Disclosed herein is a movable platform and an extension assembly which enables the width or length of the movable platform to be extended. The extension assembly comprises a plurality of clips which releasably engage openings on the movable platform. A top surface of the extension assembly is flush with a top surface of the movable platform.

A method of distributing freight between an intermodal shipping container and the freight containers of one or more surface-road transports, comprising the steps of: providing a freight container of at least a first surface-road transport; providing a first intermodal shipping container containing freight having a collective weight in excess of the maximum weight that can be lawfully carried in the freight container of each surface-road transport; providing a selectively moveable cross-dock having a body defining an interior storage area and at least first and second openings in the body through which freight may be moved into and out of the interior storage area; positioning a loading/unloading opening of the first intermodal shipping container proximate one of the openings in the cross-dock; positioning a loading/unloading opening of the freight container proximate the other opening in the cross-dock; and distributing freight between the intermodal shipping container and the freight container via cross-dock, the distribution step not continuing beyond the point at which the collective weight of all freight in each freight container would cause each surface road transport to exceed the maximum lawful surface-road transportation weight.

System includes one or more processors configured to determine loading parameters associated with section locations and zone locations. The section locations are locations of cargo sections at a product-distribution site, and the zone locations are locations of load zones at the product-distribution site. The one or more processors are also configured to assign the outbound automobiles to the load zones. The load zones are configured to have multiple outbound automobiles therein. The outbound automobiles are assigned to the load zones to reduce at least one of a total time to move the outbound automobiles from the zone locations to the section locations, a total distance to move the outbound automobiles from the zone locations to the section locations, or a total number of times in which individuals handle the outbound automobiles.

By using, as decision variables, an initial transfer time (k_it_[i]) a final transfer time (k_ft[i]) of each of transfer target steel materials (lots) i including materials to arrive and already arriving materials, a transfer constraint expression regarding the transfer order of the transfer target steel materials (lots) i and a transfer objective function for minimizing the time during which the transfer target steel material (lot) i stays in a course of being transferred to a main pile are expressed, and optimum values (k_it.sub.opt[i], k_ft.sub.opt[i]) of the initial transfer time the final transfer time of the transfer target steel material (lot) i are derived so that the transfer objective function J.sub.A is minimized within a range satisfying the transfer constraint expression.

An example process may include receiving a request identifying an action with respect to an item and a modular storage system. The modular storage system may include a plurality of shipping containers accessible from an item transfer facility. The process may also include identifying a particular shipping container of the plurality of shipping containers to fulfill the request. The process may also include identifying, within the particular shipping container, a particular storage module to fulfill the request. The particular storage module may include a particular plurality of storage containers. The process may also include identifying, from among the particular plurality of storage containers, a particular storage container to fulfill the request. The process may also include causing movement of the particular plurality of storage containers to move the particular storage container to an access position.

Remotely operated and autonomous vehicles can be coupled with a base station to perform at least one of refueling, loading cargo, and unloading cargo; without human intervention. By reducing the need for such intervention, the subject vehicles can be employed more economically and with reduced infrastructure.

Disclosed herein is an automated cross-dock management system configured to optimize moves on a cross-dock. The automated cross-dock management system uses inbound manifest data to calculate ordered move instructions for all inbound movable platforms, inbound modular decks, and inbound freight. The ordered move instructions can be assigned to be carried out by manual conveyance vehicles or by automated guided vehicles based upon a plurality of criteria. The automated cross-dock management system is also able to detect damaged freight on the cross-dock using a combination of streams from video cameras.

A flat storage facility includes a storage/retrieval device having a Y-direction moving member with a length corresponding to the width of a storage item placement plane in an X direction and that is movable in a forward/backward Y direction of the storage item placement plane. A carriage is supported on the Y-direction moving member and is movable in the X direction. A storage item gripping mechanism is supported on the carriage so as to be freely raised and lowered. Lowering of the storage item gripping mechanism is controlled such that downward flexural deformation distances between end portions of the Y-direction moving member in the X direction are determined. Lowering distance adjustment values of the storage item gripping mechanism for the storage item placement points are set based on the downward flexural deformation distances, and lowering distances of the storage item gripping mechanism are reduced by the lowering distance adjustment values.

A flat storage facility includes a storage/retrieval device having a Y-direction moving member that is horizontally movable at a certain height above a storage item placement plane. A carriage is horizontally movable in an X direction on the Y-direction moving member, and a storage item gripping mechanism is provided in the carriage. The storage/retrieval device performs storage/retrieval on a storage item between the storage/retrieval device and respective storage item placement points set on the storage item placement plane. The storage item placement plane is divided into a plurality of unit sections at various heights with respect to a reference plane. When the storage/retrieval operation is performed with the storage/retrieval device, the lowering distance of the storage item gripping mechanism with respect to the carriage is adjusted according to the height of the unit section to which the storage item placement point of a storage/retrieval target belongs.

The problem of the lag time in picking and dropping mixed load products during a palletization process is solved by using a tool having i) a gripping member that can be partially closed in a first fast movement while it is moved by a robot towards a product and then closed onto the product in a second shorter movement and ii) a product abutting plate that is movable in unison with the tool in opposite direction thereof as the tool is moved by a robot towards and away the mixed load pallet.