How Amazon Tracks Warehouse Workers' Hands Using Radio Waves
A system that uses radio frequency signals to track the exact 3D position of a warehouse worker's hand to ensure they pick or place items in the correct bins.
Original patent title: “Wrist band haptic feedback system”
A system that uses radio frequency signals to track the exact 3D position of a warehouse worker's hand to ensure they pick or place items in the correct bins. Granted to Amazon Technologies Inc in 2018 with 23 claims and 7 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system uses a wearable device on a worker's hand that acts like a beacon. Fixed antennas around the warehouse send radio signals to this device, which sends a response back. A computer uses these signals to calculate the hand's exact location in 3D space. By comparing this location to a digital map of inventory bins, the system can tell if a worker is reaching into the right bin for a specific task. It can even provide haptic feedback (vibrations) to guide the worker's hand toward the correct bin.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on cameras or computer vision for tracking.
- Does not cover tracking methods that use GPS or outdoor satellite positioning.
- Does not cover inventory management that relies on manual barcode scanning by the worker.
- Does not cover systems that track the worker's location without specifically monitoring the hand's proximity to inventory bins.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using RF triangulation to create a real-time, high-accuracy 3D map of a human hand's movement, turning the worker themselves into a tracked node within an automated inventory network.
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
Amazon fulfillment center worker wearable wristbands
Automated warehouse picking guidance systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents a shift toward high-precision, automated oversight in massive logistics centers. By removing the need for workers to scan items manually, companies can theoretically increase the speed and accuracy of order fulfillment. It is a core component of the drive to optimize human movement in environments like Amazon's fulfillment centers.
Filed
March 28, 2016
Granted
January 30, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Amazon is the primary developer of this technology, integrating it into their global fulfillment infrastructure. Other logistics and robotics companies, such as those developing automated picking solutions, are exploring similar RF-based tracking to improve human-robot collaboration in warehouses.
Market impact
This technology enables a 'hands-free' warehouse environment, reducing the time spent on manual verification tasks. It has contributed to the industry-wide push for tighter integration between human labor and automated inventory management software, setting a benchmark for efficiency in large-scale e-commerce operations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system uses a wearable device on a worker's hand that acts like a beacon. Fixed antennas around the warehouse send radio signals to this device, which sends a response back. A computer uses these signals to calculate the hand's exact location in 3D space. By comparing this location to a digital map of inventory bins, the system can tell if a worker is reaching into the right bin for a specific task. It can even provide haptic feedback (vibrations) to guide the worker's hand toward the correct bin.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using RF triangulation to create a real-time, high-accuracy 3D map of a human hand's movement, turning the worker themselves into a tracked node within an automated inventory network.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on cameras or computer vision for tracking.
- Does not cover tracking methods that use GPS or outdoor satellite positioning.
- Does not cover inventory management that relies on manual barcode scanning by the worker.
- Does not cover systems that track the worker's location without specifically monitoring the hand's proximity to inventory bins.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
18/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
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
$100K – $319K
Midpoint $200K · 9.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Brady, T. M. (2018). How Amazon Tracks Warehouse Workers' Hands Using Radio Waves (U.S. Patent No. 9,881,277). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9881277/amazon-robotics-kiva-systems
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US9881277"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Amazon Tracks Warehouse Workers' Hands Using Radio Waves cover?
A system that uses radio frequency signals to track the exact 3D position of a warehouse worker's hand to ensure they pick or place items in the correct bins.
Who owns patent US 9881277?
Amazon Technologies Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 30, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9881277 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents a shift toward high-precision, automated oversight in massive logistics centers. By removing the need for workers to scan items manually, companies can theoretically increase the speed and accuracy of order fulfillment. It is a core component of the drive to optimize human movement in environments like Amazon's fulfillment centers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that rely solely on cameras or computer vision for tracking.
Same assignee
More from Amazon Technologies Inc
Patent monitoring