A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the path. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

An automated truck unloader for unloading/unpacking product, such as boxes or cases, from trailers and containers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, an industrial robot having a suction cup-based gripper arm selectively removes boxes from the trailer and places the boxes on a powered transportation path. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon a perception-based robotic manipulation system.

An automated truck unloader for unloading/unpacking product, such as boxes or cases, from trailers and containers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, an industrial robot having a suction cup-based gripper arm selectively removes boxes from the trailer and places the boxes on a powered transportation path. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon a perception-based robotic manipulation system.

A plastic roll-off container is disclosed, including a roll-off container comprising a front side and a rear side. The roll-off container is configured, via a first rail and a second rai positioned on a bottom side of the roll-off container, to be onloaded, offloaded, and transported by a roll-off truck or a hook lift roll-off truck. An integrally molded sidewall is connected to a bottom having a concave shape to facilitate the removal of a material from an interior of the roll-off container.

A plastic roll-off container is disclosed, including a roll-off container comprising a front side and a rear side. The roll-off container is configured, via a first rail and a second rai positioned on a bottom side of the roll-off container, to be onloaded, offloaded, and transported by a roll-off truck or a hook lift roll-off truck. An integrally molded sidewall is connected to a bottom having a concave shape to facilitate the removal of a material from an interior of the roll-off container.

In variants, a method for robot control can include: receiving sensor data of a scene, modeling the physical objects within the scene, determining a set of potential grasp configurations for grasping a physical object within the scene, determining a reach behavior based on the potential grasp configuration, determining a trajectory for the reach behavior, and grasping the object using the trajectory.

In variants, a method for robot control can include: receiving sensor data of a scene, modeling the physical objects within the scene, determining a set of potential grasp configurations for grasping a physical object within the scene, determining a reach behavior based on the potential grasp configuration, determining a trajectory for the reach behavior, and grasping the object using the trajectory.

An apparatus (600) for use in unpacking or packing shipping containers (700) includes at least one barrier part which provides a barrier to wheeled powered material handling equipment (1105). The barrier part can be positioned substantially transversely across an interior of a shipping container (700) at a desired position along the length of the interior of the shipping container, to provide a working area (1120) within the shipping container in which personnel may work on foot, and substantially impede or prevent entry of wheeled powered material handling equipment into the working area. The apparatus may be provided with an arrangement to substantially maintain its location in the desired position against forces resulting from impact by the powered material handling equipment operating within the shipping container.

An apparatus (600) for use in unpacking or packing shipping containers (700) includes at least one barrier part which provides a barrier to wheeled powered material handling equipment (1105). The barrier part can be positioned substantially transversely across an interior of a shipping container (700) at a desired position along the length of the interior of the shipping container, to provide a working area (1120) within the shipping container in which personnel may work on foot, and substantially impede or prevent entry of wheeled powered material handling equipment into the working area. The apparatus may be provided with an arrangement to substantially maintain its location in the desired position against forces resulting from impact by the powered material handling equipment operating within the shipping container.