Collapsible containers for manual and robotic use

Abstract

Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700), featuring - a rear mesh wall; - a first mesh sidewall coupled to the back mesh wall, wherein the first mesh sidewall has a fixed position relative to the back mesh wall; - a second mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall and designed to rotate relative to the rear mesh wall; - a lower container platform (600, 740) configured to rotate from an upward-facing position next to the rear mesh wall into a flat position orthogonal to the rear mesh wall, the lower container platform (600, 740) (i) having an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first mesh side wall and the second mesh side wall when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in an unfolded position, and (ii) having a mechanical handle configured to indicate that the lower container platform (600, 740) is locked when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position;and wherein the mechanical handle is arranged to prevent the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) from being fixed in the unfolded position before the lower container platform (600, 740) is fixed; and ; - several wheels coupled to one or more from the rear mesh wall, the first mesh side wall or the second mesh side wall; wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is designed to be transported using (i) the multiple wheels via manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700).

Description

[0001] The disclosure relates to a collapsible container for manual and robotic use. background

[0002] As consumers increasingly make purchases online, fulfilling these purchases and other orders can become increasingly complex. For example, a fulfillment center might handle more than a million packages per day. Given these demands, the efficiency of logistics related to order and package handling can be critical. Accordingly, improvements in various order fulfillment activities, such as enhancements to picking technology, sorting technology, packaging technology, and so on, may be desirable to increase throughput and improve sustainability.

[0003] Document US 3,840,242 A describes a collapsible transport stand in which the wheeled base frame extends forward from the folded shelves and side panels. This allows the entire structure to be supported by the wheeled frame when folded and to be inserted into another similar transport stand.

[0004] Document US 2019 / 0284033A1 describes a conveying device comprising a base, a wheel, a jack, a lower lateral distance sensing unit, and a control unit. The wheel is connected to the base via a suspension mechanism and is rotatable. The jack can be raised and lowered relative to the base toward a conveying target. The lower lateral distance sensing unit detects the lower distance between a reference surface of the base and a ground contact surface of the wheel. The control unit controls the lifting / lowering operation of the jack and the rotation of the wheel. The control unit causes the jack to be raised and lowered based on the lower distance to support a portion of the weight of the conveyed target and causes the wheel to rotate to transport the conveyed target.

[0005] Document US 3,977,689 A describes a stackable basket with a rear frame and pivoting side frames that rotate outward until stop buffers engage. The stackable basket also includes a movable shelf which, when used to support a load, locks the side frames in a position substantially perpendicular to the rear frame.

[0006] In US patent application 2017 / 0144873A1, a mobile drive unit for an inventory system is disclosed, comprising a base suspended from a frame by a pivoting device, such as a first and second connecting link. The base supports a platform configured to engage with an inventory holder of the inventory system. As the base moves, the platform tilts away from the direction of a reaction force acting on the base due to the acceleration or deceleration of the mobile drive unit.

[0007] Document US 2008 / 0166217A1 relates to a device for transporting stored items. The device comprises a housing, a drive module, a docking module, a lifting shaft, and a rotation module. The drive module is capable of driving the device in at least one direction. The docking head is capable of connecting to or supporting a storage holder. The rotation module is capable of rotating the housing relative to the lifting shaft. The lifting shaft is connected to the docking head and is capable of lifting the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the lifting shaft.

[0008] Publication GB 2 421 479 A describes a rolling cage that includes a storage container. The storage container comprises several panels mounted on a wheeled chassis. Some or all of the panels are made entirely or predominantly of plastic.

[0009] Publication GB 2 393 156 A discloses a rolling pallet for storing, distributing, or displaying products, which has two fixed side walls and one pivoting side wall connected to each of the fixed side walls. It includes a support frame equipped with wheels. A base is pivotally attached to the frame, allowing it to move relative to the frame. An intermediate shelf is provided, the rear section of which engages in vertical guide rails and the front section of which is equipped with locking elements that can engage the pivoting side walls. The intermediate shelf can be moved into a vertical position by sliding the rear section downwards relative to the rails.

[0010] US Patent 3,971,568 A describes a stacking cart comprising a rigid end frame and a pivoting end frame spatially separated by a rear frame assembly. The rear frame assembly supports at least one hinged shelf located between the rigid end frame and the pivoting end frame. The stacking cart has a utilization profile and a stacking profile. Within the stacking profile, the shelf is in a folded position and the pivoting end frame is in a collapsed position. Selectively engaging locking devices hold the shelf in the folded position and the pivoting end frame in the collapsed position when the cart is within the stacking profile. Catching devices connect adjacent carts during stacking, and towing devices enable the transport of one or more stacking carts.

[0011] Fulfillment centers can be used to fulfill online purchases and other orders. For example, fulfillment centers may maintain an inventory that is drawn upon when an order is placed for a specific product or multiple products. In some cases, the product(s) may be packaged and shipped by the fulfillment center. However, the process of receiving the product(s), packaging the product(s), and shipping the product(s) can be complex due to the inventory level, the number of orders to be processed, the size of the fulfillment center, and / or other factors. Furthermore, an area of ​​the fulfillment center designated for packaging or shipping may differ from an area designated for maintaining inventory.As a result, the transport of products and / or the shipping of packages can be time-consuming when placing an order.

[0012] In some cases, a product order may contain multiple items. For example, a customer might place an order for two or more products. In such cases, the ordered products may not be located in the same place within the fulfillment center, or the time required to receive or locate one of the products may be longer than for the others. As a result, packing the order may be delayed until all items in the order are ready. To increase the speed of order fulfillment, robots or other technology can be used in certain cases, freeing up manual effort for other tasks. For example, robots can be used to assist in locating products within an order during the picking process.However, routing picked products to the appropriate packing station and / or other location can create a bottleneck in the fulfillment center's operation. For example, after picking, products may be arranged in a container, such as a carrier or other receptacle, and routed to sorting machines to direct them to the appropriate packing location. Products from the same order may be routed to the same packing location for consolidation and subsequent packaging. However, a carrier or other receptacle may contain products destined for multiple different packaging locations, and the sheer volume of products requiring handling and / or sorting can slow down the sorting process.Furthermore, in some cases, items that comprise the same order may not all be located in the same fulfillment center or at a different location. For example, the first product in an order of two items might be in one fulfillment center, while the second product in the same order might be in a different fulfillment center. In such cases, instead of shipping the two items in the order separately, as in each fulfillment center, the items can be transferred one from one fulfillment center to another and then combined with other items in the order and shipped together. Such transfers of items between fulfillment centers can be handled similarly to items destined for shipment to customers.For example, the items to be transferred can be picked, directed to a sorting machine, sorted into a specific container (e.g., a container destined for a particular fulfillment center), packed, and shipped. In some cases, containers destined for other fulfillment centers may be unlimited-capacity containers or containers that can be filled without regard to fill level or remaining capacity. In such cases, the container capacity can be monitored externally (e.g., manually by a user, automatically by a camera system, using various sensors, etc.). Full containers can be removed from a sorting system and replaced with an empty one for the continued consolidation of items destined for a fulfillment center. Summary

[0013] The object of the invention is to provide improved containers for articles and / or packages.

[0014] To solve the problem, a collapsible container is provided according to independent claim 1. Furthermore, collapsible containers are provided according to further independent claims. Embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0015] When items are arranged in containers or packages for transport, sorting, etc., the packages can be arranged in collapsible containers designed to hold multiple packages. For example, a collapsible container can be filled with packages destined for another fulfillment center or facility. The collapsible containers described in this application can be used not only for storing packages or other items but also for transporting the packages to another facility. For example, in some embodiments, the containers can be filled with packages, and a filled collapsible container can be loaded onto a truck and transported to another facility.At the destination facility, the entire collapsible container can be unloaded from the truck and scanned to identify its contents without having to empty the container. This can allow for improved efficiency and reduced handling of individual packages, and can also enable the use of collapsible containers across any number of facilities and / or workstations within a facility.

[0016] Collapsible containers can be folded into a compact L-shaped arrangement to save space when not in use and unfolded into a rectangular arrangement when in use. Embodiments can be configured for both manual and robotic use. For example, collapsible transport carts as described in this application can be configured to be pushed, pulled, or otherwise handled by a human operator and also lifted and transported by a robot. This flexibility can provide enhanced dual-purpose capability for various functions within a fulfillment center and can reduce or eliminate the need for different container designs for manual and robotic use.Furthermore, the collapsible containers described in this application can be designed to provide ergonomic support for manual use, while also providing the structural rigidity to be lifted from a floor surface using a robot.

[0017] In some embodiments, collapsible containers as described in this application can be loaded with packages destined for a delivery station. The collapsible containers can be sorted and transported while the packages or other items remain inside them. Sorting and / or moving the collapsible containers can be performed using robots and / or manually.

[0018] Embodiments of the disclosure include collapsible containers for manual and robotic use. For example, collapsible containers can be pushed, pulled, or otherwise handled by human operators and can also be lifted, moved, or transported by robots. Some robots can lift the collapsible containers from a floor surface or a lower platform. The collapsible containers can be configured to be folded and stored or stacked in a nested arrangement to save space. Some embodiments may include markers or other identifiers for the collapsible containers that allow them to be moved seamlessly through multiple facilities.Embodiments can therefore increase the throughput and speed of combining items for multi-item orders and / or combining packages destined for specific related destinations, such as other fulfillment centers. Some embodiments include optimized processes for handling orders in fulfillment centers, as well as processes or facilities to increase the speed of combining products in a multi-item order and / or the speed of sorting packages. As a result, the throughput of fulfillment centers can be improved and / or the logistics of activities within a fulfillment center can be simplified. Description of exemplary implementations

[0019] Further examples of implementation are explained in more detail below with reference to figures in a drawing. Fig. Figure 1 is a hybrid schematic representation of an exemplary application case for collapsible containers for manual and robotic use and an exemplary process flow according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 is a hybrid schematic representation of an exemplary application case for collapsible containers for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a collapsible container transported using an autonomous robot, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an exemplary collapsible container for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a front view and a side view of a collapsible container for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a lower container platform of a collapsible container for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figures 7A-7B are schematic representations of a collapsible container for manual and robotic use, located in a folded arrangement, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a computer system associated with a robot system according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0020] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and merely represent exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosure and should not be considered as limiting the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. The use of the same reference numerals indicates similar, but not necessarily identical or the same, components. Different reference numerals may be used to identify similar components. Different embodiments may use different elements or components than those shown in the drawings, and some elements and / or components may not be present in different embodiments.The use of the singular form to describe a component or element can, depending on the context, include a plurality of these components or elements, and vice versa.

[0021] With reference to Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary use case 100 for collapsible containers for manual and robotic use and an exemplary process flow according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Although the description is given in the context of online orders, other embodiments may be directed to any suitable use case in which products are picked and sorted or packages are sorted, such as cases in which consumers pick up orders instead of receiving a delivery, cases in which items are collected for transport to another fulfillment center, and so on.

[0022] In Fig. 1. A fulfillment center can include a robotic storage platform 110, a forwarding sorting device 120, one or more item sorting systems 130, and one or more packing stations 140. The robotic storage platform 110 can be an area of ​​the fulfillment center where products picked from inventory are placed. The inventory can be stored in containers, in some cases collapsible containers. In some cases, robots are used to retrieve products from inventory and deliver them to the robotic storage platform, while in other cases, manual labor or a combination thereof can be used to pick products.The picking process at the robotic storage platform can include locating a product in an order, receiving the product, and sending the product, for example via a conveyor belt, to the robotic storage platform 110. In the illustrated embodiment, products can be arranged in a container, such as a carrying device, at the robotic storage platform 110. In some cases, the carrying device can be assigned to or otherwise connected to a specific sorting system machine. For example, a specific carrying device can be connected to a specific item sorting system, so that products to be picked and arranged in the carrying device are intended for orders to be consolidated at that specific item sorting system. The connection between the carrying device and the item sorting system can be static in some cases.In other embodiments, there may be no connection at all between carrying devices and article sorting systems, or the connections may be dynamic.

[0023] At the forwarding sorting unit 120, carrying devices containing picked products can be forwarded to a suitable or specific item sorting system. For example, the forwarding sorting unit 120 can optionally determine an identifier assigned to the carrying device and, using this identifier or another factor such as the sorting system load, determine one or more item sorting systems to which the carrying device should be forwarded. The forwarding sorting unit 120 can forward or direct the carrying device to an item sorting system.

[0024] The item sorting systems 130 can have one or more item sorting system machines. In Fig. There can be a first item sorting system 132, a second item sorting system 134, a third item sorting system 136, and so on. Any number of item sorting systems can be present. Some or all of the item sorting systems can optionally be connected to specific carrying units. The item sorting systems can be used to consolidate or otherwise collect products for single- or multi-item orders and / or for transfer to another fulfillment center. For example, a first carrying unit can contain the first item of a multi-item order, and a second carrying unit can contain the second item of the multi-item order.The item sorting system can therefore identify the orders associated with the respective products in a carrying device and transport the products to a container, such as a carrying device, a flexible container, a specific chute leading to a container, or another container associated with the order. Once the order is complete with all products on the associated chute or in the associated container, the order can be packed. In cases where a container is destined for another fulfillment center rather than for an online order, the container can be packed when it is full, rather than when specific items have been arranged within it (e.g., no specific items need to be present in the container before packing; the container can simply be filled to a certain threshold, etc.).Accordingly, a specific item sorting system can be designated for fulfilling a particular multi-item order. As a result, all products in the multi-item order can be arranged in carrying units directed to this specific item sorting system. At item sorting system 130, carrying units received via the forwarding sorting unit 120 can be emptied, and the products in their respective carrying units can be transported to the appropriate chutes or containers for the orders for which the products were picked.

[0025] Once a single- or multi-item order is complete (e.g., the item sorting system has delivered all products in the order to the appropriate chute, container, etc.) or when a container destined for another fulfillment center is full (where "full" is a configurable threshold such as 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, etc.), the order can be packed at packing station 140. In some embodiments, one or more packing stations may be present. In some cases, a packing station may serve more than one item sorting system, while in other cases, more than one packing station may serve a single item sorting system. In the illustration of Fig. 1. A first packing station 142 can be used to pack orders from the first item sorting system 132, a second packing station 144 can be used to pack orders from the second item sorting system 134, a third packing station 146 can be used to pack orders from the third item sorting system 136, and so on. At the packing stations 140, the orders can be placed in boxes and sealed for subsequent shipping. The packages can then be processed for shipment to the consumer. In another example, the containers can be stacked, sealed, or otherwise packed for shipment to another fulfillment center.

[0026] The fulfillment center can display an exemplary process flow of 150, which is located in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, this can be implemented to improve the performance and / or throughput of the fulfillment center. In a first block 160, items can be picked from the robotic storage platform 110 into a carrying device, which can optionally be connected to a specific item sorting system. In a second block 170, the carrying device can be sent to the forwarding sorting device 120 for transfer to an item sorting system. In a third block 180, the items can be sorted from the carrying device by the specific item sorting system for an order containing multiple items. In a fourth block 190, the items can be packed into a shipment once all items in the order have been sorted.

[0027] Fig. Figure 2 is a hybrid schematic representation of an exemplary application for collapsible containers for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary layout of a fulfillment center 200. The fulfillment center 200 can have a robotic area 210 where a stock of goods is stored for order picking (e.g.,optionally stored in one or more flexible container pods), one or more forwarding sorting devices 220 that can be used to direct carrying devices or other containers to item sorting systems; one or more item sorting systems or walls 230 that are used to combine products for multi-item orders and / or to pack multi-item orders; one or more single-item sections 260 that can be used to pack single-item orders; one or more labeling machines 240 that can be used to apply shipping labels to packages; one or more large-format sorting devices 250 and shipping sorting devices 270 to sort labeled shipments for collection from the fulfillment center 200 (e.g., by destination, carrier, etc.).

[0029] In some embodiments, the item sorting systems described in this application can form part of the large-format sorting devices 250, wherein the item sorting systems can be configured to sort packages into containers or onto chutes. In such embodiments, the item sorting systems can also be used in the area of ​​the item sorting systems 230 of the fulfillment center 200, but this may also not be the case. Accordingly, the item sorting systems can be arranged on a cross-belt conveyor system such as the large-format sorting devices 250 of the fulfillment center 200 or coupled to it in another way.

[0030] The item sorting system machines 230 can have hoppers and / or containers of different sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, etc.) and, in one example, can be configured to handle items weighing up to twenty pounds or more (e.g., one hundred pounds or more, etc.). In some embodiments, the item sorting system machines 230 can have multiple chutes, such as 328 chutes, and can be configured to sort items at a rate of approximately 2,100 units per hour or more. In some cases, the item sorting system machines 230 can have two infeed devices (e.g., one on each side) and be modular. For example, the item sorting system machines 230 can each have sixteen expansion modules, the expansion modules being defined as three double-sided columns arranged side by side over a total length of approximately 80 feet.The 230 article sorting system machines can reduce the labor and investment costs associated with processing orders.

[0031] In some configurations, the Item Sorter 230 can replace other processes, such as manual processes. The Item Sorter 230 can be a cross-conveyor shuttle sorting device that sorts individual products into bins or carrying devices. Item Sorters 230 can be capable of sorting at a rate of 2,100 units per hour or more. Certain Item Sorters 230 can, in some cases, be configured to handle items weighing up to twenty pounds or more with dimensions of approximately 18 in x 14 in x 8 in or larger, thus covering almost all products in the Fulfillment Center 200. Item Sorters 230 can operate as a high-speed sorting solution for multiple destinations, receiving items or packages and sorting them into bins using a shuttle that moves vertically and horizontally inside (or in some cases, outside) the machine.

[0032] Individual item sorting system machines can be item sorting systems and can have a number, such as two or more modular sorting machines, that are coupled in series or otherwise located side by side and connected. The modular sorting machines can include a first modular sorting machine. The modular sorting machines can be configured to separate items from a carrier containing multiple items onto multiple chutes or into multiple containers (e.g., feeding individual items from a container containing multiple items and arranging the fed items on the appropriate chute for conveyance to a container, with chutes or containers being connected for multi-item orders). The carrier from which items are fed can be assigned to the individual item sorting system machine (e.g.,the modular sorting machines that form the individual item sorting system machine, etc.). In some embodiments, item sorting systems or individual item sorting machines can be configured to introduce and sort packages, at least in part, based on a destination of the respective packages. Destinations can be internal destinations within a fulfillment center, external destinations based on geographical areas or addresses, or other types of destinations. For example, the output from fulfillment center 200 canisters of items that are forwarded to other fulfillment centers 280, packages addressed to consumer addresses 282, and so on.

[0033] Accordingly, in some embodiments, item sorting systems can be arranged in rows and receive carrying devices from a forwarding sorting unit, thereby streamlining the operation of the fulfillment center and reducing labor and space costs. The item sorting systems can handle carrying devices for sorting and merging multiple orders. As a result, there may no longer be a need to separate items and send them to a wall for manual picking, since each carrying device can be assigned to a specific item sorting system machine. Inbound stations can be replaced by item sorting system machines.

[0034] In another embodiment, order pickers can pick items directly to a segmented conveyor belt at a station located near an item sorting machine. Other nearby picking stations can also pick items directly for transport to the same item sorting machine. Picked items transported to a single item sorting machine can converge to be fed into their individual item sorting machine, where multi-item orders can be combined and sent for packaging.

[0035] Some embodiments can be used across facilities in a fulfillment network. An exemplary fulfillment network 290 is shown in Fig. Figure 2 illustrates the fulfillment network 290, which can comprise a number of fulfillment centers, a number of sorting centers, a number of delivery stations, and so on. The fulfillment centers can be used to package items for fulfillment. Packaged items can be forwarded to a sorting center for redirection to a suitable delivery station. In some cases, packaged items can be forwarded directly to a delivery station, bypassing sorting centers. Embodiments of the collapsible containers described in this application can be configured to move from a first facility to a second facility, a third facility, and so on, seamlessly between different facilities in a fulfillment network.For example, a collapsible container can move from a fulfillment center to a sorting center and then on to a delivery station or other facility, providing a flexible and dynamic solution without the need to unload the contents of the collapsible container.

[0036] Embodiments of the disclosure include collapsible containers for manual and robotic use. These collapsible containers can be used to store packages or other items, at least temporarily. Certain embodiments can improve the processing speed and / or throughput of fulfillment centers. Certain embodiments can improve the performance of mechanical devices for sorting and / or merging items for multi-item orders by increasing tolerances. Although the description is made in the context of online ordering, aspects of this disclosure are, in a broader sense, applicable to other forms of product sorting.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure offer a number of technical features or effects. For example, according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, certain embodiments can improve the processing speed, throughput, and / or efficiency of fulfillment centers. The above examples of technical features and / or effects of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are merely illustrative and not exhaustive.

[0038] In the foregoing, one or more illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described. The embodiments described above are merely exemplary for the scope of this disclosure and are in no way intended to be limiting. Accordingly, modifications, alterations, and equivalents of the embodiments disclosed herein also fall within the scope of this disclosure. The embodiments described above and additional and / or alternative embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. EXPLANATORY EXECUTIONS AND APPLICATIONS

[0039] Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a collapsible container transported by an autonomous robot according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components. The representation of Fig. Figure 3 is not to scale and may not be to scale with respect to other figures. The collapsible container shown in Fig. As shown in section 3, the same collapsible container as the one referred to in section 3 can be used. Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 discussed.

[0040] In the example of Fig. 3. A collapsible container 310 can be positioned in an environment 300, such as on the floor of a fulfillment center, in a warehouse environment, or another environment. To move it within the environment 300, the collapsible container 310 can be rolled using one or more wheels 340. For example, a manual operator can move the collapsible container 310 from one location to another by pushing or pulling it. The collapsible container 310 can hold, carry, and transport various packages, boxes, items, products, or other objects of different types. Furthermore, the collapsible container 310 can be configured to be lifted, carried, moved, and positioned between locations in a material handling facility by robotic drive units, such as the robot 320 or another material handling device.In this way, the collapsible container 310 can be pushed by employees on surfaces, e.g. sorting center floors, and the collapsible container 310 can also be carried and transported by robotic drive units 320.

[0041] The collapsible container 310 can also be moved using a robot 320, such as an autonomous robot. For example, the robot 320 can be configured to sit under the collapsible container 310 or to position itself underneath it in some other way. As shown in the perspective view 330, the robot 320 can then lift the collapsible container 310 off the ground so that the wheels 340 are off the ground, and the robot 320 can then transport the collapsible container 310 from one location to another.

[0042] The collapsible container 310 retains the ability to be moved by humans and robots, while also retaining the ability to fold from a rectangular configuration into an L-shaped, folded configuration. The collapsible container 310 can feature a locking lower container platform that provides the structural rigidity to allow lifting by the robot 320, while also enabling the collapsible container 310 to be folded.

[0043] Accordingly, the collapsible container 310 can be configured for transport using either (i) one or more or a plurality of wheels 340 by manual pushing or (ii) robotic handling, for example by the robot 320, to lift and move the collapsible container 310. The collapsible container 310 can be configured to allow an autonomous robot, such as the robot 320, to position itself under the lower container platform of the collapsible container 310. The collapsible container 310 can be configured to be lifted from the lower container platform by an autonomous robot or another robot 320 that is positioned at least partially or wholly under a center or a central position of the collapsible container 310 when the collapsible container 310 is in the unfolded position (e.g., the rectangular arrangement, etc.).

[0044] The wheels 340 can have one or more freely rotating swivel casters connected to a lower surface of the collapsible container 310. For example, the collapsible container 310 can have four freely rotating swivel casters, one positioned at each corner of the collapsible container 310. In some examples, two of the four casters can have a swivel locking element, such as a hand- or foot-operated swivel locking element, while the other two of the four casters can have a rotation locking element, such as a hand- or foot-operated rotation locking element.

[0045] Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the exemplary collapsible container 400 for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components. The representation of Fig. Figure 4 may not be to scale and may not be shown to scale in relation to other figures. The collapsible container shown in Fig. As shown in section 4, the same collapsible container as the one referred to in section 4 can be used. Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 discussed.

[0046] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the collapsible container 400 in both a perspective front view and a perspective rear view. The collapsible container 400 can have a first side wall 410, a rear wall 420, a second side wall 430, and front doors 440. Some or all of the walls can be made of mesh, such as wire mesh, and can include plastic or other components. For example, some sections of some or all of the walls can have plastic or other materials designed to facilitate the retrieval or other detection of the contents loaded into the collapsible container 400. In one example, the second side wall 430 can have solid panels 432 and / or plastic components 434 that provide additional stability and / or facilitate the detection or retrieval of items arranged in the collapsible container 400.The four walls of the collapsible container 400 can form a rectangular arrangement when the collapsible container 400 is in the unfolded position. Accordingly, items such as packages can be arranged in an interior compartment 450 of the collapsible container 400 when the collapsible container 400 is in the unfolded position. The collapsible container 400 can have one or more wheels 470, which allow the collapsible container 400 to be pushed and / or pulled by hand.

[0047] The collapsible container 400 can have a lower container platform that forms a base of the collapsible container 400, as described in reference to Fig. 6 is described. The lower container platform can be coupled to the rear wall 420 and can pivot upwards and downwards or rotate upwards and downwards relative to the rear wall 420.

[0048] The first side wall 410 can be fixed relative to the rear wall 420. For example, the first side wall 410 can form an L-shaped arrangement with the rear wall 420 and remain at a substantially right angle to the rear wall 420 when the collapsible container 400 is in the folded position. A fixed hinge 460 or other mechanism can be arranged at a connection between the first side wall 410 and the rear wall 420. In some embodiments, electronic devices such as tracking devices can be coupled to the collapsible container 400 at or near the fixed hinge 460 or elsewhere on the collapsible container 400.For example, some embodiments may include Bluetooth-based devices located on or near the fixed hinge 460, configured to provide location data or other data that can be used to locate a specific collapsible container. Other embodiments may include RFID devices, NFC devices, or other transceiver components that can be used to provide position data for a collapsible container. Such data can be used to identify the location of a collapsible container within a facility.

[0049] The second side wall 430 can be configured to pivot or rotate relative to the rear wall 420. For example, the second side wall 430 can be configured to rotate towards the rear wall 420 to facilitate folding or collapsing the collapsible container 400 into its folded configuration.

[0050] The front doors 440 can be formed from one or more panels. For example, the front doors 440 can have a first panel 442 and a second panel 444, forming a first door. The first panel 442 and the second panel 444 can be coupled to the first side wall 410. The first panel 442 and the second panel 444 can be coupled to each other or can be decoupled so that the first panel 442 can rotate relative to the second panel 444. The first panel 442 and the second panel 444 can be configured to rotate relative to the first side wall 410. For example, the first panel 442 and the second panel 444 can be configured to rotate until they are parallel to the first side wall 410.

[0051] The front doors 440 can have a third panel 448 and a fourth panel 446, forming a second door. The third panel 448 and the fourth panel 446 can be coupled to the second side wall 430. The third panel 448 and the fourth panel 446 can be coupled to each other or can be decoupled so that the third panel 448 can rotate relative to the fourth panel 446. The third panel 448 and the fourth panel 446 can be configured to rotate relative to the second side wall 430. For example, the third panel 448 and the fourth panel 446 can be configured to rotate until they are parallel to the second side wall 430.

[0052] To switch from the unfolded arrangement shown to the one in Fig. In the folded arrangement shown in Figures 7A to 7B, the second door can be rotated parallel to the second side wall 430, and the second side wall 430 can be rotated so that it runs parallel to the rear wall 420. The first door can be rotated so that it runs parallel to the first side wall 410. The lower container platform can be rotated so that it runs parallel to the rear wall 420.

[0053] In some embodiments, the collapsible container 400 may have a rear mesh wall, a first mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall, the first mesh side wall having a fixed position relative to the rear mesh wall, and a second mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall and configured to rotate relative to the rear mesh wall. The collapsible container 400 may have a lower container platform configured to rotate from an upward-facing position close to the rear mesh wall (e.g., when the collapsible container is in the folded configuration) to a flat position orthogonal to the rear mesh wall (e.g., when the collapsible container is in the unfolded configuration).The lower container platform may have an automatic locking mechanism designed to engage with the first mesh side wall and the second mesh side wall when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position.

[0054] The collapsible container 400 can have multiple wheels 470 coupled to one or more of the rear mesh wall, the first mesh side wall, or the second mesh side wall. The collapsible container 400 can be configured to be transported using (i) the multiple wheels by manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container.

[0055] The wheels 470 can be self-positioning swivel casters that may have associated home positions, which may be defined positions or orientations of the casters when they are raised, stationary, and / or stopped. For example, the home positions of the self-positioning swivel casters belonging to a container, a transport cart, or other material handling equipment may increase or maximize the clearance or space under the transport cart when the transport cart is stationary or stopped. In some exemplary embodiments, robotic drive units or other types of material handling equipment, e.g.,Manual, automated, or robotic devices may be placed under or positioned below and between the transport trolley and between the self-positioning casters, so that increasing or maximizing the clearance or space under the transport trolley and between the self-positioning casters can facilitate reliable operation and prevent collisions and mutual obstruction between robotic drive units and sections of the transport trolley.In other exemplary embodiments, the home positions of the self-positioning casters belonging to a container, trolley, or other material handling device can be positioned substantially within an outer circumference, dimension, or footprint associated with the receiving space of the trolley when the trolley is stationary or stopped, so that multiple trolleys can be positioned or stored side by side with minimal gap or space between them and without causing mutual obstruction between casters belonging to adjacent trolleys. Furthermore, the home positions of the self-positioning casters belonging to a trolley or other material handling device can enable a trolley to remain substantially in position when lifted, stationary, or stopped.For example, a transport cart may be positioned on a substantially flat or horizontal floor or other surface of a material handling system. However, due to irregularities, imperfections, protrusions, depressions, edges, slopes, angles, cracks, foreign matter, or other surface characteristics associated with the surface, a stationary or stopped transport cart may move or shift, for example, due to gravity. The home positions of the self-positioning casters can be selected or configured to prevent such movement or shifting of a transport cart due to surface characteristics associated with the position where the transport cart is located.

[0056] Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a front view and a side view of the collapsible container 500 for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components. The representation of Fig. Figure 5 may not be to scale and may not be shown to scale in relation to other figures. The collapsible container shown in Fig. As shown in section 5, the same collapsible container as the one referred to in section 5 can be used. Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 discussed.

[0057] The collapsible 500 container is in Fig. 5 shown in a front view and a side view 560. The collapsible container 500 can be the same collapsible container as the one in Fig. The collapsible container 500 can have a first door 510 and a second door 520. The first door 510 can be formed from one or more individual panels and can be configured to rotate relative to the second side wall 550. The first door 510 can be configured to rotate relative to the second door 520. The first door 510 can have a mesh design and can be made of plastic, metal, a composite material, or another type of material.

[0058] The second door 520 can be formed from one or more individual panels and can be configured to rotate relative to the first side wall 530. The second door 520 can also be configured to rotate relative to the first door 510. The second door 520 can have a mesh design and can be made of plastic, metal, a composite material, or another type of material.

[0059] The collapsible container 500 can have a rear wall 570 that is fixed relative to the second side wall 550. The collapsible container 500 can have a latch 540 or another mechanism that may be configured to fix the second door 520 to the first side wall 530 in the folded position.

[0060] The collapsible container 500 can therefore have a rear wall 570, a first side wall 530 configured to rotate outwards relative to the rear wall 570, and a second side wall 550 fixed relative to the rear wall 570. The collapsible container 500 can have a lower container platform configured to rotate downwards relative to the rear wall 570, the lower container platform having an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first side wall 530 and the second side wall 550 when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. The collapsible container 500 can be configured to be transported by both mechanical pushing and robotic handling.

[0061] Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a lower container platform 600 of a collapsible container for manual and robotic use according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components. The representation of Fig. Figure 6 may not be to scale and may not be shown to scale in relation to other figures. The lower container platform, which is shown in Fig. 6 shown, can be used with any of the collapsible containers that are described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 were discussed, will be used.

[0062] The lower container platform 600 is shown in a bottom view. The lower container platform 600 can form a base or bottom of the collapsible container and can support the contents loaded into the collapsible container. In some cases, robots can lift collapsible containers by attaching them to the lower container platform 600 or handle them in another way.

[0063] The lower container platform 600 can have a rotating handle 610. The rotating handle 610 can be mechanically coupled to one or more retractable support tabs 620. The lower container platform 600 can have an automatic locking mechanism designed to engage with the first mesh side wall and the second mesh side wall when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. The automatic locking mechanism can include one or more retractable support tabs 620. The rotating handle 610 can be coupled to the retractable support tabs 620 via a linkage 630. Any suitable linkage can be used. The rotating handle 610 can be configured for rotation (e.g., inwards and / or outwards, etc.).Rotating the rotating handle 610 can cause the retractable support tabs 620 to retract towards the lower container platform 600. The retractable support tabs 620 can be configured to engage with one or both side walls of the lower container platform 600. The rotating handle 610 can therefore be configured to release the retractable support tabs 620 from engagement with the side walls, thus allowing the lower container platform 600 to rotate upwards towards the rear wall of the collapsible container. The rotating handle 610 can also serve as a visual indicator of whether the retractable support tabs 620 are engaged with the side walls or not. For example, the rotating handle 610 may not be in a standard position if the retractable support tabs 620 are not fully engaged with the respective side walls of the collapsible container.Instead, the rotating handle 610 can be raised, preventing the front doors of the collapsible container from closing. Similarly, the rotating handle 610 can be used to indicate whether the lower container platform 600 is in a completely flat position before the front doors of the collapsible container are closed. The retractable support lugs 620 can also provide a load path when the collapsible container is lifted.

[0064] The lower container platform 600 can have one or more raised circular rings 640 and / or blocks 660, which can be used to facilitate interaction with a robot. For example, the robot can lift the collapsible container by applying upward pressure to the blocks 660. The lower container platform 600 can have a marker 650 or another identifier, such as a barcode, an RFID tag, or another identifier, which can be used to identify the collapsible container as well as other data, such as the orientation of the collapsible container. The marker 650 can be scanned by a robot and used to identify the collapsible container and / or its orientation, the contents of the collapsible container, the position of the collapsible container relative to a floor, and / or other data assignments.

[0065] The lower container platform 600 can be coupled to the rear wall of the collapsible container using one or more hinges 670. The lower container platform 600 can therefore be configured to rotate relative to the rear wall. The lower container platform 600 can be configured to rotate from a position orthogonal (flat) to the rear wall to a position parallel (e.g., upward-facing) to allow the collapsible container to be folded.

[0066] The lower container platform 600 can be part of a collapsible container comprising a first container wall, a second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction relative to the first container wall, and several wheels. The lower container platform 600 can be configured to rotate outwards relative to the first container wall (e.g., the rear wall). The lower container platform 600 can have an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall (e.g., the first side wall or the second side wall) when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position.The lower container platform 600 may have a visual indicator, such as the rotatable handle 610, configured to show that the lower container platform 600 is locked when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. The rotatable handle 610 may be a mechanical handle mechanically coupled to the automatic locking mechanism, such as the retractable support tabs 620, and may be configured to release the automatic locking mechanism. The automatic locking mechanism may have at least one retractable tab configured to engage with a slot arranged on the second container wall. Some embodiments may, instead of the two retractable tabs found in the embodiment of , Fig. 6 are shown, have one retractable tab or more than two retractable tabs.

[0067] The marker 650 can be located on a lower surface of the lower container platform 600. The marker 650 can be associated with the collapsible container and configured to be read by respective computer systems in multiple building facilities. For example, robots or computer systems in more than one non-contiguous facility can be configured to read the marker 650 and / or otherwise identify the collapsible container using the marker 650. Data associated with the marker can include information such as the location of the collapsible container on the floor, its orientation relative to the floor, the contents of the collapsible container, and so on. This data can be dynamically updated as the contents of the container change, its location or orientation changes, and so forth.In one example, the data can indicate that a package belongs to the collapsible container, where the collapsible container is associated with the marker, and where the marker is associated with a location on the floor of a facility. Typically, markers can be used for a single location, but embodiments of the disclosure allow markers to be used as an identifier that can be used in multiple buildings or facilities. Furthermore, this can allow containers to be used on multiple levels within the same facility.

[0068] Fig. Figure 6 shows an exemplary process flow 680 that can be used with the marker 650 to enable the movement of the collapsible container across multiple facilities. In a first block 682, contents can be loaded into the collapsible container. In a second block 684, the collapsible container itself, along with its contents, can be loaded onto a cart. Unlike the typical movement, the collapsible container does not need to be emptied and its contents loaded onto the cart without the container itself. In a third block 686, the collapsible container can be transported to another facility. In a fourth block 688, the collapsible container can be unloaded from the cart, and data associated with the collapsible container, such as data related to its contents, can be captured using the identifier, such as the marker 650.In this way, the contents of the collapsible container do not need to be unloaded at one facility, nor do they need to be transferred to another container at a different facility. Instead, the entire container and its contents can be moved between facilities. With a fifth Block 690, the collapsible container can be folded up and optionally stacked in a nested arrangement with other folded containers. The folded container can then be returned to the facility from which it originated.

[0069] Once inside the facility, the collapsible container can be moved manually or using robots. For example, the container can be moved by an employee and / or in response to instructions from a controller to an edge or access point belonging to a robotic storage system and / or sorting floor or area. In another example, a robotic drive unit can be instructed by a controller to move between the wheels of the transport cart under the container or to drive under the cart and lift the cart. The robotic drive unit can then be instructed by a controller to move or transport the lifted container to another location within the robotic plane, such as a storage location.to be instructed by a control system to lower or position the container at the storage location.

[0070] Fig. Figures 7A to 7B are schematic representations of a collapsible container 700 for manual and robotic use, shown in a folded arrangement, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may have additional or fewer components. The representation of Fig. Figures 7A to 7B may not be to scale and may not be shown to scale in relation to other figures. The collapsible container shown in Fig. As shown in 7A to 7B, the same collapsible container as the one referred to in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6 discussed.

[0071] In Fig. Figure 7A shows the collapsible container 700 in a folded arrangement. The collapsible container 700 can have a first container wall 720, a second container wall 730 configured to rotate outwards in a first direction relative to the first container wall 720, a third container wall which can be formed from one or more doors to provide access to an interior of the collapsible container 700, and a fourth container wall 710 which is fixed relative to the first container wall 720. The fourth container wall 710 can be parallel to the second container wall 730 and fixed relative to the first container wall 720 so that the collapsible container 700 forms an L-shaped arrangement when in the folded position.The collapsible container 700 can be configured to be stacked with other collapsible containers in a nested L-shaped arrangement 770, as shown in . Fig. Figure 7B shows that the collapsible container 700 may have a lower container platform 740, which forms a base or bottom of the collapsible container 700. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7B, collapsible containers of different heights can be stacked together in a nested arrangement.

[0072] The collapsible container 700 can be configured for transport both by manual pushing using its multiple wheels and by robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container. For example, the collapsible container 700 can be configured to allow an autonomous robot to position itself beneath the lower container platform 740.

[0073] In the folded configuration, the collapsible container 700 can form an L-shaped arrangement, as can be seen in the top view 750 and the perspective view 760. A first door of the front of the collapsible container 700 (e.g., a first door of the third container wall, etc.) can be rotated next to the third container wall 710. A second door of the front of the collapsible container 700 can be rotated next to the fourth container wall 710. The lower container platform 740 can be rotated upwards and flat against the first container wall 720. The second container wall and the second door of the front of the collapsible container 700 can be rotated against the lower container platform 740. The walls of the collapsible container 700 can be fixed, and the collapsible container 700 can be locked in the folded configuration.

[0074] In the unfolded configuration, the third or fourth container wall of the collapsible container 700 can be at least partially coupled to the second container wall 730 and run parallel to the first container wall 720 when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. A visual indicator, such as the rotatable handle 610, made of Fig. 6 can be configured to prevent the collapsible container 700 from being fixed in the unfolded position by contact with the front or third container wall.

[0075] The lower container platform 740 can be configured to rotate outwards relative to the first container wall 720. The lower container platform 740 can have an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall 730 when the collapsible container 700 is in the unfolded position.

[0076] The preceding text may have described that one or more activities of the procedures, processes, or use cases of Fig. 1 to 7B are performed by a user device, or more precisely, one or more program modules, applications, or the like running on a device. However, it should be understood that any of the activities of the procedures, processes, or use cases of Fig. 1 to 7B may be performed at least partially in a distributed manner by one or more devices, or more precisely, by one or more program modules, applications, or the like running on such devices. Furthermore, it should be understood that the processing performed in response to the execution of computer-executable instructions provided as part of an application, program module, or the like may be described interchangeably in this application as being performed by the application or program module itself or by a device on which the application, program module, or the like is running. Although the activities of the methods, processes, or use cases of Fig. While items 1 to 7B may be described in the context of the illustrated devices, it should be understood that these activities can be implemented in conjunction with numerous other device configurations.

[0077] The activities involved in the illustrated procedures, processes, and use cases of Fig. The activities described and illustrated in Sections 1 to 7B can be carried out in any suitable sequence, such as the sequence shown, in various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Furthermore, in certain exemplary embodiments, at least some of the activities can be performed in parallel. In addition, in certain exemplary embodiments, fewer, more, or different activities than those described in Sections 1 to 7B can be performed. Fig. The steps shown in 1 to 7B will be carried out.

[0078] Although certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, a person skilled in the art will recognize that numerous other variations and alternative embodiments fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any functionality and / or any processing capabilities described in relation to a particular device or component can be performed by any other device or component. And although various exemplary implementations and architectures consistent with embodiments of the disclosure have been described, a person skilled in the art will understand that numerous other variations of the exemplary implementations and architectures described in this application also fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0079] Certain aspects of the disclosure are described above with reference to block and flowcharts of systems, processes, devices, and / or computer program products according to exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that one or more blocks of the block and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block and flowcharts, can each be implemented by executing computer-executable program instructions. Likewise, some blocks of the block and flowcharts need not necessarily be executed in the sequence shown, or, according to some embodiments, need not necessarily be executed at all. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, additional components and / or activities may be present besides those depicted in blocks of the block and / or flowcharts.

[0080] Accordingly, blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts support combinations of means for performing specific functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing specific functions, and program instruction means for performing specific functions. It will also be understood that each block in block diagrams and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts, can be implemented by purpose-built, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specific functions, elements, or steps, or by combinations of purpose-built hardware and computer instructions. EXEMPLARY COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

[0081] Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of one or more exemplary computer systems 800 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The computer system 800 (the computer systems 800) may comprise any suitable computing device, including, but not limited to, a server system, a speech interaction system, a mobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet, an e-reader, a portable device, or the like; a desktop computer; a laptop computer; a content streaming device; or the like. The computer system 800 may (the computer systems 800) correspond to an exemplary device configuration for a computer system that, in conjunction with any of the robotic system(s) of Fig. 1 to 7B, such as robotic handling devices and / or autonomous robot vehicles.

[0082] The Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) can be configured to communicate with one or more servers, one or more user devices, or the like. The Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) can be configured to cause the Robotic System (the Robotic Systems) to place containers into one or more pods, retrieve containers, transport containers, etc.

[0083] The Computer System 800 (Computer Systems 800) can be configured to communicate over one or more networks. This network (these networks) can include, but are not limited to, one or more different types of communication networks, such as, for example, public networks (e.g., the Internet), private networks (e.g., frame relay networks), wireless networks, cellular networks, telephone networks (e.g., a public telephone network), or any other suitable private or public packet-switched or circuit-switched networks. Furthermore, this network (these networks) can include any suitable associated communication domain and, for example, global networks (e.g.,The network (or networks) may include the Internet), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), or personal area networks (PANs). Furthermore, this network (or these networks) 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 cable (e.g., twisted pair copper cable), optical fiber, hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) medium, microwave medium, radio frequency communication medium, satellite communication medium, or any combination thereof.

[0084] In an exemplary configuration, the computer system 800 (or computer systems 800) may comprise one or more processors 802, one or more memory devices 804 (also referred to in this application as memory 804), one or more input / output interfaces (I / O interfaces) 806, one or more network interfaces 808, one or more sensors 810, one or more transceivers 812, one or more optional displays 814, one or more optional microphones 816, and a data storage device 820. The computer system 800 (or computer systems 800) may further comprise one or more buses 818 that functionally couple the various components of the computer system 800 (or computer systems 800).The Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800 may) further comprise one or more antennas 830, which may include, without limitation, a cellular antenna for transmitting or receiving signals to / from a cellular network infrastructure (especially mobile network infrastructure), an antenna for transmitting or receiving WiFi 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 on. These various components are described in more detail below.

[0085] The 818 bus (the 818 buses) can include at least one of a system bus, a memory bus, an address bus, or a message bus, and can allow the exchange of information (e.g., data (including computer-executable code), signaling, etc.) between different components of the 800 computer system (the 800 computer systems). The 818 bus (the 818 buses) can, without limitation, include a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and so on.The 818 bus can (the 818 buses can) be connected to any suitable bus architecture, including, but not limited to, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), a micro channel architecture (MCA), an Enhanced ISA (EISA), a Video Electronics Standard Association Architecture (VESA architecture), an Accelerated Graphics Port Architecture (AGP architecture), a Peripheral Component Interconnect Architecture (PCI architecture), a PCI Express architecture, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association Architecture (PCMCIA architecture), a Universal Serial Bus Architecture (USB architecture), and so on.

[0086] The Memory 804 of Computer System 800 (or Computer Systems 800) can include volatile memory (memory that retains its state when powered on), such as random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory (memory that retains its state even when powered off), such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), and so forth. Persistent data storage, as used herein, may include non-volatile memory. In certain exemplary embodiments, volatile memory may provide faster read / write access than non-volatile memory. However, in various other exemplary embodiments, certain types of non-volatile memory (e.g.,FRAM) allows faster read / write access than certain types of volatile memory.

[0087] In various configurations, the 804 memory chip can incorporate several 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 immutable ROMs, and / or writable types of ROMs such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROMs), flash memory, and so on. The 804 memory chip can also include main memory as well as various forms of cache memory, such as instruction cache(s), data cache(s), translation lookaside buffers (TLBs), and so on. Furthermore, cache memory, such as a data cache, can be a multi-level cache organized as a hierarchy of one or more cache levels (L1, L2, etc.).

[0088] The 820 Data Storage Unit can include removable and / or non-removable storage, including but not limited to magnetic storage, optical disk storage, and / or tape storage. The 820 Data Storage Unit can provide non-volatile storage of computer-executable instructions and other data. The 804 Storage Unit and the 820 Data Storage Unit, whether removable or non-removable, are examples of computer-readable storage media (CRSM) as used herein.

[0089] The 820 data memory can store computer-executable code, instructions, or the like, which can be loaded into the 804 memory and executed by the 802 processor(s) to perform or initiate various operations. The 820 data memory can also store data that can be copied to the 804 memory for use by the 802 processor(s) during the execution of the computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, output data generated as a result of the execution of the computer-executable instructions by the 802 processor(s) can initially be stored in the 804 memory and ultimately copied to the 820 data memory for non-volatile storage.

[0090] More specifically, the 820 data store can store one or more operating systems (OS) 822; one or more database management systems (DBMS) 824; and one or more program modules, applications, machines, computer executable code, scripts, or the like. Some or all of these modules can be submodules. Any of the components represented as stored in the 820 data store can include any combination of software, firmware, and / or hardware. The software and / or firmware can contain computer executable code, instructions, or the like, which can be loaded into the 804 memory for execution by one or more of the 802 processors.Any of the components represented as being stored in data storage 820 can support the functionality described in connection with corresponding components mentioned earlier in this disclosure.

[0091] The data memory 820 can also store various types of data used by the components of the computer system(s) 800. Any data stored in the data memory 820 can be loaded into memory 804 for use by the processor(s) 802 when computer executable code is executed. Furthermore, any data represented as stored in the data memory 820 can potentially be stored in one or more data memories and accessed via the DBMS 824, and loaded into memory 804 for use by the processor(s) 802 when computer executable code is executed. The data memory can (can) contain databases (e.g., relational, object-oriented, etc.).), file systems, simple files, distributed data storage where data is stored on more than one node of a computer network, peer-to-peer network data storage, or the like, but is not limited to these.

[0092] The processor 802 (the processors 802) can be configured to access the memory 804 and execute the computer-executable instructions loaded therein. For example, the processor 802 (the processors 802) can be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions of the various program modules, applications, machines, or the like of the computer system 800 (the computer systems 800) to effect or facilitate various activities to be carried out in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 802 (the processors 802) can have any suitable processing unit capable of receiving data as input, processing the input data according to stored computer-executable instructions, and producing output data.The 802 processor (the 802 processors can) include any 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 on.Furthermore, the 802 processor (or processors) can have any suitable microarchitecture design, incorporating any number of components such as registers, multiplexers, arithmetic logic units, cache controllers for controlling read / write operations with respect to the cache memory, branch predictors, or the like. The microarchitecture design of the 802 processor (or processors) can be capable of supporting any instruction set from a variety of options.

[0093] With reference to other exemplary components shown to be stored in data memory 820, OS 822 can be loaded from data memory 820 into memory 804 and provide an interface between other application software running on computer system 800(s) and the hardware resources of computer system 800(s). More specifically, OS 822 can contain a set of computer-executable instructions for managing the hardware resources of computer system 800(s) and for providing common services to other application programs (e.g., managing memory allocation among different application programs). In certain exemplary embodiments, OS 822 can control the execution of the other program module(s).OS 822 can encompass any operating system currently known or that may be developed in the future, such as, but without limitation, any server operating system, any mainframe operating system, or any other proprietary or non-proprietary operating system.

[0094] The DBMS 824 can be loaded into memory 804 and support functionality for accessing, retrieving, storing, and / or manipulating data stored in memory 804 and / or data stored in data store 820. The DBMS 824 can use any of a variety of database models (e.g., a relational model, an object model, etc.) and support any of a variety of query languages. The DBMS 824 can 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, individual files, distributed data stores where data is stored on more than one node of a computer network, peer-to-peer data stores, or the like.In those exemplary embodiments where the computer system 800 (computer systems 800) is a mobile device, the DBMS 824 can be any suitable lightweight DBMS optimized for execution on a mobile device.

[0095] With further reference to other exemplary components of the Computer System 800 (or Computer Systems 800), the Input / Output Interface (I / O Interface) 806 (or I / O Interfaces 806) can facilitate the receipt of input information by the Computer System 800 (or Computer Systems 800) from one or more I / O devices, as well as the output of information from the Computer System 800 (or Computer Systems 800) to the one or more I / O devices. The I / O devices can comprise any of a variety of components, such as a display or screen with a touch surface or touchscreen; an audio output device for producing sound, such as a loudspeaker; an audio recording device, such as a microphone; an image and / or video recording device, such as a camera; a haptic unit, and so forth.Any one of these components can be integrated into the Computer System 800 (or Computer Systems 800) or be separate from it. The I / O devices can also include, for example, any number of peripheral devices such as data storage devices, printing devices, and so on.

[0096] The I / O interface 806 may also include an interface for connecting an external peripheral device, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, Thunderbolt, Ethernet port, or another connection protocol capable of connecting to one or more networks. The I / O interface 806 may also include a connection to one or more of the antennas 830 for connecting to one or more networks via a wireless local area network (WLAN) (such as WiFi), Bluetooth, ZigBee, and / or a wireless network capable of communicating with a wireless communications network such as a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a WiMAX network, a 3G network, a ZigBee network, etc.

[0097] The Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) may further have one or more Network Interface(s) 808 through which the Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) may communicate with any one of a variety of other systems, platforms, networks, devices, and so forth. The Network Interface 808 may (the Network Interfaces 808) enable communication with, for example, one or more wireless routers, one or more host servers, one or more web servers, and the like over one or more networks.

[0098] The Antenna 830 (the Antenna 830) can have any type of antenna, depending on, for example, the communication protocols used to send or receive signals via the Antenna 830. Non-limiting examples of suitable antennas include directional antennas, non-directional antennas, dipole antennas, folded dipole antennas, patch antennas, multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antennas, or the like. The Antenna 830 (the Antenna 830) can be communicatively coupled to one or more Transceivers 812 or radio components to which signals can be sent or from which signals can be received.

[0099] As previously described, the Antenna 830 (or the Antenna 830) can have a cellular antenna configured to transmit or receive signals according to 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 (SW-CDMA), CDMA2000, etc.), 4G standards (e.g. Long-Term Evolution (LTE, WiMAX, etc.), direct satellite communications, or the like).

[0100] The antenna 830 (the antennas 830) may also 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 over 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 exemplary embodiments, the antenna 830 (the antennas 830) may be configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals within any suitable frequency range that forms part of the unlicensed portion of the radio spectrum.

[0101] The Antenna 830 may (the Antenna 830 may) also or alternatively include a GNSS antenna configured to receive signals carrying time-position information from three or more GNSS satellites in order to triangulate a position. Such a GNSS antenna may be configured to receive GNSS signals from any current or planned GNSS system, such as, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS), the GLONASS system, the Compass navigation system, the Galileo system, or the Indian Regional Navigation System.

[0102] The Transceiver 812 may (the Transceivers 812 may) include any radio component (any radio components) to transmit or receive, in cooperation with the Antenna 830 (the Antennas 830), radio frequency signals (FF signals) in the bandwidth and / or on the channels corresponding to the communication protocols used by the Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) to communicate with other devices. The Transceiver 812 may (the Transceivers 812 may) include hardware, software, and / or firmware to transmit, possibly in cooperation with any Antenna 830 (the Antennas 830), communication signals in accordance with any of the communication protocols discussed above, including, but not limited to, one or more specified by IEEE 802.The Transceiver 812 may modulate, transmit, or receive 11 standardized WiFi and / or WiFi Direct protocols, one or more non-WiFi protocols, or one or more cellular communication protocols or standards. The Transceiver 812 may also include hardware, firmware, or software for receiving GNSS signals. The Transceiver 812 may include any known receiver and any known baseband suitable for communication over the communication protocols used by the Computer System 800. The Transceiver 812 may also include a low-noise amplifier (LNA), additional signal amplifiers, an analog-to-digital converter (A / D converter), one or more buffers, a digital baseband, or the like.

[0103] The 810 sensor / sensor interface can (the 810 sensors / sensor interfaces can) have or be capable of connecting to any type of sensing device, such as inertial sensors, force sensors, heat sensors, photocells, and so on. Examples of inertial sensors include accelerometers (e.g., MEMS-based accelerometers), gyroscopes, and so on.

[0104] The optional display 814 can be configured to emit light and / or play back content. The optional speaker / microphone 816 can be any device configured to receive analog audio input or voice data.

[0105] It should be understood that the program module (or modules), the applications, the computer-executable instructions, the code, or the like, which are in Fig. The information presented in section 8, as stored in the data memory 820, is merely exemplary and not exhaustive, and the processing described as being supported by any given module may alternatively be distributed across multiple modules or performed by a different module. Furthermore, various program modules, scripts, plug-ins, application programming interfaces (APIs), or any other suitable computer executable code, included locally in the computer system 800(s) and / or in another computing device(s) accessible via one or more networks, may be provided to enable the functionality provided by the program module(s), applications, or computer executable code included in the computer system 800(s). Fig. 8 are shown, is provided, and / or to support additional or alternative functionality. Furthermore, the functionality can be modularized differently, so that the processing, which is considered collected by the in Fig. The functionality described in Section 8, which is supported by a smaller or larger number of modules, can be performed by any specific module, or the functionality described as being supported by any particular module can be supported, at least in part, by another module. Furthermore, a program module that supports the functionality described herein can form part of one or more applications that are 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 on. Additionally, any of the functions described in Section 8 can be supported by any of the functions described herein. Fig. The 8 program modules shown support the described functionalities, which can be implemented at least partially in hardware and / or firmware across any number of devices.

[0106] It should further be understood that the Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) may include alternative and / or additional hardware, software, or firmware components besides those described or illustrated, without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. More specifically, it should be understood that software, firmware, or hardware components shown to form part of the Computer System 800 (the Computer Systems 800) are merely examples, and that in various embodiments, some components may be omitted or additional components may be provided.Although various exemplary program modules have been presented and described as software module(s) stored in the 820 data memory, it should be understood that the functionality described as supported by the program module(s) can be enabled by any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. It should also be understood that each of the modules described above may represent a logical division of the supported functionality in different embodiments. This logical division is presented for the sake of clarity and is not intended to be representative of the design of the software, hardware, and / or firmware used to implement the functionality.Accordingly, it should be understood that functionality described as being provided by a specific module may, in different embodiments, be provided at least partially by one or more other modules. Furthermore, one or more of the depicted modules may be absent in certain embodiments, while in other embodiments, an additional, not depicted module may be present and may support at least part of the described functionality and / or additional functionality. Moreover, although a specific module may be depicted and described as a submodule of another module, in certain embodiments, this module may be provided as an independent module or as a submodule of another module (or of other modules).

[0107] One or more activities of the procedures, processes and use cases of Fig. 1 to 7B can be achieved by a device with the in Fig. The exemplary setup shown in Figure 8, or more precisely, the activities described above, can be carried out by one or more machines, one or more program modules, one or more applications, or the like, that can be performed on such a device. It should be understood, however, that these activities can be implemented in conjunction with numerous other device configurations.

[0108] The activities involved in the exemplary procedures and processes of any one of Fig. The activities described and illustrated in Sections 1 to 7B can be carried out or performed in any suitable sequence in various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as desired. Furthermore, in certain exemplary embodiments, at least some of the activities can be performed in parallel. In addition, in certain exemplary embodiments, fewer, more, or different activities than those described in Sections 1 to 7B can be performed. Fig. The steps shown in 1 to 7B will be carried out.

[0109] Although certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, a person skilled in the art will understand that numerous other variations and alternative embodiments fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionalities and / or processing capabilities described with reference to a particular device or component can be performed by any other device or component. And while various exemplary implementations and architectures consistent with embodiments of the disclosure have been described, a person skilled in the art will understand that numerous other variations of the exemplary implementations and architectures described in this application also fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0110] Certain aspects of the disclosure have been described above with reference to block and flow diagrams of systems, processes, devices, and / or computer program products according to exemplary embodiments. It is understood that one or more blocks of the block and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block and flow diagrams, can each be implemented by executing computer-executable program instructions. Likewise, according to some embodiments, some blocks of the block and flow diagrams may not necessarily be executed in the sequence shown, or may not be executed at all. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, additional components and / or activities may be present besides those depicted in blocks of the block and / or flow diagrams.

[0111] Accordingly, blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts support combinations of means for performing specific functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing specific functions, and program instruction means for performing specific functions. It will also be understood that each block in block diagrams and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts, can be implemented by purpose-built, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specific functions, elements, or steps, or by combinations of purpose-built hardware and computer instructions.

[0112] (A) program module(s), applications, or the like disclosed in this application may comprise one or more software components, including, for example, software objects, methods, data structures, or the like. Each such software component may contain computer-executable instructions which, upon execution, cause the performance of at least part of the functionality described in this application (e.g., one or more actions of the exemplary methods described in this application).

[0113] A software component can be coded in any of a variety of programming languages. An example programming language might be a low-level language such as assembly language, which is associated with a specific hardware architecture and / or operating system platform. A software component containing assembly language may require conversion by an assembly language into executable machine code before it can be executed by the hardware architecture and / or platform.

[0114] Another example of a programming language is a high-level programming language that is portable across multiple architectures. A software component containing instructions in a high-level programming language may require conversion to an intermediate representation by an interpreter or compiler before execution.

[0115] Other examples of programming languages ​​include, but are not limited to, a macro language, a shell or command language, a job control language, a scripting language, a database query or search language, or a reporting language. In one or more exemplary embodiments, a software component containing instructions in one of the above exemplary programming languages ​​can be executed directly by an operating system or another software component without first needing to be converted into another form.

[0116] A software component can be stored as a file or another data storage construct. Software components of a similar type or functionality can be stored together, for example, in a specific directory, folder, or library. Software components can be static (e.g., pre-built or fixed) or dynamic (e.g., created or modified at execution time).

[0117] Software components can call or be called by other software components through a wide variety of mechanisms. Called or calling software components may include other custom-developed application software, operating system functionality (e.g., device drivers, data storage programs (e.g., file management programs), other common programs or 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).

[0118] Software components associated with a particular solution or system can reside on and run through a single platform, or they can be distributed across multiple platforms. These multiple platforms can involve more than one hardware vendor, more than one underlying chip technology, or more than one operating system. Furthermore, software components associated with a particular solution or system may initially be written in one or more programming languages, but may call software components written in a different programming language.

[0119] Computer-executable program instructions can be loaded into a purpose-built computer or other specific machine, processor or other programmable data processing device to create a specific machine, so that the execution of the instructions on the computer, processor or other programmable data processing device will effect the performance of one or more functions or activities specified in the flowcharts.These computer program instructions can also be stored on a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM), which, when executed, can instruct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner so that the instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium produce a manufactured item, including instructional means that implement one or more functions or activities specified in the flowcharts. The computer program instructions can also be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause the execution of a series of operating elements or steps on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process.

[0120] Additional types of CRSMs that may be present in any of the devices described in this application 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 storage technology, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital video disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store and access information. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of CRSMs.Alternatively, computer-readable communication media (CRCM) can contain computer-readable instructions, program module(s), or other data transmitted in a data signal such as a carrier wave or other transmission. However, in the sense used herein, CRSMs do not include CRCMs.

[0121] Although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological actions, it is understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described. Rather, the specific features and actions are disclosed as exemplary forms for implementing the embodiments. Unless expressly stated otherwise or understood differently in the context of use, conditional formulations such as, among others, "may" or "could" are generally intended to convey that certain embodiments may include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not include them.Therefore, such conditional formulations should not be generally understood as an assumption that features, elements and / or steps are required for one or more embodiments in any case, or that one or more embodiments necessarily have logic to decide, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or steps are present or should be carried out in any particular embodiment.

[0122] Embodiments of the disclosure can be described with regard to one or more of the following: Embodiment 1 can comprise a collapsible container comprising a rear mesh wall; a first mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall, wherein the first mesh side wall has a fixed position relative to the rear mesh wall; a second mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall and configured to rotate relative to the rear mesh wall;a lower container platform configured to rotate from an upward-facing position next to the rear mesh wall into a flat position orthogonal to the rear mesh wall, wherein the lower container platform (i) has an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first mesh side wall and the second mesh side wall when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position, and (ii) has a mechanical handle configured to indicate that the lower container platform is locked when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position; and wherein the mechanical handle is configured to prevent the collapsible container from being locked in the unfolded position before the lower container platform is locked;and comprising several wheels coupled to one or more from the rear mesh wall, the first mesh side wall or the second mesh side wall; wherein the collapsible container is configured to be transported by (i) the multiple wheels via manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container. Embodiment 2 may include embodiment 1, wherein the collapsible container is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform by an autonomous robot that is positioned entirely under a center of the collapsible container when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. Embodiment 3 can comprise one of embodiments 1 to 2 and further comprise a marker arranged on a lower surface of the lower container platform, wherein the marker is associated with the collapsible container and is configured to be read by appropriate computer systems of several building facilities. Embodiment 4 can comprise a collapsible container comprising a first container wall; a second container wall which is configured to extend outwards relative to the first container wall.to rotate outwards in a first direction; a lower container platform configured to rotate outwards in a second direction with respect to the first container wall, wherein the lower container platform (i) has an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall when the collapsible container is in an unfolded position, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction, and (ii) has a visual indicator configured to show that the lower container platform is locked when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position; and has multiple wheels; wherein the collapsible container is configured to be transported by using (i) the multiple wheels via manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container. Embodiment 5 may include embodiment 4, wherein the collapsible container is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform by an autonomous robot positioned entirely below the center of the collapsible container when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. Embodiment 6 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 5 and further comprise a third container wall which is coupled to the second container wall and runs parallel to the first container wall when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position; wherein the sight indicator is a mechanical handle which is configured to prevent the collapsible container from being fixed in the unfolded position by contacting the third container wall. Embodiment 7 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 6, wherein the mechanical handle is mechanically coupled to the automatic locking mechanism and is configured to release the automatic locking mechanism. Embodiment 8 may comprise one of embodiments 5 to 7 and further comprise a fourth container wall which is parallel to the second container wall and is fixed with respect to the first container wall, so that the collapsible container forms an L-shaped arrangement when the collapsible container is in a folded position. Embodiment 9 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 8 and further comprise a marker arranged on a lower surface of the lower container platform, the marker being associated with the collapsible container and being configured to be read by appropriate computer systems of several building facilities. Embodiment 10 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 9, wherein data associated with the marker include a location of the collapsible container on the ground, an orientation of the collapsible container with respect to the ground and the contents of the collapsible container, and wherein the data are dynamically updated. Embodiment 11 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 10, wherein the collapsible container is configured to allow an autonomous robot to sit under the lower container platform. Embodiment 12 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 11, wherein the automatic locking mechanism has at least one retractable tab configured to engage with a slot arranged on the second container wall. Embodiment 13 may comprise one of embodiments 4 to 12, wherein the collapsible container is configured to be stacked with other collapsible containers in a nested L-shaped arrangement. Embodiment 14 may comprise a collapsible container comprising a rear wall; a first side wall configured to rotate outwards with respect to the rear wall; a second side wall fixed with respect to the rear wall; and a lower container platform configured to rotate downwards with respect to the rear wall, wherein the lower container platform (i) has an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first side wall and the second side wall when the collapsible container is in an unfolded position; and (ii) has a visual indicator configured to show that the lower container platform is locked when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position;the collapsible container is designed to be transported both by manual pushing and by robotic handling. Embodiment 15 may include embodiment 14, wherein the collapsible container is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform by an autonomous robot positioned entirely under the center of the collapsible container when the collapsible container is in the unfolded position. Embodiment 16 may comprise one of embodiments 14 to 15 and further comprise a marker arranged on a lower surface of the lower container platform, wherein the marker is associated with the collapsible container and is configured to be read by respective computer systems of several building facilities. Embodiment 17 may comprise one of embodiments 14 to 16, wherein the automatic locking mechanism has at least one retractable tab configured to engage with a slot arranged on the second container wall.

Claims

[1] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700), comprising - a rear mesh wall; - a first mesh sidewall coupled to the back mesh wall, wherein the first mesh sidewall has a fixed position relative to the back mesh wall; - a second mesh side wall coupled to the rear mesh wall and designed to rotate relative to the rear mesh wall; - a lower container platform (600, 740) configured to rotate from an upward-facing position next to the rear mesh wall into a flat position orthogonal to the rear mesh wall, the lower container platform (600, 740) (i) having an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first mesh side wall and the second mesh side wall when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in an unfolded position, and (ii) having a mechanical handle configured to indicate that the lower container platform (600, 740) is locked when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position;and wherein the mechanical handle is arranged to prevent the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) from being fixed in the unfolded position before the lower container platform (600, 740) is fixed; and; - several wheels coupled to one or more from the rear mesh wall, the first mesh side wall or the second mesh side wall; wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is designed to be transported using (i) the multiple wheels via manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700). [2] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform (600, 740) by an autonomous robot positioned entirely under a center of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position. [3] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 1, further comprising a marker (650) arranged on a lower surface of the lower container platform (600, 740), wherein the marker (650) is associated with the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) and is configured to be read by appropriate computer systems of several building facilities. [4] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700), comprising - a first container wall (720); - a second container wall (730) which is configured to rotate outwards in a first direction relative to the first container wall (720); - a lower container platform (600, 740) configured to rotate outwards in a second direction relative to the first container wall (720), the lower container platform (600, 740) (i) having an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall (730) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in an unfolded position, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction, and (ii) having a visual indicator configured to show that the lower container platform (600, 740) is locked when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position; and - several wheels; wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is set up to be transported using (i) the multiple wheels via manual pushing and (ii) robotic handling to lift and move the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700). [5] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 4, wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform (600, 740) by an autonomous robot positioned entirely under the center of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position. [6] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising - a third container wall coupled to the second container wall (730) and running parallel to the first container wall (720) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position; wherein the sight indicator is a mechanical handle which is designed to prevent the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) from being fixed in the unfolded position by contact with the third container wall. [7] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 6, wherein the mechanical handle is mechanically coupled to the automatic locking mechanism and is configured to release the automatic locking mechanism. [8] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising - a fourth container wall, which runs parallel to the second container wall (730) and is fixed with respect to the first container wall (720), such that the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) forms an L-shaped arrangement when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in a folded position. [9] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least one of claims 4 to 8, further comprising - a marker (650) located on a lower surface of the lower container platform (600, 740), wherein the marker (650) is associated with the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) and is configured to be read by appropriate computer systems of several building facilities. [10] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 9, wherein data associated with the marker (650) comprise a location of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) on the ground, an orientation of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) with respect to the ground and the contents of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700), and wherein the data are dynamically updated. [11] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is configured to allow an autonomous robot to move under the lower container platform (600, 740). [12] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the automatic locking mechanism has at least one retractable tab which is configured to engage with a slot arranged on the second container wall (730). [13] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is configured to be stacked with other collapsible containers in a nested L-shaped arrangement (770). [14] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700), comprising - a back panel (420, 570); - a first side wall (410, 530) which is arranged to rotate outwards in relation to the rear wall (420, 570); - a second side wall (430, 550) which is fixed in relation to the rear wall (420, 570); and - a lower container platform (600, 740) configured to rotate downwards with respect to the rear wall (420, 570), the lower container platform (600, 740) (i) having an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the first side wall (410, 530) and the second side wall (430, 550) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in an unfolded position, and (ii) having a visual indicator configured to show that the lower container platform (600, 740) is locked when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position; the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is designed to be transported both by manual pushing and by robotic handling. [15] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to claim 14, wherein the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is configured to be lifted from the lower container platform (600, 740) by an autonomous robot positioned entirely under the center of the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) when the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) is in the unfolded position. [16] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least claim 14 or 15, further comprising a marker (650) which is arranged on a lower surface of the lower container platform (600, 740), wherein the marker (650) is associated with the collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) and is configured to be read by respective computer systems of several building facilities. [17] Collapsible container (310, 400, 500, 700) according to at least one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the automatic locking mechanism has at least one retractable tab which is configured to engage with a slot arranged on the second container wall (730).

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