A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated delivery vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to latch to a motorized vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle, and to lock the remotely operated delivery vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator. The locking device is arranged to unlock the remotely operated delivery vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated delivery vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to latch to a motorized vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle, and to lock the remotely operated delivery vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator. The locking device is arranged to unlock the remotely operated delivery vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

A sawtooth station comprising a passenger waiting area; an autonomous vehicle area sized to allow autonomous vehicles to simultaneously travel in opposite directions of travel and turn around; and one or more sawtooth berths separating the passenger waiting area from the autonomous vehicle area, whereby autonomous vehicles traveling in in opposite directions use the one or more sawtooth births and the autonomous vehicles furthest from the one or more sawtooth berths can turn around in the autonomous vehicle area in order to stop at the one or more sawtooth berths.

A sawtooth station comprising a passenger waiting area; an autonomous vehicle area sized to allow autonomous vehicles to simultaneously travel in opposite directions of travel and turn around; and one or more sawtooth berths separating the passenger waiting area from the autonomous vehicle area, whereby autonomous vehicles traveling in in opposite directions use the one or more sawtooth births and the autonomous vehicles furthest from the one or more sawtooth berths can turn around in the autonomous vehicle area in order to stop at the one or more sawtooth berths.

A grid framework structure configured to support one or more robotic load handling devices includes: a grid structure having a first set of parallel grid members extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel grid members extending in a second direction to form a grid pattern of grid cells; a track system; and a supporting framework structure for supporting the grid structure above ground to create a storage space for containers such that load handling devices can lift containers through a grid cell; wherein: the supporting framework structure includes a plurality of prefabricated modular panels.

A grid framework structure configured to support one or more robotic load handling devices includes: a grid structure having a first set of parallel grid members extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel grid members extending in a second direction to form a grid pattern of grid cells; a track system; and a supporting framework structure for supporting the grid structure above ground to create a storage space for containers such that load handling devices can lift containers through a grid cell; wherein: the supporting framework structure includes a plurality of prefabricated modular panels.

An overhead transport vehicle system includes an overhead transport vehicle including a traveler and a body supported by the traveler via a suspension to hold an object to be transported, and a traveling rail including a slit, through which the suspension is movable when the traveler travels, and rolling portions along which traveling wheel rolls, and having a tubular shape including an internal space through which the traveler travels. In the internal space in a curved section, above a passing area through which the traveling wheel rolling on the rolling portion on an outer side of a curve passes, a rising restriction portion, with which the traveling wheel having risen by a predetermined amount from the rolling portion comes into contact, extends along an extending direction of the traveling rail.