How Robots and Mobile Shelves Fulfill Orders in Warehouses
Target's patent describes an automated warehouse system where mobile robots bring shelves and shipping containers to a central robot that picks items directly into orders, all without human hands.
Original patent title: “Warehousing and order fulfillment systems and methods”
Target's patent describes an automated warehouse system where mobile robots bring shelves and shipping containers to a central robot that picks items directly into orders, all without human hands. Granted to Target Brands in 2021 with 21 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an order fulfillment system that uses robots to move inventory and assemble orders. A control system, upon receiving an order, directs a "first mobile robot" to pick up a "mobile storage unit" (like a portable shelf) containing the desired item (a "sellable unit"). Simultaneously, a "second mobile robot" brings an "outbound container" (like a shipping box) to a "robotic picking cell." The key mechanism is that a "picking robot" within this cell transfers the item from the mobile storage unit directly into the outbound container while both the storage unit and the container remain engaged with their respective mobile robots. For example, if you order a specific toy, a robot brings the shelf with the toy, another robot brings your shipping box, and a third robot picks the toy from the shelf into your box.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Systems where items are picked by humans instead of a robotic picking cell.
- Systems where the mobile storage unit or outbound container are detached from their respective mobile robots before the picking robot transfers the item.
- Warehouses where mobile storage units contain multiple different types of sellable units, as each unit must contain 'one or more of a single type'.
- Systems that do not use separate mobile robots for transporting the mobile storage units and the outbound containers.
- Systems without a 'dense inventory storage system' where mobile storage units are consolidated in an area.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific choreography: the mobile storage unit and the outbound container are both brought to the picking robot by their own dedicated mobile robots, and the picking occurs while they remain engaged with those robots. This avoids extra steps of docking or transferring units, potentially speeding up the process.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) in e-commerce warehouses
Kitting operations in distribution centers
Micro-fulfillment centers
Target's own fulfillment operations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the growing need for speed and efficiency in e-commerce order fulfillment. By automating the movement of inventory and the picking process, companies can reduce labor costs and process orders much faster. This type of system is crucial for retailers like Target to compete with online-only giants and meet customer expectations for rapid delivery.
Filed
November 14, 2018
Granted
March 16, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Amazon (through Amazon Robotics), Walmart, and Target (the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →) are actively developing and deploying similar automated warehousing solutions. Robotics companies such as Berkshire Grey and Locus Robotics also provide systems that align with aspects of this technology, focusing on enhancing order fulfillment efficiency.
Market impact
This patent reflects and contributes to the broader trend of automation in logistics and supply chain management. It enables retailers to increase throughput and reduce operational costs, directly impacting their ability to offer faster shipping options and manage larger inventories. Such systems are becoming standard for large-scale e-commerce operations, driving innovation in warehouse robotics and control software.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an order fulfillment system that uses robots to move inventory and assemble orders. A control system, upon receiving an order, directs a "first mobile robot" to pick up a "mobile storage unit" (like a portable shelf) containing the desired item (a "sellable unit"). Simultaneously, a "second mobile robot" brings an "outbound container" (like a shipping box) to a "robotic picking cell." The key mechanism is that a "picking robot" within this cell transfers the item from the mobile storage unit directly into the outbound container while both the storage unit and the container remain engaged with their respective mobile robots. For example, if you order a specific toy, a robot brings the shelf with the toy, another robot brings your shipping box, and a third robot picks the toy from the shelf into your box.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific choreography: the mobile storage unit and the outbound container are both brought to the picking robot by their own dedicated mobile robots, and the picking occurs while they remain engaged with those robots. This avoids extra steps of docking or transferring units, potentially speeding up the process.
What it does not cover
- Systems where items are picked by humans instead of a robotic picking cell.
- Systems where the mobile storage unit or outbound container are detached from their respective mobile robots before the picking robot transfers the item.
- Warehouses where mobile storage units contain multiple different types of sellable units, as each unit must contain 'one or more of a single type'.
- Systems that do not use separate mobile robots for transporting the mobile storage units and the outbound containers.
- Systems without a 'dense inventory storage system' where mobile storage units are consolidated in an area.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$53K – $168K
Midpoint $105K · 12.2 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Sellner, D., Valdez, A., & Vliet, K. (2021). How Robots and Mobile Shelves Fulfill Orders in Warehouses (U.S. Patent No. 10,947,045). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10947045/warehousing-and-order-fulfillment-systems-and-methods
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Robots and Mobile Shelves Fulfill Orders in Warehouses cover?
Target's patent describes an automated warehouse system where mobile robots bring shelves and shipping containers to a central robot that picks items directly into orders, all without human hands.
Who owns patent US 10947045?
Target Brands owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 14, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10947045 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the growing need for speed and efficiency in e-commerce order fulfillment. By automating the movement of inventory and the picking process, companies can reduce labor costs and process orders much faster. This type of system is crucial for retailers like Target to compete with online-only giants and meet customer expectations for rapid delivery.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Systems where items are picked by humans instead of a robotic picking cell.
Same assignee
More from Target Brands
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