Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2005-05-17
2005-05-17
Tran, Khoi H. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S113000, C700S115000, C700S216000, C700S255000, C701S023000, C701S213000, C701S301000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06895301
ABSTRACT:
An inventory system includes a plurality of mobile drive units with a processor control and with a positioning system that enables the mobile drive units to navigate a factory floor. The mobile drive units interface with a material handling system to receive order requests and deliver inventory items to pack stations located on the factory floor. The inventory items are stored in trays stacked into movable inventory pods, which may be transported by the mobile drive units throughout the factory floor. The mobile drive units dock and undock with the movable inventory pods using a docking mechanism. The movable inventory pods are stored in a virtual storage grid when they are not being transported by the mobile drive units. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
REFERENCES:
patent: 4542808 (1985-09-01), Lloyd, Jr. et al.
patent: 4669047 (1987-05-01), Chucta
patent: 4678390 (1987-07-01), Bonneton et al.
patent: 4716530 (1987-12-01), Ogawa et al.
patent: 4780817 (1988-10-01), Lofgren
patent: 4789940 (1988-12-01), Christian
patent: 4996468 (1991-02-01), Field et al.
patent: 5179329 (1993-01-01), Nishikawa et al.
patent: 5187664 (1993-02-01), Yardley et al.
patent: 5228820 (1993-07-01), Stansfield et al.
patent: 5283739 (1994-02-01), Summerville et al.
patent: 5362197 (1994-11-01), Rigling
patent: 5395199 (1995-03-01), Day, III et al.
patent: 5434490 (1995-07-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5568030 (1996-10-01), Nishikawa et al.
patent: 5652489 (1997-07-01), Kawakami
patent: 5663879 (1997-09-01), Trovato et al.
patent: 5793934 (1998-08-01), Bauer
patent: 5800777 (1998-09-01), Jehan
patent: 5801506 (1998-09-01), Netzler
patent: 5819008 (1998-10-01), Asama et al.
patent: 5825981 (1998-10-01), Matsuda
patent: 5928952 (1999-07-01), Hutchins et al.
patent: 6049745 (2000-04-01), Douglas et al.
patent: 6061607 (2000-05-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 6208908 (2001-03-01), Boyd et al.
patent: 6317648 (2001-11-01), Sleep et al.
patent: 6339764 (2002-01-01), Livesay et al.
patent: 6351685 (2002-02-01), Dimitri et al.
patent: 6356838 (2002-03-01), Paul
patent: 6421579 (2002-07-01), Dimitri et al.
patent: 6463360 (2002-10-01), Terada et al.
patent: 20020063225 (2002-05-01), Payton
patent: 20040010337 (2004-01-01), Mountz
patent: 0 458 722 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 1 251 083 (2002-10-01), None
A War of Robots,All Chattering on the Western Front; Noah Shachtman http:/
ytimes.com/2002/07/11/technology/circuits/11 NEST.html, Jul. 11, 2002.
Emergence—The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software; Steven Johnsonn; Part Two “Street Level” pp. 73-100; NY, NY, 2001.
New Rules for the New Economy—10 Radical Strategies for a Connected World; Kevin Kelly; Chapter 2 “Embrace the Swarm” pp. 1-22; NY, NY, 1998.
Pheromone Robotics; David Payton; Presentation give to the Defense Advance Research Project Agency in Nashville, TN; Jul. 17, 2001.
“Progress in Pheromone Robotics”,7th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems; D. Payton, R. Estkowski, M. Howard, Mar. 25-27, 2002, Marina del Rey, CA.
“Autonomy-Oriented Computation in Pheromone Robotics”,Working Notes of the First International Workshop on Autonomy Oriented Computation(AOC-01), pp. 69-77, D. Payton M. Daily, B. Hoff, M. Howard, C. Lee, May 28-Jun. 1, 2001, Montreal, Canada.
“Pheromone Robotics”,Autonomous Robots, vol. 11, No. 3, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA., Nov. 2001, pp. 319-324.
PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2004/000971, dated Aug. 2, 2004, 8 pages.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Distrobot Systems, Inc.
Tran Khoi H.
LandOfFree
Material handling system using autonomous mobile drive units... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Material handling system using autonomous mobile drive units..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Material handling system using autonomous mobile drive units... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3443093