Mobile Robot Guide

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives

NextShift Awarded Patent for Vertical Lift in Ecommerce Warehouse

By Mike Oitzman | March 25, 2019

March 21, 2019

NextShift Robotics has been awarded a patent, filed in 2014, for a warehouse mobile robot solution which can pull boxes or totes off of a shelf in a warehouse and transports them to the human packer elsewhere in the warehouse. The patent, US10214354B2, “Method and System for Automated Transport of Items” covers the operation of a robotic picking system in which the containers to be picked are positioned on the shelves and within picking stations. The patent covers the ability of the robot to raise itself vertically to access shelving of different heights in order to pick the appropriate container from a range of shelf heights and storage system configurations. 

This is significant because most non-automated, ecommerce warehouses today are filled with shelves stocked full of products, organized by SQU. With this patent, NextShift proposes that the robot will autonomously transport the container throughout the facility and deliver it to a human or robotic pick/pack station. The patent also covers a fully automated pack out station where robotic arms can pull products from totes for packout.

This patent is the second of two patents, both originally filed in 2014. The original patent US9694977B2, “Storage Material Handling System” covered the warehouse workflow where a human picker would fill a tote, carried by the autonomous robot following the human around, and then delivered a completed order to the packout area for shipping.

Nextshift Robotics robot

The current generation of NextShift TM-100 robot

The current generation of released autonomous mobile robot solution from NextShift Robotics, the TM-100, does not have the capability to lift a tote to or from a shelf other than the bottom-most shelf in a warehouse rack. The granting of this patent could signal the future of the NextShift product evolution, as they seek to offer a warehouse automation solution which fulfills the patent coverage.

The new patent covers a key requirement for companies that need to retrieve containers from varying height locations in the warehouse and deliver them to pick/pack stations without assistance from human workers.“We are pleased to add to our portfolio of important intellectual property in the mobile robotic material handling space,” said Mary Ellen Sparrow, CEO and Founder of NextShift. “The patented ability to place and retrieve containers from variable shelf heights is very important in a Lean Manufacturing environment where standardized containers are delivered to point of use in work cells. This ability also supports automated replenishment of containers to any point in the process, eliminating much of the worker intervention.”If you are considering the purchase of an autonomous mobile robot solution for your ecommerce warehouse, this patent will have an impact on the other current and future players in this market. Consider this as you do your research.

You may also like:

  • an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch
    Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by…
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
    Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
  • Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots
    Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors
  • geekplus resink deal
    Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions announce new partnership
  • The Keenon Booth at Automatica 2022
    KEENON Robotics showcases services AMR lineup at Automatica 2022.
  • proteus AMR
    A decade after acquiring Kiva, Amazon unveils its first AMR

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles Read More >

an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch
Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots
Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors
geekplus resink deal
Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions announce new partnership

RBR50 Innovation Awards

The Robot Report Listing Database

THE ROBOT REPORT PODCAST

July 1, 2022
Brian Gerkey from Open Robotics discusses the development of ROS

Recent Articles

  • Brian Gerkey on the success of Open Robotics and ROS
  • an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
  • Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
  • Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors

Latest Robotics News

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Check out our COVID-19 resources page

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Tweets by RoboticTips

Mobile Robot Guide
  • The Robot Report
  • Robotic Business Review
  • Collaborative Robotics
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics
  • Robo Business
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives