Automated proxy picker system for non-fungible goods

{
  "publication_number": "US12175405B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Automated proxy picker system for non-fungible goods",
  "abstract": "A system and method for providing proxy picking of non-fungible goods within an automated storage and retrieval system is provided, which repurposes one or more automated mobile robots operating within the automated inventory management system to perform a plurality of tasks across multiple different areas of an automated store. The proxy picking system and method are configured to pick individually identified non-fungible goods according to a customer selection on an ordering screen based on measured attributes and images of the goods, the attributes selected by the customer.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An automated system, comprising: an automated decanting station for receiving new inventory into the automated system, the new inventory comprising non-fungible goods, the automated decanting station comprising a plurality of sensors for sensing attribute data about different ones of a plurality of same-type non-fungible goods, the sensed attribute data comprising: an image of each of the non-fungible goods, and one or more of a firmness of each of the non-fungible goods, defects in each of the non-fungible goods, a weight of each of the non-fungible goods, and an odor of each of the non-fungible goods; a plurality of totes having locations therein to fit non-fungible goods of different and identified shapes and sizes, non-fungible goods from the automated decanting station being loaded to corresponding ones of the locations based on the shape and size of the non-fungible goods; a plurality of storage locations for storing the plurality of totes including the non-fungible goods; and a central control system (CCS) configured to: store the attribute data; publish the attribute data for each of the plurality of same-type non-fungible goods for review by customers, and presenting an option to choose between any of the plurality of same-type non-fungible goods; receive an order for a particular non-fungible good of the plurality of same-type non-fungible goods based on a customer reviewing the attribute data for the plurality of same-type non-fungible goods; and direct retrieval of the particular non-fungible good upon receipt of the order from a storage location where the particular non-fungible good is stored by an automated fulfillment system.",
    "2. The automated system of claim 1, wherein the CCS stores an identity of the location and tote in association with the particular non-fungible good.",
    "3. The automated system of claim 2, wherein the CCS stores a location of the particular non-fungible good in the tote relative to other non-fungible goods in the tote.",
    "4. The automated system of claim 1, wherein the CCS assigns each of the plurality of non-fungible goods a unique identifier, the CCS identifying the unique identifier of the particular non-fungible good in the received order, identifying the storage location for the particular non-fungible good with that unique identifier, and directing retrieval of the particular non-fungible good with that unique identifier by the automated fulfillment system.",
    "5. The automated system of claim 1, the CCS comprising or in communication with a server configured to present a graphical display including the attribute data for each of the plurality of non-fungible goods.",
    "6. The automated system of claim 1, wherein, in directing retrieval of the particular non-fungible good from the storage location, the CCS tasks a mobile robot to travel to the storage location where the tote is stored to retrieve the particular non-fungible good.",
    "7. The automated system of claim 6, wherein the tote is a first tote, the automated system further comprising a picking station wherein the particular non-fungible good is transferred from the first tote to a second tote.",
    "8. The automated system of claim 7, further comprising a proxy picker for transferring the particular non-fungible good from the first tote to the second tote.",
    "9. The automated system of claim 7, wherein other items ordered by the customer in addition to the particular non-fungible good are transferred into the second tote at the picking station.",
    "10. The automated system of claim 9, wherein the other items comprise fungible and/or non-fungible goods retrieved from the storage locations of the order fulfillment system.",
    "11. The automated system of claim 10, further comprising a delivery fulfillment system receiving the second tote comprising at least the particular non-fungible good.",
    "12. The automated system of claim 1, wherein the locations in at least one of the plurality of totes comprise one or more sub-totes.",
    "13. The automated system of claim 1, wherein the locations in at least one of the plurality of totes comprise a grid compartment, a slot, or a tube.",
    "14. The automated system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of totes comprises a grid compartment, a slot, or a tube.",
    "15. An automated system, comprising: a plurality of totes having locations therein to fit a plurality of non-fungible goods of different and identified shapes and sizes, select ones of the non-fungible goods of the plurality of non-fungible goods being loaded to corresponding ones of the locations based on the shape and size of the non-fungible goods; a storage area for storing the plurality of totes; and a central control system (CCS) configured to: store attribute data relating to attributes of each of the plurality of non-fungible goods, the plurality of non-fungible goods each being the same type of non-fungible good, the attribute data enabling a customer to distinguish between different non-fungible goods of the plurality of fungible goods; publish the attribute data for each of the plurality of non-fungible goods for review by customers; receive an order from a customer including desired attributes for a non-fungible good the customer wishes to purchase; distinguish between different ones of the same-type non-fungible goods to identify which one of the same-type non-fungible goods in stock most closely matches with the desired attributes in the order from the customer; and direct retrieval of the identified, closest match non-fungible good upon receipt of the order from a storage location where the non-fungible good is stored by an automated fulfillment system.",
    "16. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the order received from a customer further comprises a weighting of the desired attributes, which weighting is used by the CCS in determining the non-fungible good for customer purchase.",
    "17. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the non-fungible good is stored at a given location of a given tote, the CCS storing the given location of the non-fungible good in the container.",
    "18. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the CCS assigns each of the plurality of non-fungible goods a unique identifier, the CCS identifying the unique identifier of the non-fungible good determined for purchase, identifying the storage location for the non-fungible good with that unique identifier, and directing retrieval of the non-fungible good with that unique identifier by the automated fulfillment system.",
    "19. The automated system of claim 15, wherein, in directing retrieval of the non-fungible good from the storage location, the CCS tasks a mobile robot to travel to the storage location where the tote is stored to retrieve the non-fungible good.",
    "20. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the non-fungible goods are stored in a first tote at the storage location, the automated system further comprising a picking station receiving the first tote upon determining the non-fungible good for purchase by the customer and transferring the non-fungible good from the first tote to a container customized with the customer's order.",
    "21. The automated system of claim 20, further comprising a proxy picker for transferring the non-fungible good from the first tote to the container.",
    "22. The automated system of claim 15, the CCS comprising or in communication with a server configured to present a graphical display including the attribute data for each of the plurality of non-fungible goods.",
    "23. The automated system of claim 15, further comprising one or more sensors for sensing the attribute data of each of a plurality of non-fungible goods.",
    "24. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the locations in at least one of the plurality of totes comprise one or more sub-totes.",
    "25. The automated system of claim 15, wherein the locations in at least one of the plurality of totes comprise a grid compartment, a slot, or a tube.",
    "26. The automated system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of totes comprises a grid compartment, a slot, or a tube."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an automated proxy picking system and process for use within automated mobile robot storage and retrieval systems of an automated inventory management system, such as in an automated store. In particular, the present invention relates to an automated proxy picker system and method configured to pick specific non-fungible goods according to a customer selection and to deliver it direct to the customer.\n\nGenerally, human operated and automated inventory management systems include a plurality of vertical and/or horizontal storage racks for holding and transporting inventory. Typically, inventory is stored in boxes stacked on pallets and placed into racks. The inventory can be removed from the storage racks through a combination of human operated transportation devices, such as forklifts, and automated mobile robots configured for moving inventory in and out of the storage racks. The inventory managed by automated systems typically includes fungible items which are interchangeable. Non-fungible goods are typically stored in a store front in which customers can individually inspect the goods and select the goods according to their preferences. An example of such non-fungible goods shopping is produce in grocery stores. Although customers can order non-fungible goods, such as produce, sight unseen, it is not a popular way of shopping. Shopping for non-fungible goods without individual inspection by the customer requires that the customer accept the risk that they may not receive exactly the type of non-fungible good that they prefer and would have selected on their own.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "B65G 1/1371",
    "B65G 1/1375",
    "B65G 47/90",
    "G06Q 10/08741",
    "G06Q 10/0877",
    "G06Q 20/18",
    "G06Q 20/20",
    "G06Q 30/06",
    "G06Q 30/0623",
    "G06Q 30/0633",
    "G06Q 30/0635",
    "G06Q 30/0643",
    "G07F 11/00",
    "G07F 11/02",
    "G07F 11/04",
    "G07F 11/165",
    "G07F 11/62",
    "G07F 9/105",
    "Y10S 901/01",
    "Y10S 901/16",
    "Y10S 901/31"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 1/137",
    "B65G 47/90",
    "G06F 7/00",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "G06Q 30/06",
    "G06Q 30/0601"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Walmart Apollo LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John G. Lert, Jr.",
    "William J. Fosnight"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-07-03",
  "publication_date": "2024-12-24",
  "grant_date": "2024-12-24",
  "priority_date": "2017-01-31",
  "application_number": "US-202318217787-A",
  "family_id": "61224588",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}