile robot is configured to autonomously navigate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Provided is a path adaptation system and method for a self-driving vehicle, and a self-driving vehicle including path adaptation technology. The method includes providing a vehicle navigation path through an environment; determining a location of the vehicle relative to the path; generating one or more polygons representing a shape of the vehicle projected from the vehicle location in a vehicle travel direction long the path; combining the one or more projections into a projected motion polygon; acquiring object information representing an object shape from one or more sensors; and determining if the object shape overlaps the projected motion polygon. If so, the method includes adjusting the vehicle navigation. If not, the method includes, continuing navigation along the path. The path adaptation system includes one or more processors configured to execute the path adaptation method.

A hitch guide is provided that has wide ranging use for a plurality of different types of vehicles. The hitch guide can include at least one moveable guiding member, at least one moveable locking member configured to lock the guiding member in at least one fixed position and configured to disengage from the guiding member to enable the guiding member to move freely within an extended, defined range of motion. In various embodiments, a force applied to a portion of the guiding member causes the locking member and the guiding member to engage to lock the guiding member in the fixed position. Further, a force applied to a release of the locking member disengages the locking member and the guiding member is released from the fixed position, which enables a greater range of rotational motion of the guiding member to accommodate tight turns of a vehicle with cart in tow.

A loading frame includes a rectangular u-shaped frame with an opening at one side, forks extendable and retractable between the closed side and the open side of the U-shaped frame, loading frame wheels on one arm of the U-shaped frame, and a truck interface on the other arm of the U-shaped frame. The loading frame wheels and truck interface support travel of the frame in a direction other than the direction of travel of the forks between the open and closed sides of the U-shaped frame.