A system for automatic delivery of an order in bags to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of the pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a plurality of elements for suspending the bags from a track; an automatic displacement device for automatically moving the suspension elements on said track; and an actuator for actuating said automatic displacement device to displace the bags in which the various parts of said order have been deposited, to said pick-up location when said signalling and/or detection device emits a signal confirming the presence of said user in the vicinity of said pick-up location.

Embodiments herein describe techniques for operating lighting systems which can be used by associates who are colorblind or are susceptible to optically induced seizures (e.g., photosensitive epilepsy). In one embodiment, the lighting system includes programmable light sources which permit the lighting system to use colors that a colorblind person can easily distinguishe.g., red, blue, orange, etc. Put differently, the lighting system can choose colors which are easily distinguishable to a colorblind associate when instructing the associate to take an action. Moreover, the lighting system can pulse a light source by changing its brightness or intensity over time. The lighting system can control a maximum gradient change rate and a maximum intensity change to mitigate a risk of optical seizures when pulsing the light sources to mitigate the risk of inducing a seizure.

A bin-module based automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) includes a plurality of storage shelves, each removably supporting a plurality of bin modules. Each bin module includes multiple bins. The system also includes a collection shelf configured to removably support bin modules. The system further includes a dolly including: (a) a dolly frame, (b) a drive module configured to propel the dolly, and (c) an actuator configured to move a coupler to couple to the bin module supported in one of the plurality of storage shelves when the dolly is positioned adjacent to said storage shelf, the actuator being further configured to remove said bin module from said storage shelf to the dolly frame, and to move said bin module from the dolly frame to the collection shelf when the dolly is positioned adjacent to the collection shelf.

An aspect of the invention pertains to technically supporting a manual order picking process. A user executes order picking steps, which are output to the user as handling instructions. The handling instructions originate from a management server. One or more order picking steps specify the removal and/or depositing of objects in a storage location by the user. A sensor device in a mobile unit acquires sensor data, based on which the effected execution of a respective order picking step is determined. The mobile unit is carried on an arm, hand, foot, or leg of the user with a fastening means. Data that is based on the sensor data of the sensor device is transmitted via a wireless data interface, whereupon the management server is informed of the effected execution of the respective order picking step. Information on the manual order picking process is output to the user.

A warehousing/shipping-operation support system selects, for a first article in a warehousing/shipping operation, by using acquired positional information of an operator, a sign closer to a position of the operator among signs in the vicinity of a storage location of the article, and the warehousing/shipping-operation support system selects, for a second and following articles, by using the storage-location information of the article whose warehousing/shipping has been completed as the positional information of the operator, a sign closer to the position of the operator among the signs in the vicinity of the storage location of the article.

A system, method, and apparatus for picking-an-putting product are disclosed. Within a logistics and product fulfillment environment, such as in a warehouse or distribution center environment, for example, a picking zone is established having picking bays arranged in framed rows with each picking bay having pick module associated therewith. Multiple cartons are indexed into a carton train and an operator is directed to pick-by-light and put-by-voice. More particularly, the operator is directed to a pick by the light display informing the operator which products to pick. Within each pick, a voice indication directs the operator to one or more puts by directing the operator to select a number of product and corresponding carton from the picking bay associated with the pick.

A vehicle, which is for use in an automated storage and retrieval system, includes a transport mechanism and a lifting device. The transport mechanism is for transporting the vehicle along a first guiding system in a first direction and a second guiding system in a second direction. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The lifting device is for lifting storage containers from storage columns arranged below the vehicle. The lifting device includes a lifting frame connectable to a storage container. The vehicle further includes at least one reader for reading at least one label of a storage container such as to identify the storage container. The at least one reader is arranged on the lifting frame of the vehicle.

A mobile lighted pick or put cart includes a frame and transport members on the frame that facilitate movement of the frame. The frame defines a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. An electronic system supported with the frame includes a portable computing device and a plurality of lamp strips, one mounted to each of the shelves. An application program that is operated by the portable computing device is adapted to determine a quantity of items to be picked from or put to a physical location and illuminate a number of individual lamps on one of the strips at a particular location on one of said shelves. The number of individual lamps illuminated is equal to the quantity of items to be picked from or put to the physical location.

A method and system for piece-picking or piece put-away within a logistics facility. The system includes a central server and at least one mobile manipulation robot. The central server is configured to communicate with the robots to send and receive piece-picking data which includes a unique identification for each piece to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the pieces to be picked, and a route for the robot to take within the logistics facility. The robots can then autonomously navigate and position themselves within the logistics facility by recognition of landmarks by at least one of a plurality of sensors. The sensors also provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a piece to be picked or put-away, and processors on the robots analyze the sensor information to generate movements of a unique articulated arm and end effector on the robot to pick or put-away the piece.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and methods for archiving and/or retrieving specimens. Embodiments of the system of the present invention include a movement mechanism, an archival structure, and a software program. Embodiments of the device are configured to acquire a specimen, transport the specimen to a unique location in the archival structure, and store information regarding specimen identification and storage location.