Patent ID: 9575492
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B25J,G05B,G05D,G16H,Y02P,Y10S

Claim:
1. A method of transporting at least one item at a transportation terminal or facility, the method comprising: providing a plurality of autonomous mobile robots for operation within and about the transportation terminal or facility, each mobile robot capable of independently navigating within and about the transportation terminal or facility without a need for physical or electro-mechanical guidance devices; enabling each mobile robot to capture at least one item from a user at a first location for transporting the item within and about the transportation terminal or facility as desired; enabling the user to be identified to the mobile robot via a user input device; determining from the identity of the user a desired second location within or about the transportation terminal or facility where the item is to be transported where the second location can vary from item to item; securing each item by the mobile robot in at least a portion of each mobile robot from tampering, theft and the elements at least during transportation of the item within and about the transportation terminal or facility; transporting each item at least to the second location within or about the transportation terminal or facility; enabling queuing of a mobile robot if necessary upon reaching the second location until the item is able to be off loaded at the second location; off loading the item from the robot upon reaching the second location within or about the transportation terminal or facility; and freeing up the mobile robot to transport other items to and from any other location within or about the transportation terminal or facility.