System includes an article supply location that includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container, and one or more removal devices that transport the container to a location of further processing. System further includes a control system configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container, deposit the article in the destination container, and transport the destination container to a location for further processing by manipulation of the removal device.

A distribution item is disclosed. The distribution item includes a first item comprising a container having an outer surface defining an enclosed space. A computer-readable code is disposed on the outer surface. The computer-readable code is associated with a first level entity. The first item also includes destination information associated with a second level entity disposed on the outer surface. The distribution item also includes one or more second items removably positioned within the enclosed space of the first item. Each of the one or more second items includes the computer-readable code associated with the first level entity.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle.

A delivery processing apparatus has a recognition unit and a determination unit. The recognition unit executes recognition processing for recognizing information that is provided on a delivery target item based on an image obtained by shooting an image of the delivery target item. The determination unit determines whether or not to extend the recognition processing performed by the recognition unit, based on a degree of progress of the recognition processing that has been performed by the recognition unit in a period from when the information recognition processing was started by the recognition unit until a predetermined time has elapsed, and an extension rate, which indicates a ratio of the number of times that the recognition unit has extended the recognition processing to the number of times that the recognition unit has performed the recognition processing.

A delivery processing apparatus has a recognition unit and a determination unit. The recognition unit executes recognition processing for recognizing information that is provided on a delivery target item based on an image obtained by shooting an image of the delivery target item. The determination unit determines whether or not to extend the recognition processing performed by the recognition unit, based on a degree of progress of the recognition processing that has been performed by the recognition unit in a period from when the information recognition processing was started by the recognition unit until a predetermined time has elapsed, and an extension rate, which indicates a ratio of the number of times that the recognition unit has extended the recognition processing to the number of times that the recognition unit has performed the recognition processing.

Disclosed are a goods sorting system and method. The system includes a control server, a delivery robot, and a first carrying robot. The control server is configured to determine a delivery port according to a road direction of goods to be delivered, allocate the delivery robot, plan a traveling route for the delivery robot, generate a delivery instruction and send the delivery instruction to the delivery robot. The delivery robot is configured to travel to the delivery port, deliver the goods to be delivered to the delivery port. The control server is further configured to: when the number of goods collected in a target goods collection container below the delivery port is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, allocated the first carrying robot, plan a traveling route for the first carrying robot, generate a carrying instruction and send the carrying instruction to the first carrying robot. The first carrying robot is configured to travel to the target goods collection container according to the traveling route, carry the target goods collection container to a goods collection station. Further disclosed is a server and a storage medium.

Disclosed are a goods sorting system and method. The system includes a control server, a delivery robot, and a first carrying robot. The control server is configured to determine a delivery port according to a road direction of goods to be delivered, allocate the delivery robot, plan a traveling route for the delivery robot, generate a delivery instruction and send the delivery instruction to the delivery robot. The delivery robot is configured to travel to the delivery port, deliver the goods to be delivered to the delivery port. The control server is further configured to: when the number of goods collected in a target goods collection container below the delivery port is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, allocated the first carrying robot, plan a traveling route for the first carrying robot, generate a carrying instruction and send the carrying instruction to the first carrying robot. The first carrying robot is configured to travel to the target goods collection container according to the traveling route, carry the target goods collection container to a goods collection station. Further disclosed is a server and a storage medium.

Systems and methods for sorting delivery items are disclosed. The system may include an intake area, a sorting area operably coupled with the intake area, and a computing system operably coupled with the intake area and the sorting area. The intake area may include a source of delivery items having a plurality of delivery items, and a scanner for scanning respective indicia of each of the plurality of delivery items. The sorting area may include a conveyor having a respective sensor disposed at opposing end portions thereof, one or more sort locations disposed about the conveyor, and one or more indicators configured to indicate a proper sort location for the delivery items. The computing system may receive data corresponding to a delivery item from the scanner, determine the proper sort location for the delivery item, and send a signal to the indicator to indicate the proper sort location.

Read events capturing parcel information as a parcel is transported through a facility is received, and a configuration file mapping readers capturing the read events to workspace locations within the facility is accessed. Utilizing the read events and configuration file, one or more locations are determined for a parcel being transported through a facility. The locations may form a most likely path, or sequence of locations, through the facility. The determined locations may be utilized for generating one or more graphical user interface elements for tracking parcel and/or other operational aspects. For example, a graphical user interface may indicate errors, such as errors in the parcel's path and slowdowns, detected from the read events. Additionally, volume of parcels over time may be determined from the read events. Further, a graphical user interface may indicate employee performance based on errors and/or read events attributed to the employee.

Read events capturing parcel information as a parcel is transported through a facility is received, and a configuration file mapping readers capturing the read events to workspace locations within the facility is accessed. Utilizing the read events and configuration file, one or more locations are determined for a parcel being transported through a facility. The locations may form a most likely path, or sequence of locations, through the facility. The determined locations may be utilized for generating one or more graphical user interface elements for tracking parcel and/or other operational aspects. For example, a graphical user interface may indicate errors, such as errors in the parcel's path and slowdowns, detected from the read events. Additionally, volume of parcels over time may be determined from the read events. Further, a graphical user interface may indicate employee performance based on errors and/or read events attributed to the employee.