In order to provide a method for controlling conveyor vehicles of a conveying system which permits an energy-efficient and cost-efficient operation of said conveying system, it is proposed that the method comprises: Making available a plurality of conveyor vehicles of the conveying system; Specifying a conveying job for conveying one or more conveyed objects; Determining a conveying job data set for controlling a conveyor vehicle when performing the conveying job; Carrying out the conveying job.

Systems and methods for enhanced MHV operation using an automation processing system for bystander detection and bystander pose estimation to control operation of the MHV.

A system and method are described that provide for queueing robot operations in a warehouse environment based on workflow optimization instructions. In one example of the system/method of the present invention, a control system causes certain robots to queue proximate to one another to permit resources to be obtained, transported, deposited, etc. without the robots crashing into one another (or into other objects), or forming traffic jams. A robot may remain at an assigned queue position at least until another position assigned to the robot becomes available.

A system and method are described that provide for mapping features of a warehouse environment having improved workflow. In one example of the system/method of the present invention, a mapping robot is navigated through a warehouse environment, and sensors of the mapping robot collect geospatial data as part of a mapping mode. A Frontend N block of a map framework may be responsible for reading and processing the geospatial data from the sensors of the mapping robot, as well as various other functions. The data may be stored in a keyframe object at a keyframe database. A Backend block of the map framework may be useful for detecting loop constraints, building submaps, optimizing a pose graph using keyframe data from one or more trajectory blocks, and/or various other functions.

An optimization system includes an optimization server and a management server, and the management server controls an AGV. The AGV transports a cargo and notifies the management server of a traveling state during traveling. The management server stores the traveling state of the AGV in a database. The optimization server estimates the traveling parameter to be used for the subsequent experimental traveling and repeats an experiment based on an experiment design for experimental traveling and the number of times of back-and-forth sway and the right-and-left sway width of the AGV when the AGV travels by using the traveling parameter estimated from the default value of the traveling parameter and an experiment result of the experimental traveling of the AGV. After the experiment ends, the optimization server optimizes the traveling parameter for each traveling state of the AGV based on the experiment result.

A method and system are provided for task allocation for a material handling system with autonomous mobile robots (AMR) operating within a material handling facility. The AMRs are configured to self-select tasks to perform utilizing a computer based warehouse execution system (WES) utilizing a pending workflow list of tasks to be performed within the material handling facility. The AMRs include onboard computers for communicating with the WES and to self-select tasks from the pending workflow list. The AMR may be directed to a prioritized task or task queue, and the WES may lock an AMR to a task or task queue until the task or tasks are performed, or until the AMR determines that the AMR should be reassigned or otherwise relieved of the task or task queue. The AMRs are thus adapted to independently self-select tasks, where the AMR and/or WES may enable the AMR to self-select tasks.

An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous rover for transferring payload within the system and including a communicator, a multilevel storage structure, each level allowing traversal of the at least one autonomous rover, at least one registration station disposed at predetermined locations on each level and being configured to communicate with the communicator to at least receive rover identification information, and a controller in communication with the at least one registration station and configured to receive the at least rover identification information and at least one of register the at least one autonomous rover as being on a level corresponding to a respective one of the at least one registration station or deregister the at least one autonomous rover from the system, where the controller effects induction of the at least one autonomous rover into a predetermined rover space on the level.

A materials handling vehicle operating system is provided comprising a tag layout where a plurality of entry/exit tag sets are arranged along a travel path at different ones of the entry/exit thresholds of a restricted navigation zone. Each entry/exit tag set comprises a release tag, a restriction tag, and an indicator tag. The indicator tag is positioned between the restriction tag and the restricted navigation zone. The restriction tag is positioned between the release tag and the indicator tag. The tag reader and the reader module cooperate to compare identified tag data with stored tag data and initiate a remediation operation when an indicator tag is identified in place of a restriction tag. Tag layouts for one-way and two-way travel into and out of a restricted navigation zone are also contemplated.

Disclosed herein are various configurable, multifunctional area management carts that can be used to perform various functions in a large area such as a warehouse or retail building, along with various multifunctional area management systems that incorporate such carts to perform such functions. The cart can have a base comprising wheels operably coupled to the base, and a hitch operably coupled to the base, wherein the hitch is coupleable with the autonomous prime mover. The cart can also comprise an onboard processor associated with the base, wherein the onboard processor is in communication with the central processor, and an interface associated with the base, wherein the interface is in communication with the onboard processor. Certain alternative versions of the cart can also have at least one removable scaffold coupleable with the base, the at least one removable scaffold comprising at least one leg and at least one horizontal structure coupled to the at least one leg, and at least one area management instrument removably coupled to the at least one removable scaffold. Other embodiments relate to methods and systems for tracking and transporting items within a commercial space, including transporting items from a storage area to predetermined locations in a retail area with an autonomous vehicle.

A self-driving device control system of the present invention includes an entry restricted area, at least one entrance opened and closed by a closing member, a self-driving device, and a control device, and further includes an outside identification device, an inside identification device, and a storage device. When identification information is acquired by the outside identification device, the control device sets the self-driving device to a stopped state. If the storage device is not storing even one piece of entry identification information regarding a worker for which a corresponding piece of exit identification information regarding the same worker is not stored in the storage device, and furthermore all of the entrances are in a passage restricted state, the control device resumes the driving of the self-driving device.