US 11,718,478 B2
Modular multifunctional workcells for autonomous guided vehicle applications
Michael Helsel, Seattle, WA (US); Ned Lecky, Bellevue, WA (US); Avinash Panga, Woodinville, WA (US); and Adam Morton, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/591,471.
Application 17/591,471 is a continuation of application No. 16/594,700, filed on Oct. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,267,653.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258979 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
8. A system, comprising:
a first fleet of AGVs that each include electro-mechanical interface that is adapted connect to or lift one or more types of workcells;
a second fleet of multiple different types of workcells that are each adapted to perform one or more particular tasks; and
a control system configured to,
identify a set of tasks to be performed by a set of workcells, wherein each workcell is adapted to perform one or more particular tasks; and
for each task,
select a workcell to perform the task based at least on the one or more particular tasks that each workcell is adapted to perform,
select, from a set of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), a particular AGV to transport the selected workcell to a location at which the task is to be performed, wherein each AGV includes an electro-mechanical interface that is adapted to connect to or lift one or more types of workcells, and wherein selecting the AGV comprises selecting the particular AGV from one or more AGVs for which the electro-mechanical interface of each of the one or more AGVs is adapted to connect to or lift the workcell selected to perform the task, and
cause the selected AGV to transport the selected workcell to the location at which the task is to be performed and provide charging power to or receive charging power from the selected workcell.