An automated shuttle sorter is disclosed that includes a carriage that is movable from a load position at which the carriage may be loaded, and at least two destination locations into which any contents of the carriage may be provided from the carriage.

The invention relates to a production process integrating method for the integration of multilevel production processes in which the end product produced by a production entity (100, 200) operating on a lower production level serves as the input material for a production entity operating on a consecutive higher production level (000, 100), characterised by thatidentifying machine and/or human activities collaborating in the production of the end product in the production entities (100, 200) operating on the individual production levels, and associating production agents to the identified activities, identifying the physical parameters influencing the activity of the production agents, measuring the identified physical parameters with sensors, determining a probability index relating to a fulfilment time of the activity associated with the given production agent using the measured physical parameters, determining a probability index relating to the fulfilment time of a quota consisting of a given amount of end product to be produced on the given production level from the probability indices determined for the production agents, the probability index relating to the fulfilment time of the quota is provided to a production entity (000, 100) operating on the consecutive higher production level.

A method for operating a multi-agent system including multiple robots. Each robot cyclically carries out the following: starting from an instantaneous system state, ascertaining possible options, the options defining actions via which a transition from an instantaneous system state to a subsequent system state may be achieved; for each possible option, ascertaining action costs for carrying out an action indicated by the option; carrying out an auction, the action cost values ascertained for each option being taken into account by each of the other robots; and executing an action that corresponds to one of the options as a function of all cost values ascertained or received for the option in question, the action costs for an option taking into account an empirical parameter that is a function of costs for past actions, which have already been carried out and which are associated with the option, of the multiple robots.

A method for operating one or more service systems by an analyzing computer including a memory and a processor includes receiving one or more received control requests (RCR) for controlling one or more resources of one or more service systems and anticipating one or more future control requests (ACR) based on one or more of the RCR, one or more prior stored control requests, and/or one or more already served control requests (SCR). The method further includes assessing an impact of selected control requests (CR) on resources of the one or more service systems, wherein the selected CR include one or more of the RCR and/or one or more of the ACR. In addition, the method includes determining, by the AE, that an assessed impact of at least one of the selected CR results in one or more adverse situation rules (ASR) violations.

In a process of transfer of production control in proximity to production site for enabling decentralized manufacturing, production control data and routing data are retrieved from a centralized system. The retrieved production control data and the routing data are stored within a connector installed at a proximity to a plant floor. An operation associated with the production control data of a purchase order is matched with the resource published in the connector. Upon determining the match between the operation and the resource, the resource is dynamically allocated to perform the operation. The control of manufacturing process of the plant floor is provided to the connector to realize de-centralized manufacturing.

A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

A production module for a production plant has a first data interface, an electronic response device, and a second data interface. The first data interface receives a list of tasks for producing an article or substance from a production module positioned downstream in the production direction. The electronic response device responds to tasks from the list of tasks which can be carried out by the production module. The second data interface sends the list of tasks to a production module positioned upstream in the production direction.

A method for decentralised operation of a production system for producing, manufacturing and/or assembling products and/or goods, which includes at least three participants in a production environment, in which each participant includes a computing unit, in which a skill spectrum can be detected by the respective participant, and wherein each participant comprises a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

A method for operating one or more service systems by an analyzing computer including a memory and a processor includes receiving one or more received control requests (RCR) for controlling one or more resources of one or more service systems and anticipating one or more future control requests (ACR) based on one or more of the RCR, one or more prior stored control requests, and/or one or more already served control requests (SCR). The method further includes assessing an impact of selected control requests (CR) on resources of the one or more service systems, wherein the selected CR include one or more of the RCR and/or one or more of the ACR. In addition, the method includes determining, by the AE, that an assessed impact of at least one of the selected CR results in one or more adverse situation rules (ASR) violations.