The present disclosure generally relates to autonomous operation of material handling vehicles within a facility, such as a factory or warehouse. An unmanned, autonomous material handling vehicle can encounter a variety of issues operating within the facility, and may need assistance to resolve such issues. The unmanned, autonomous material handling vehicle can transmit a request for assistance to a manned, non-autonomous material handling vehicle, and a human operating the manned, non-autonomous material handling vehicle can assist the unmanned, autonomous material handling vehicle.

A robotic vehicle comprising a chassis and a manipulatable payload engagement portion, at least one sensor configured to acquire real-time sensor data, a pose validation system comprising computer program code executable by at least one processor to evaluate the sensor data to: determine if a goal pose of the robotic vehicle will result in a collision with infrastructure upon which the object is located when the engagement portion engages the object. If a potential collision is detected, the pose validation system can generate a signal to adjust the robotic vehicle's pose to avoid the collision. A corresponding method is also provided.

This application provides a fleet control method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The fleet control method is used for controlling a robot fleet and includes: determining a planned path of each robot in the robot fleet, where the planned path of each robot is used to indicate a movement path for the robot to move to a corresponding target storage location within a shelving unit region to execute a task; determining a following road segment in the planned path of each following robot based on the planned path of each robot, where the following road segment includes a road segment located on the ground and/or a road segment extending in a vertical direction; and sending the following road segment to a corresponding following robot.

An information generation method is an information output method executed by a mobile retail vehicle control device (information output device) and includes obtaining first information about a first time at which a first mobile object arrives at a first arrival point (first point); determining, based on the first information, a second point from which a second mobile object can arrive at the first arrival point at a second time within a predetermined period from the first time; and outputting instruction information for moving the second mobile object to the second point.

This application provides an obstacle avoidance method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The obstacle avoidance method is applicable to a robot. The robot is configured to move along a track in a rack area, and the method includes: detecting whether a suspected obstacle exists in a traveling direction, where the suspected obstacle protrudes beyond an edge of a rack; determining a relative position relationship between the suspected obstacle and a target position that the robot is required to reach along a current traveling direction when the suspected obstacle exists in the traveling direction; determining that the suspected obstacle is an obstacle when the suspected obstacle is located between a current position of the robot and the target position; and replanning a traveling route to avoid the obstacle.

A server apparatus (10) includes a location information acquisition unit (110), a determination unit (120), and a flight vehicle control unit (130). The location information acquisition unit (110) acquires first location information indicating a location specified as a reception place for an item to be delivered by a flight vehicle (20), and second location information indicating a current location of a receiving person to receive the item. The determination unit (120) determines whether the location indicated by the first location information and the location indicated by the second location information when the flight vehicle (20) is flying satisfy a predetermined criterion. The flight vehicle control unit (130) transmits a command to the flight vehicle, and causes the flight vehicle (20) to execute flight control for performing authentication of the receiving person, when it is determined that the predetermined criterion is satisfied.

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 self-propelled adaptor unit for use in the intralogistics system. The self-propelled adaptor unit comprising a motor, and at least one drive wheel connected to the motor for propelling the self-propelled adaptor unit. The self-propelled adaptor unit further comprises a first mechanical connection configured to connect to a mechanical connection of a load bearing unit, such that a first mechanical interconnection can be created between the self-propelled adaptor unit and the load bearing unit. The self-propelled adaptor unit further comprises a computer connected to the motor and the at least one drive wheel, the computer comprises a receiver for receiving instructions from a self-propelled autonomous or remote-controlled guide unit for controlling the motor. The self-propelled adaptor unit is configured to push or pull the load bearing unit in a substantially horizontal direction and/or lift the load bearing unit up or down.

The present invention discloses an autonomous unmanned vehicle (500) designed to absorb collision impact for delivering the packages to the delivery destinations. The unmanned vehicle (500) is capable of operating autonomously on paved roadways or pathways. The present invention includes a hollow platform (107) for enclosing control systems, a bottom frame (106) secured to the hollow platform (107) for receiving a load, a top frame (103) for sheltering the load from the top; a collapsible shell (109) forming an encasing for enclosing the load, having protrusions for protection of load from collision impact, a plurality of retractable members (104) for expanding and contracting of the shell structure, a plurality of outwardly protruding wheels (108) configured at each corner of the hollow platform (107) for vehicle movement, and a driving mechanism for controlling toggling movement of the retractable members (104) between various positions. In consideration that the vehicle does not carry passengers, the size and/or motor power of the vehicle may be significantly reduced as compared to conventional passenger vehicles.

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.