Patent ID: 9561941
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B66F,G05D

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a control system of an autonomous vehicle, instructions to pick up an object with one or more lift elements of the autonomous vehicle; determining that the one or more lift elements of the autonomous vehicle are partially positioned under a particular side of a particular object when the instructions are received; based on determining that the one or more lift elements of the autonomous vehicle are partially positioned under the particular side of the particular object when the instructions are received, identifying the particular object as the object to be picked up; determining an approach path toward the particular object for the autonomous vehicle to follow to place the one or more lift elements of the autonomous vehicle under the particular side of the particular object; causing, by the control system, the autonomous vehicle to move along the determined approach path toward the particular object; determining, based on sensor data from at least one sensor on the autonomous vehicle, that the one or more lift elements of the autonomous vehicle are placed under the particular side of the particular object; and causing, by the control system, the autonomous vehicle to lift the particular object with the one or more lift elements.