Patent ID: 12240711

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict example embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosure and shall not be deemed to limit the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. The use of the same reference numerals indicates similar, but not necessarily the same or identical components. Different reference numerals may be used to identify similar components. Various embodiments may utilize elements or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. The use of singular terminology to describe a component or element may, depending on the context, encompass a plural number of such components or elements and vice versa.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Fulfillment centers may be used to fulfill online purchases and other orders. For example, fulfillment centers may include product inventory that may be pulled when an order for a particular product or multiple products is placed. In some instances, the product(s) may be packed and shipped from the fulfillment center. However, the process of obtaining the product(s), packing the product(s), and shipping the product(s) may be complicated due to the amount of inventory, the number of orders to process, the size of the fulfillment center, and/or other factors. In addition, a portion of the fulfillment center designated for packing or shipping may be different than the portion of the fulfillment center designated for holding product inventory. As a result, transportation of products in an order may be time consuming.

Moving items or objects through a fulfillment center may require handling of the item itself. For example, picking the item from inventory, placing the item into a container, removing the item from a container, and so forth may all be examples of actions for which an item may need to be handled. In addition, different items may have different types of packaging. For example, some items may come in boxes, some items may come in loose bags, some items may come shrink wrapped, some items may not have any packaging, and so forth. Humans may be able to manually handle individual items with ease. However, robotic handling of individual items may require various levels of dexterity. Moreover, fulfillment centers may include lengthy conveyors that may be used to transport objects, such as packages, products, items, or other objects, as well as containers that may be at least partially full of objects. Transport of containers or items (e.g., individual items or multiple items, etc.) may involve the use of container shuttles that move on one or more rails to transport a container from one location to another. For example, in some facilities, a container of items may be loaded onto a shuttle, and the shuttle may transport the container from an inventory field to a sortation system or other location.

In a typical warehouse environment, such as that illustrated inFIG.1, items may be transported through various means such as conveyors, belts, shuttles, etc. as they undergo different operations like picking, sorting, storing, shipping/dispatch, and so forth. In some of these cases, containers may be used to transport items, either individually or in groups, from one location to another. For instance, transporting items from a pick station to a sort station may involve the item(s) being picked into a container, such as a tote, which may then be transported via a shuttle. During movement, shuttles may experience wear and tear, and may require maintenance for various components. Some shuttle components may be more expensive and/or complicated to service than others. For example, shuttle wheels may be inexpensive and less complicated to repair or replace relative to electronic components of the shuttle. In addition, shuttle wheels may wear quickly relative to other shuttle components. However, wheels may wear at different rates for different shuttles. As a result, accurately determining when to replace or repair shuttle wheels may improve performance relative to a one size fits all approach. Optimal determination of a status of wheel wear for wheels of a shuttle may be while the shuttle is in motion, so as to avoid taking shuttles offline for an inspection.

Embodiments of the disclosure determine shuttle wheel wear statuses while the shuttle moves along the track and without requiring the shuttle to stop or be removed from service. Some embodiments use cameras and/or other sensors to image and/or determine wheel wear measurements. Based at least in part on measurements and/or images of shuttle wheels, shuttles can be automatically routed to maintenance bays or service areas for wheel replacement or repair. As a result, maintenance can be customized for individual shuttles. Some embodiments monitor the condition of shuttle wheels continuously and identify any worn wheels. In one embodiment, cameras may be placed in a side-mounted configuration adjacent to a shuttle track, and in another embodiment, shuttles may be placed in an upward-facing configuration underneath a shuttle track. Shuttles may be used to transport the one or more items from a first location to a second location. Moreover, in addition to transporting items using shuttles without containers, embodiments include manual induction stations that can be disposed adjacent to a track along which shuttles move. The induction stations may allow for items to be inducted or otherwise placed directly onto shuttles, thereby reducing process complexity and eliminating intermediate conveyor belts used during induction.

As a result of the improve functionality provided by the shuttle wheel wear systems described herein, flexibility and throughput of the processing of items at the fulfillment center may be increased, such as by streamlining maintenance processes and improving shuttle performance. Some embodiments include optimized process flows for processing of orders at fulfillment centers, as well as process flows or methods to increase speed of consolidating products in a multi-item order as a result of improved speed in transportation of items and/or containers. As a result, throughput of fulfillment centers may be improved, and/or logistics of fulfillment center operations may be less complicated.

Referring toFIG.1, an example use case100for wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors is depicted in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Although discussed in the context of online orders, other embodiments may be directed to any suitable use case where containers or items are transported, such as instances where objects are picked from inventory, placed into containers, containers or items are transported, and so forth.

InFIG.1, a fulfillment center may be a traditional fulfillment center and may include an inventory field110, a routing sorter160, one or more item sorting machines170, and one or more packing stations180. The inventory field110may include a storage platform, or a portion of the fulfillment center at which products picked from product inventory are placed. Robots may be used to pick products from inventory and to deliver to the robotic storage platform in some instances, while in other instances, manual labor or a combination thereof may be used to pick products. The picking process at the robotic storage platform may include locating a product in an order, obtaining the product, and sending the product to a robotic storage platform, such as via a conveyor belt. In the illustrated embodiment, products at the robotic storage platform may be placed in a container, such as a tote.

The inventory field110may include multiple items that are in inventory. The items may be used to fulfill orders. The inventory field110may be a robotic field in some instances. One or more picking stations130may be positioned along a perimeter120of the inventory field110. The picking stations130may be manually operated or may include robotic components, or a combination thereof. In some instances, picking of items from the inventory field110may be completed by robots that include automated robotic arms, where the items are delivered to the picking stations130after being retrieved from the inventory field110. Any number of picking stations130may be included, and the picking stations130may be located in a different position than that illustrated inFIG.1.

In a traditional fulfillment center, such as that illustrated inFIG.1, one or more conveyors150may be disposed about the inventory field110. For example, conveyors150may be disposed along the perimeter120of the inventory field110. The conveyors150may run adjacent to the picking stations130in some embodiments. Any suitable conveyor configuration may be used. In the illustrated example, the conveyors150may include belts or rollers that run alongside the picking stations130and include one or more paths to one or more routing sorters.

The conveyors150may be used to transport one or more containers, such as totes140. For example, as totes140move along the conveyors150, items may be moved from the picking stations130into respective totes140. The totes140may be associated with particular item sorting machines, and may be moved using the conveyors150to a routing sorter160. In contrast, embodiments of the disclosure may not include some or all of the conveyors150, and instead may include rails that may be used to guide shuttles from one location to another. The rails may be used with shuttle wheel wear systems described herein.

The routing sorter160may be configured to route, divert, or otherwise guide certain totes to an item sorting machine. The routing sorter160may include any combination of ramps, slides, rollers, arms, guides, and/or other components to route totes to a particular item sorting machine. At the routing sorter160, totes including products that have been picked may be routed to the appropriate or designated item sorting machine. For example, the routing sorter160may determine an identifier associated with the tote, and may determine an item sorting machine associated with the tote using the identifier. The routing sorter160may route or direct the tote to the appropriate item sorting machine.

A number of item sorting machines170may be coupled to the routing sorter160. For example, a first item sorting machine172, a second item sorting machine174, a third item sorting machine176, and so forth may be coupled to the routing sorter160. The routing sorter160may optionally guide totes to the item sorting machines to which they are assigned. For example, a first tote162may include item1, item16, and item23, and may be assigned to the first item sorting machine172. The routing sorter160may therefore route the first tote162to the first item sorting machine172for sortation of the respective items. A second tote164may include item1656, and may be assigned to the second item sorting machine174. The routing sorter160may therefore route the second tote164to the second item sorting machine174for sortation of the item. A third tote166may include item989, item145, and item34, and may be assigned to the third item sorting machine176. The routing sorter160may therefore route the third tote166to the third item sorting machine176for sortation of the respective items.

Some or all of the item sorting machines may be associated with one or more packing stations180that may be used to pack items into a shipment when a multi-item order is complete. For example, the first item sorting machine172may be coupled to a first packing station182, the second item sorting machine174may be coupled to a second packing station184, the third item sorting machine176may be coupled to a third packing station186, and so forth. The item sorting machines may be configured to receive items from totes that have one or more, or multiple, items. The number of totes and/or the number of items associated with respective item sorting machines may be balanced, and multiple totes may be routed to the first item sorting machine172and the second item sorting machine174at the same time.

At any of the stages of the example fulfillment process ofFIG.1where handling of items and/or containers by shuttles, or shuttle movement, occurs, systems as described herein may be used for wheel wear monitoring for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors.

Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors. Certain embodiments may improve processing speed and/or throughput of fulfillment centers. Certain embodiments may improve performance of mechanical equipment for sortation and/or consolidation of items. While described in the context of online orders, aspects of this disclosure are more broadly applicable to other forms of object handling.

Example embodiments of the disclosure provide a number of technical features or technical effects. For example, in accordance with example embodiments of the disclosure, certain embodiments of the disclosure may improve processing speed, throughput, and/or efficiency of fulfillment centers. The above examples of technical features and/or technical effects of example embodiments of the disclosure are merely illustrative and not exhaustive.

One or more illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above. The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the scope of this disclosure and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Accordingly, variations, modifications, and equivalents of the embodiments disclosed herein are also within the scope of this disclosure. The above-described embodiments and additional and/or alternative embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter through reference to the accompanying drawings.

Illustrative Embodiments and Use Cases

FIG.2is a schematic illustration of an example use case200and facility layout for wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include additional or fewer components. The illustration ofFIG.2may not be to scale, and may not be illustrated to scale with respect to other figures.

InFIG.2, a fulfillment center may include an inventory field210, at which products or other items may be stored in inventory. As the items are ordered in online orders, the products may be picked from the inventory field210and routed for downstream processing in the fulfillment center. The items may be picked manually, using robots, vehicles, or a combination thereof.

The picked products may be placed into one or more containers and the items may be removed from the containers and inducted onto one or more shuttles for transport, such as one or more shuttles on rails220. The shuttles on rails220may include shuttles that are configured to transport items without containers from one location to another via rails. The rails may include switching rail components that allow for the shuttles to move from one set of rails to another. The shuttles on rails220may transport containers from the inventory field210to one or more downstream processes, such as a sortation system230, or a packing system240. For example, the sortation system230may be a system at which items picked from the inventory field210may be re-sorted into respective totes or other containers for particular orders. For example, items for different orders may be placed into containers that are transported by the shuttles on rails220from the inventory field210. The containers may be sent to the sortation system230for sorting into particular orders. The packing system240may be a station at which one or more items associated with an order may be packed into a box or other container for shipment. A shipping label may be applied and the package may be dispatched to a loading dock or elsewhere for shipment. Other destinations or downstream processes in addition to, or instead of, the sortation systems and packing systems may be used.

A rail system260is depicted in schematic view inFIG.2. The rail system260is an example of a network of rails that may be used by shuttles to transport containers from one location to another. The network of rails may include locations at which a shuttle can be directed to a straight path or to a loop, turn, oval, circle, and/or other geometries that involve a change in direction of a shuttle on the rails. Such changes in direction may be implemented using switching rail components. The rail system260may include rails that link various systems, such as sortation systems, to each other and/or to other systems, such as container handling systems, manual induction systems290, and so forth. For example, the rail system260may link a first sortation system270to a second sortation system272, as well as to a first container handling system280, a second container handling system282, a third container handling system284, and so forth. The rail system260may be used to connect any of the systems to each other and/or other systems.

Shuttles may move along the rails of the rail system260. The shuttles may include linear drive motors or other drive components. Some drive components may provide a drive force via electromagnetism. As a result, one or more electromagnets may be disposed along the network of rails. Shuttles may optionally include a conveyor surface, such as a belt, that may have a first set of one or more raised flaps and a second set of one or more raised flaps. The first set of raised flaps may form a first barrier along a first open-ended side of the shuttle, and the second set of raised flaps may form a second barrier along a second open-ended side of the shuttle to prevent items rolling off the conveyor belt. The shuttles may include an onboard drive motor configured to move the conveyor belt in a forward direction and/or a reverse direction. The shuttles may include a magnet disposed on a lower surface of the shuttle. The magnet may be used to propel and/or secure the shuttle. For example, the magnet may prevent the shuttle from moving while the vehicle is in motion and the linear drive motor is engaged. To onboard or offload containers, the linear drive motor of the shuttle or other component may be used in conjunction with the magnet to impart motion.

FIG.3is a schematic illustration of a perspective view and a close-up view of a shuttle rail system300in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include additional or fewer components. The illustration ofFIG.3is not to scale, and may not be illustrated to scale with respect to other figures. The system illustrated inFIG.3may be used with the systems for wheel wear monitoring discussed with respect toFIGS.1-2, and/or may be used with any of the systems described herein.

The shuttle rail system300may be configured to provide continuous rail for switching the direction of a shuttle350in an electromagnetically propelled shuttle-on-rail arrangement. Shuttle-on-rail arrangements may be used in many systems, such as sortation systems, pick systems, delivery systems, etc. The shuttle rail system300may include rail switch mechanisms to allow the rail to be directed to alternate path. Shuttle-rail arrangements that are based on electromagnetic propulsion, such as linear drive motors, may have sets of electromagnets arranged along the direction of the rails. Shuttles may also have a magnet, such as a permanent magnet, coupled to a lower side of the shuttle. The electromagnet and the permanent magnet may have to be separated by a very narrow gap for optimal performance. Such factors may be impacted by the weight of the payload on the shuttles, which may be increased due to a container weight. Such issues may be avoided by embodiments of the disclosure, where items can be directly placed onto shuttles for transport.

The shuttle rail system300may include a first branched path310, where if shuttles were moving along the shuttle rail system300in a clockwise direction, the shuttle could move in either a straight direction along the oval path of the shuttle rail system300, or may make a left-handed curve onto a separate path of the shuttle rail system300. Similarly, a second branched path320may allow for merging of shuttles that took a left curve at the first branched path310to merge back onto the oval path of the shuttle rail system300. Any number of curved path and straight path intersections may be included in the shuttle rail system300. For example, the shuttle rail system300may include a third branched path330and a fourth branched path340. The shuttle rail system300may form a closed loop track in some embodiments.

An induction path may be connected to the shuttle rail system300and may be accessible via the shuttle rail system300. For example, the shuttle350moving along the shuttle rail system300is depicted positioned along an induction path, where an operator may induct items onto the shuttle350for transport. An example induction portion370is depicted in close-up view360, where items can be removed from a tote or other container and deposited onto a shuttle by an operator or a robotic manipulator during an item induction process. Wheel wear monitoring systems may be disposed adjacent to the tracks and/or underneath the track at one or more different locations along the track, and may be used to capture images or other data of the shuttle and/or shuttle wheels as the shuttle moves past the monitoring system. The data may be associated with the shuttle and used to track wear over time for individual shuttles.

FIGS.4A-4Bare schematic illustrations of various views of an induction station400in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include additional or fewer components. The illustration ofFIGS.4A-4Bare not to scale, and may not be illustrated to scale with respect to other figures. The wheel wear monitoring systems described herein may be used with the same shuttle and shuttle rail system discussed with respect toFIGS.1-4B.

InFIG.4A, a system400with a right-handed induction station440is depicted. The induction station440may be disposed adjacent to a track410and a conveyor420. An operator may retrieve items from a container430on the conveyor420and place the items onto a shuttle446. The induction station440may include an overhead support444and a display442configured to present a user interface. A light curtain448may provide additional safety for an operator. An operator at the induction station440may be right-handed and may perform the induction process ergonomically. The conveyor420may be disposed adjacent to the induction station, where the conveyor is configured to transport the item to the induction station (e.g., with or without a conveyor). If the induction station is a right-handed induction station, the conveyor420may be disposed at a left side of the induction station.

Also depicted inFIG.4Ais a system450with a left-handed induction station440. The induction station440may be disposed adjacent to a track410and a conveyor420. An operator may retrieve items from a container430on the conveyor420and place the items onto a shuttle446. The induction station440may include an overhead support444and a display442configured to present a user interface. A light curtain448may provide additional safety for an operator. An operator at the induction station440may be left-handed and may perform the induction process ergonomically. The conveyor420may be disposed adjacent to the induction station, where the conveyor is configured to transport the item to the induction station (e.g., with or without a conveyor). If the induction station is a left-handed induction station, the conveyor420may be disposed at a right side of the induction station.FIG.4Bdepicts the system400having the left-handed induction station440in a perspective view with an induction portion460of the track and overhead lighting470illustrated.

FIGS.5A-5Bare schematic illustrations of various views of a wheel wear monitoring system for shuttles in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include additional or fewer components. The illustration ofFIGS.5A-5Bare not to scale, and may not be illustrated to scale with respect to other figures. The system illustrated inFIGS.5A-5Bmay include the same wheel wear monitoring systems discussed with respect toFIGS.1-4B.

Over time, the repeated motion of shuttles on the track can lead to wheel wear. This wear may reduce the vertical gap between the permanent magnet of the shuttle and the electromagnet disposed along the track, as well as the lateral gap between the track sidewalls and the shuttle, both of which can pose risks to operational efficiency. Embodiments may observe shuttle conditions, log data with corresponding shuttle identifiers, identify problematic wheels, and provide additional information for maintenance or repair actions.

InFIGS.5A-5B, a wheel wear monitoring system500for monitoring wheel wear for a shuttle510moving along a track520is depicted in perspective view. The shuttle510may be propelled along the track520via interaction between a permanent magnet524of the shuttle510and electromagnets522disposed along the track520.

The track520may include a first rail segment530that forms a first side of the track520. The first rail segment530may have one or more apertures formed in a sidewall portion. For example, as depicted in detail view510, the first rail segment530may have a first aperture532. In other embodiments, the first aperture532may be formed in a lower portion534of the first rail segment530instead of or in addition to the sidewall portion.

The track520may include a second rail segment540that forms a second side of the track520. The second rail segment540may have one or more apertures formed in a sidewall portion. For example, as depicted inFIG.5A, the second rail segment540may have a second aperture542. In other embodiments, the second aperture542may be formed in a lower portion544of the second rail segment540instead of or in addition to the sidewall portion.

The wheel wear monitoring system500may be coupled to the track520. InFIGS.5A-5B, the wheel wear monitoring system500may include one or more sensors, such as cameras, disposed adjacent to the rail segments of the track520. The sensors may be disposed in sideways-facing arrangements and aligned with the respective apertures on the sidewalls of the rail segments, such that the shuttle wheels are within a field of view of the sensors when the shuttle moves past the sensors. Other embodiments may have different sensors, such as 3D imaging sensors, lasers, and/or other types of sensors.

The wheel wear monitoring system500may include a first camera550disposed adjacent to the first aperture532. The first camera550may be disposed in a sideways-facing arrangement. The first camera550may include an imaging sensor, a laser, and/or additional or fewer sensors. The first camera550may have a first field of view552in which the first camera550can image or otherwise sense shuttle wheels while the shuttle510is in motion past the first camera550.

The wheel wear monitoring system500may include a second camera560disposed adjacent to the second aperture542. The second camera560may be disposed in a sideways-facing arrangement. The second camera560may include an imaging sensor, a laser, and/or additional or fewer sensors. The second camera560may have a second field of view562in which the second camera560can image or otherwise sense shuttle wheels while the shuttle510is in motion past the second camera560. Accordingly, the first aperture532may be formed in a first sidewall of the first rail segment530, and the second aperture542may be formed in a second sidewall of the second rail segment540.

The first camera550and the second camera560may be disposed in a sideways-facing arrangement so as to image or sense wheels on both sides of the shuttle510. The first camera550and the second camera560may be mounted horizontally on opposite sides of the track520, and may capture images of the shuttle details, such as the wheel diameter, through the respective aperture. The first camera550and the second camera560may be enclosed in a rugged casing, so as to improve stability and protection from environmental factors such as dust, debris, and vibrations. The first camera550and the second camera560may be configured to capture a series of high-resolution images as the shuttle passes by. A controller may use image processing software to analyze the images and calculate the wheel diameter accurately. By comparing the wheel diameter to a predefined threshold, the controller may determine if the wheel is worn and raises an alarm if needed.

In the sideways-facing arrangement, the first camera550and the second camera560may be easily accessible for maintenance and inspection, and may have good visibility of the wheel diameter for accurate measurements. The first camera550and the second camera560may be configured to acquire shuttle data by deploying a 3D line scanner sideways, so as to extract the details of each individual wheel/corner of the shuttle and simultaneously paves a way to easily measure a vertical gap or height of the permanent magnet524with respect to the track520.

Images and data captured by the first camera550and the second camera560may be used to determine a shuttle wheel wear status. For example, a controller (such as that discussed with respect toFIG.7, etc.) may be coupled to the first camera550and the second camera560. The controller may be configured to determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle510using the first camera550. The controller may be configured to determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera560. The controller may be configured to determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images. For example, the controller may determine a shuttle wheel diameter based at least in part on the images, where the wheel diameter is indicative of wheel wear and decreases over time. In some instances, a shuttle height or vertical gap from the track520may be used as a proxy for shuttle wheel diameter.

The controller may be configured to determine a shuttle identifier of the shuttle, and cause the wear status of the first wheel to be stored in association with the shuttle identifier. For example, the controller may detect the shuttle identifier using a radio frequency identification tag, a near field communication tag, a barcode, a shuttle location system, or other type of machine-readable identifier to determine the shuttle identifier. The controller may determine that one or more of the shuttle wheels, such as the second wheel, is due for maintenance based at least in part on a set of images, and may cause the shuttle to be routed to a maintenance station. For example, if the wheel diameter is less than a threshold, the controller may send a signal to the shuttle control system to guide the shuttle or instruct the shuttle to a maintenance bay or service area.

In another example, the controller may be configured to determine a third set of images of a third wheel of the shuttle using the first camera550. The controller may determine a fourth set of images of a fourth wheel of the shuttle using the second camera, and may determine that the third wheel is due for replacement. The first wheel and the third wheel may be on a first side of the shuttle, and the second wheel and the fourth wheel may be on a second side or opposite side of the shuttle510.

The first camera550and the second camera560may also be configured to determine a lateral wear status of the shuttle wheels. For example, as depicted in detail view516, the first camera550and the second camera560may be configured to detect a lateral gap between a shuttle wheel514(and/or a wheel block518adjacent to the shuttle wheel514) and the rail segment sidewall512, where the shuttle510may be damaged if the lateral gap is below a threshold.

For example, the controller may determine a first distance between a first sidewall of the first rail segment and a first lateral edge of the shuttle using the first camera, and determine a second distance between a second sidewall of the second rail segment and a second lateral edge of the shuttle using the second camera. The controller may be configured to determine a lateral wear status of the first wheel using the first distance.

The first camera550and the second camera560may be high-resolution, industrial-grade 3D imaging cameras. The first camera550and the second camera560may utilize laser triangulation, in which the laser projects a pattern on the object and a sensor captures the reflected light to generate a highly accurate 3D model.

In some embodiments, upon detecting a worn wheel, the monitoring system500raises alarms and notifies the operator via the user interface and other notification channels (e.g., SMS, email, audible alarms, etc.). This ensures that the operator can respond promptly and initiate maintenance or repair procedures as necessary, minimizing downtime and potential hazards. In other embodiments, the shuttle may automatically be routed to a service area and/or taken offline.

In close-up side view502depicted inFIG.5B, a portion of the shuttle510is shown with a portion of the track520(e.g., the lower portion544of the rail segment). In some embodiments, the system500may be configured to determine a vertical gap536between the permanent magnet524and a portion of the track520, such as the lower portion544of a rail segment. In other embodiments, the controller may determine a vertical gap526between the wheel block518of the shuttle510and the track520, where the wheel block518is disposed at an exterior side of the shuttle510adjacent to the shuttle wheel514and may be easier to identify or locate using computer vision processing.

For example, the controller may determine, using the first set of images, a vertical distance526between a lower portion of the first rail segment and a wheel block adjacent to the first wheel, where the controller is configured to determine the wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the vertical distance526. In another example, the controller may be configured to determine a diameter of the first wheel using the first set of images.

To determine shuttle wheel wear and/or diameter, the controller may implement one or more image or data processing operations. For example, the controller may define initial positions, where the initial wheel diameter is D. The initial positions of the wheel centers in an example coordinate system (with the origin at the center of the permanent magnet524, X-axis running from back to front, Y-axis from left to right, and Z-axis up and down) can be determined and used as initial positions. The controller may determine tilt angles. For example, tilt angles of the magnet may be measured. Angles may include roll (around the X-axis), pitch (around the Y-axis), and yaw (around the Z-axis). The controller may define rotation matrices that allow for transformation of the initial positions of the wheel centers according to the measured tilts. Transformations may be completed by multiplying each of the initial position vectors by the rotation matrices to get the new positions. Wheel wear may then be calculated by subtracting the Z coordinate of the plane (which was calculated from the plane's pitch, roll, and yaw) from the Z coordinate of each wheel center to get the amount of wear on each wheel.

FIG.6is a schematic illustration of a shuttle wheel wear monitoring system600in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include additional or fewer components. The illustration ofFIG.6is not to scale, and may not be illustrated to scale with respect to other figures. The system illustrated inFIG.6may be used with the same shuttle rail systems discussed with respect toFIGS.1-5B.

InFIG.6, the shuttle wheel wear monitoring system may have the same wheel wear monitoring system, but the cameras may be mounted underneath the track in an upwards-facing configuration instead of sideways-facing configuration as discussed with respect toFIGS.5A-5B. In some embodiments, the first aperture may be formed in a first lower portion of the first rail segment, and the second aperture may be formed in a second lower portion of the second rail segment, instead of the respective sidewalls, so as to allow a line of sight between the cameras and the shuttle. In other embodiments, no apertures may be needed and instead the cameras may be disposed along a middle portion of the track where no obstructions are present.

Accordingly, in the embodiment ofFIG.6, the system600may be coupled to a track630that has a first rail segment and a second rail segment, where the first rail segment forms a first side of the track, and the second rail segment forms a second side of the track. A shuttle640may be configured to move along the track630.

The system600may include a first camera610optionally disposed adjacent to the first rail segment, and a second camera620optionally disposed adjacent to the second rail segment, and a controller configured to determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle using the first camera, determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera, and determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images.

One or more operations of the methods, process flows, or use cases ofFIGS.1-6may have been described above as being performed by a user device, or more specifically, by one or more program module(s), applications, or the like executing on a device. It should be appreciated, however, that any of the operations of the methods, process flows, or use cases ofFIGS.1-6may be performed, at least in part, in a distributed manner by one or more other devices, or more specifically, by one or more program module(s), applications, or the like executing on such devices. In addition, it should be appreciated that processing performed in response to the execution of computer-executable instructions provided as part of an application, program module, or the like may be interchangeably described herein as being performed by the application or the program module itself or by a device on which the application, program module, or the like is executing. While the operations of the methods, process flows, or use cases ofFIGS.1-6may be described in the context of the illustrative devices, it should be appreciated that such operations may be implemented in connection with numerous other device configurations.

The operations described and depicted in the illustrative methods, process flows, and use cases ofFIGS.1-6may be carried out or performed in any suitable order, such as the depicted orders, as desired in various example embodiments of the disclosure. Additionally, in certain example embodiments, at least a portion of the operations may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certain example embodiments, less, more, or different operations than those depicted inFIGS.1-6may be performed.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality and/or processing capabilities described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by any other device or component. Further, while various illustrative implementations and architectures have been described in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that numerous other modifications to the illustrative implementations and architectures described herein are also within the scope of this disclosure.

Certain aspects of the disclosure are described above with reference to block and flow diagrams of systems, methods, apparatuses, and/or computer program products according to example embodiments. It will be understood that one or more blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and the flow diagrams, respectively, may be implemented by the execution of computer-executable program instructions. Likewise, some blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to be performed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to be performed at all, according to some embodiments. Further, additional components and/or operations beyond those depicted in blocks of the block and/or flow diagrams may be present in certain embodiments.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, may be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Illustrative Computer Architecture

FIG.7is a schematic block diagram of one or more illustrative computer system(s)700associated with a wheel wear monitoring system for shuttles in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the disclosure. The computer system(s)700may include any suitable computing device including, but not limited to, a server system, a voice interaction device, a mobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet, an e-reader, a wearable device, or the like; a desktop computer; a laptop computer; a content streaming device; or the like. The computer system(s)700may correspond to an illustrative device configuration for the controller(s) ofFIGS.1-6. For example, the computer system(s)700may be a controller and may independently control one or more aspects of the shuttle wheel wear monitoring systems described inFIGS.1-6.

The computer system(s)700may be configured to communicate with one or more servers, user devices, or the like. The computer system(s)700may be configured to cause images to be captured, determination shuttle wheel wear status, identify shuttles, and so forth.

The computer system(s)700may be configured to communicate via one or more networks. Such network(s) may include, but are not limited to, any one or more different types of communications networks such as, for example, cable networks, public networks (e.g., the Internet), private networks (e.g., frame-relay networks), wireless networks, cellular networks, telephone networks (e.g., a public switched telephone network), or any other suitable private or public packet-switched or circuit-switched networks. Further, such network(s) may have any suitable communication range associated therewith and may include, for example, global networks (e.g., the Internet), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), or personal area networks (PANs). In addition, such network(s) may include communication links and associated networking devices (e.g., link-layer switches, routers, etc.) for transmitting network traffic over any suitable type of medium including, but not limited to, coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire (e.g., twisted-pair copper wire), optical fiber, a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) medium, a microwave medium, a radio frequency communication medium, a satellite communication medium, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative configuration, the computer system(s)700may include one or more processors (processor(s))702, one or more memory devices704(also referred to herein as memory704), one or more input/output (I/O) interface(s)706, one or more network interface(s)708, one or more sensor(s) or sensor interface(s)710, one or more transceiver(s)712, one or more optional display(s)714, one or more optional microphone(s)716, and data storage720. The computer system(s)700may further include one or more bus(es)718that functionally couple various components of the computer system(s)700. The computer system(s)700may further include one or more antenna(s)730that may include, without limitation, a cellular antenna for transmitting or receiving signals to/from a cellular network infrastructure, an antenna for transmitting or receiving Wi-Fi signals to/from an access point (AP), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna for receiving GNSS signals from a GNSS satellite, a Bluetooth antenna for transmitting or receiving Bluetooth signals, a Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna for transmitting or receiving NFC signals, and so forth. These various components will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The bus(es)718may include at least one of a system bus, a memory bus, an address bus, or a message bus, and may permit the exchange of information (e.g., data (including computer-executable code), signaling, etc.) between various components of the computer system(s)700. The bus(es)718may include, without limitation, a memory bus or a memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and so forth. The bus(es)718may be associated with any suitable bus architecture including, without limitation, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), an Enhanced ISA (EISA), a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) architecture, an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) architecture, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) architecture, a PCI-Express architecture, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) architecture, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) architecture, and so forth.

The memory704of the computer system(s)700may include volatile memory (memory that maintains its state when supplied with power) such as random access memory (RAM) and/or non-volatile memory (memory that maintains its state even when not supplied with power) such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), and so forth. Persistent data storage, as that term is used herein, may include non-volatile memory. In certain example embodiments, volatile memory may enable faster read/write access than non-volatile memory. However, in certain other example embodiments, certain types of non-volatile memory (e.g., FRAM) may enable faster read/write access than certain types of volatile memory.

In various implementations, the memory704may include multiple different types of memory such as various types of static random access memory (SRAM), various types of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), various types of unalterable ROM, and/or writeable variants of ROM such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, and so forth. The memory704may include main memory as well as various forms of cache memory such as instruction cache(s), data cache(s), translation lookaside buffer(s) (TLBs), and so forth. Further, cache memory such as a data cache may be a multi-level cache organized as a hierarchy of one or more cache levels (L1, L2, etc.).

The data storage720may include removable storage and/or non-removable storage including, but not limited to, magnetic storage, optical disk storage, and/or tape storage. The data storage720may provide non-volatile storage of computer-executable instructions and other data. The memory704and the data storage720, removable and/or non-removable, are examples of computer-readable storage media (CRSM) as that term is used herein.

The data storage720may store computer-executable code, instructions, or the like that may be loadable into the memory704and executable by the processor(s)702to cause the processor(s)702to perform or initiate various operations. The data storage720may additionally store data that may be copied to the memory704for use by the processor(s)702during the execution of the computer-executable instructions. Moreover, output data generated as a result of execution of the computer-executable instructions by the processor(s)702may be stored initially in the memory704, and may ultimately be copied to the data storage720for non-volatile storage.

More specifically, the data storage720may store one or more operating systems (O/S)722; one or more database management systems (DBMS)724; and one or more program module(s), applications, engines, computer-executable code, scripts, or the like. Some or all of these module(s) may be sub-module(s). Any of the components depicted as being stored in the data storage720may include any combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The software and/or firmware may include computer-executable code, instructions, or the like that may be loaded into the memory704for execution by one or more of the processor(s)702. Any of the components depicted as being stored in the data storage720may support functionality described in reference to corresponding components named earlier in this disclosure.

The data storage720may further store various types of data utilized by the components of the computer system(s)700. Any data stored in the data storage720may be loaded into the memory704for use by the processor(s)702in executing computer-executable code. In addition, any data depicted as being stored in the data storage720may potentially be stored in one or more datastore(s) and may be accessed via the DBMS724and loaded in the memory704for use by the processor(s)702in executing computer-executable code. The datastore(s) may include, but are not limited to, databases (e.g., relational, object-oriented, etc.), file systems, flat files, distributed datastores in which data is stored on more than one node of a computer network, peer-to-peer network datastores, or the like.

The processor(s)702may be configured to access the memory704and execute the computer-executable instructions loaded therein. For example, the processor(s)702may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions of the various program module(s), applications, engines, or the like of the computer system(s)700to cause or facilitate various operations to be performed in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The processor(s)702may include any suitable processing unit capable of accepting data as input, processing the input data in accordance with stored computer-executable instructions, and generating output data. The processor(s)702may include any type of suitable processing unit including, but not limited to, a central processing unit, a microprocessor, a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) microprocessor, a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) microprocessor, a microcontroller, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a System-on-a-Chip (SoC), a digital signal processor (DSP), and so forth. Further, the processor(s)702may have any suitable microarchitecture design that includes any number of constituent components such as, for example, registers, multiplexers, arithmetic logic units, cache controllers for controlling read/write operations to cache memory, branch predictors, or the like. The microarchitecture design of the processor(s)702may be capable of supporting any of a variety of instruction sets.

Referring now to other illustrative components depicted as being stored in the data storage720, the O/S722may be loaded from the data storage720into the memory704and may provide an interface between other application software executing on the computer system(s)700and the hardware resources of the computer system(s)700. More specifically, the O/S722may include a set of computer-executable instructions for managing the hardware resources of the computer system(s)700and for providing common services to other application programs (e.g., managing memory allocation among various application programs). In certain example embodiments, the O/S722may control execution of the other program module(s). The O/S722may include any operating system now known or which may be developed in the future including, but not limited to, any server operating system, any mainframe operating system, or any other proprietary or non-proprietary operating system.

The DBMS724may be loaded into the memory704and may support functionality for accessing, retrieving, storing, and/or manipulating data stored in the memory704and/or data stored in the data storage720. The DBMS724may use any of a variety of database models (e.g., relational model, object model, etc.) and may support any of a variety of query languages. The DBMS724may access data represented in one or more data schemas and stored in any suitable data repository including, but not limited to, databases (e.g., relational, object-oriented, etc.), file systems, flat files, distributed datastores in which data is stored on more than one node of a computer network, peer-to-peer network datastores, or the like. In those example embodiments in which the computer system(s)700is a mobile device, the DBMS724may be any suitable lightweight DBMS optimized for performance on a mobile device.

Referring now to other illustrative components of the computer system(s)700, the input/output (I/O) interface(s)706may facilitate the receipt of input information by the computer system(s)700from one or more I/O devices as well as the output of information from the computer system(s)700to the one or more I/O devices. The I/O devices may include any of a variety of components such as a display or display screen having a touch surface or touchscreen; an audio output device for producing sound, such as a speaker; an audio capture device, such as a microphone; an image and/or video capture device, such as a camera; a haptic unit; and so forth. Any of these components may be integrated into the computer system(s)700or may be separate. The I/O devices may further include, for example, any number of peripheral devices such as data storage devices, printing devices, and so forth.

The I/O interface(s)706may also include an interface for an external peripheral device connection such as universal serial bus (USB), FireWire, Thunderbolt, Ethernet port or other connection protocol that may connect to one or more networks. The I/O interface(s)706may also include a connection to one or more of the antenna(s)730to connect to one or more networks via a wireless local area network (WLAN) (such as Wi-Fi) radio, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and/or a wireless network radio, such as a radio capable of communication with a wireless communication network such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, WiMAX network, 3G network, a ZigBee network, etc.

The computer system(s)700may further include one or more network interface(s)708via which the computer system(s)700may communicate with any of a variety of other systems, platforms, networks, devices, and so forth. The network interface(s)708may enable communication, for example, with one or more wireless routers, one or more host servers, one or more web servers, and the like via one or more networks.

The antenna(s)730may include any suitable type of antenna depending, for example, on the communications protocols used to transmit or receive signals via the antenna(s)730. Non-limiting examples of suitable antenna(s) may include directional antenna(s), non-directional antenna(s), dipole antenna(s), folded dipole antenna(s), patch antenna(s), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna(s), or the like. The antenna(s)730may be communicatively coupled to one or more transceivers712or radio components to which or from which signals may be transmitted or received.

As previously described, the antenna(s)730may include a cellular antenna configured to transmit or receive signals in accordance with established standards and protocols, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G standards (e.g., Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), CDMA2000, etc.), 4G standards (e.g., Long-Term Evolution (LTE), WiMax, etc.), direct satellite communications, or the like.

The antenna(s)730may additionally, or alternatively, include a Wi-Fi antenna configured to transmit or receive signals in accordance with established standards and protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, including via 2.4 GHz channels (e.g., 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n), 5 GHz channels (e.g., 802.11n, 802.11ac), or 60 GHz channels (e.g., 802.11ad). In alternative example embodiments, the antenna(s)730may be configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals within any suitable frequency range forming part of the unlicensed portion of the radio spectrum.

The antenna(s)730may additionally, or alternatively, include a GNSS antenna configured to receive GNSS signals from three or more GNSS satellites carrying time-position information to triangulate a position therefrom. Such a GNSS antenna may be configured to receive GNSS signals from any current or planned GNSS such as, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS), the GLONASS System, the Compass Navigation System, the Galileo System, or the Indian Regional Navigational System.

The transceiver(s)712may include any suitable radio component(s) for—in cooperation with the antenna(s)730—transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals in the bandwidth and/or channels corresponding to the communications protocols utilized by the computer system(s)700to communicate with other devices. The transceiver(s)712may include hardware, software, and/or firmware for modulating, transmitting, or receiving—potentially in cooperation with any of antenna(s)730—communications signals according to any of the communications protocols discussed above including, but not limited to, one or more Wi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi direct protocols, as standardized by the IEEE 802.11 standards, one or more non-Wi-Fi protocols, or one or more cellular communications protocols or standards. The transceiver(s)712may further include hardware, firmware, or software for receiving GNSS signals. The transceiver(s)712may include any known receiver and baseband suitable for communicating via the communications protocols utilized by the computer system(s)700. The transceiver(s)712may further include a low noise amplifier (LNA), additional signal amplifiers, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, one or more buffers, a digital baseband, or the like.

The sensor(s)/sensor interface(s)710may include or may be capable of interfacing with any suitable type of sensing device such as, for example, inertial sensors, force sensors, thermal sensors, photocells, and so forth. Example types of inertial sensors may include accelerometers (e.g., MEMS-based accelerometers), gyroscopes, and so forth.

The optional display(s)714may be configured to output light and/or render content. The optional speaker(s)/microphone(s)716may be any device configured to receive analog sound input or voice data.

It should be appreciated that the program module(s), applications, computer-executable instructions, code, or the like depicted inFIG.7as being stored in the data storage720are merely illustrative and not exhaustive and that processing described as being supported by any particular module may alternatively be distributed across multiple module(s) or performed by a different module. In addition, various program module(s), script(s), plug-in(s), Application Programming Interface(s) (API(s)), or any other suitable computer-executable code hosted locally on the computer system(s)700, and/or hosted on other computing device(s) accessible via one or more networks, may be provided to support functionality provided by the program module(s), applications, or computer-executable code depicted inFIG.7and/or additional or alternate functionality. Further, functionality may be modularized differently such that processing described as being supported collectively by the collection of program module(s) depicted inFIG.7may be performed by a fewer or greater number of module(s), or functionality described as being supported by any particular module may be supported, at least in part, by another module. In addition, program module(s) that support the functionality described herein may form part of one or more applications executable across any number of systems or devices in accordance with any suitable computing model such as, for example, a client-server model, a peer-to-peer model, and so forth. In addition, any of the functionality described as being supported by any of the program module(s) depicted inFIG.7may be implemented, at least partially, in hardware and/or firmware across any number of devices.

It should further be appreciated that the computer system(s)700may include alternate and/or additional hardware, software, or firmware components beyond those described or depicted without departing from the scope of the disclosure. More particularly, it should be appreciated that software, firmware, or hardware components depicted as forming part of the computer system(s)700are merely illustrative and that some components may not be present or additional components may be provided in various embodiments. While various illustrative program module(s) have been depicted and described as software module(s) stored in the data storage720, it should be appreciated that functionality described as being supported by the program module(s) may be enabled by any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. It should further be appreciated that each of the above-mentioned module(s) may, in various embodiments, represent a logical partitioning of supported functionality. This logical partitioning is depicted for ease of explanation of the functionality and may not be representative of the structure of software, hardware, and/or firmware for implementing the functionality. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that functionality described as being provided by a particular module may, in various embodiments, be provided at least in part by one or more other module(s). Further, one or more depicted module(s) may not be present in certain embodiments, while in other embodiments, additional module(s) not depicted may be present and may support at least a portion of the described functionality and/or additional functionality. Moreover, while certain module(s) may be depicted and described as sub-module(s) of another module, in certain embodiments, such module(s) may be provided as independent module(s) or as sub-module(s) of other module(s).

Program module(s), applications, or the like disclosed herein may include one or more software components including, for example, software objects, methods, data structures, or the like. Each such software component may include computer-executable instructions that, responsive to execution, cause at least a portion of the functionality described herein (e.g., one or more operations of the illustrative methods described herein) to be performed.

A software component may be coded in any of a variety of programming languages. An illustrative programming language may be a lower-level programming language such as an assembly language associated with a particular hardware architecture and/or operating system platform. A software component comprising assembly language instructions may require conversion into executable machine code by an assembler prior to execution by the hardware architecture and/or platform.

Another example programming language may be a higher-level programming language that may be portable across multiple architectures. A software component comprising higher-level programming language instructions may require conversion to an intermediate representation by an interpreter or a compiler prior to execution.

Other examples of programming languages include, but are not limited to, a macro language, a shell or command language, a job control language, a script language, a database query or search language, or a report writing language. In one or more example embodiments, a software component comprising instructions in one of the foregoing examples of programming languages may be executed directly by an operating system or other software component without having to be first transformed into another form.

A software component may be stored as a file or other data storage construct. Software components of a similar type or functionally related may be stored together such as, for example, in a particular directory, folder, or library. Software components may be static (e.g., pre-established or fixed) or dynamic (e.g., created or modified at the time of execution).

Software components may invoke or be invoked by other software components through any of a wide variety of mechanisms. Invoked or invoking software components may comprise other custom-developed application software, operating system functionality (e.g., device drivers, data storage (e.g., file management) routines, other common routines and services, etc.), or third-party software components (e.g., middleware, encryption, or other security software, database management software, file transfer or other network communication software, mathematical or statistical software, image processing software, and format translation software).

Software components associated with a particular solution or system may reside and be executed on a single platform or may be distributed across multiple platforms. The multiple platforms may be associated with more than one hardware vendor, underlying chip technology, or operating system. Furthermore, software components associated with a particular solution or system may be initially written in one or more programming languages, but may invoke software components written in another programming language.

Computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto a special-purpose computer or other particular machine, a processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that execution of the instructions on the computer, processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus causes one or more functions or operations specified in the flow diagrams to be performed. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) that upon execution may direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement one or more functions or operations specified in the flow diagrams. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements or steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process.

Additional types of CRSM that may be present in any of the devices described herein may include, but are not limited to, programmable random access memory (PRAM), SRAM, DRAM, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the information and which can be accessed. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of CRSM. Alternatively, computer-readable communication media (CRCM) may include computer-readable instructions, program module(s), or other data transmitted within a data signal, such as a carrier wave, or other transmission. However, as used herein, CRSM does not include CRCM.

Although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.