DISPENSABLE UNIT IDENTIFICATION

摘要

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a computing device including a processor and a memory; a container shaped and sized to hold a plurality of dispensable units; an optical sensor configured to detect an optical property of one of the plurality of dispensable units prior to placement in the container; a retrieval robot configured to retrieve objects from within the container; and a measurement device including a strain gauge and circuitry configured to provide a signal indicative of a detected weight of one or more of the container and a dispensable unit, wherein the processor is configured to use the detected weight and the optical property to execute a blind dispensing operation of one of the plurality of dispensable units from the container using the retrieval robot.