Some embodiments are directed to a device that supports work of picking or sorting an article from a warehouse and the like, which allows the picking work to be carried out accurately and quickly. The device includes: a camera that photographs an automatically-readable identifier that is attached to a storage location of an article; an information processing unit that detects the identifier from an image photographed by the camera and processes the image of the identifier; and a display that displays information such as image information and text information. The information processing unit processes, based on the detected identifier and picking work order information, image on a specific identifier, and the processed image is displayed on the display at a location related to the identifier.

Provided are a robot-based random warehousing method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. In the method, randomly allocated goods position information is acquired, and a shelving robot is controlled according to the goods position information to carry goods to goods position corresponding to the randomly allocated goods position information; a prompt is given to a picker to prompt the picker to take the goods from the shelving robot and place the goods at the goods position, and goods information and goods position information of the goods are synchronized to an unshelving order; and order information of the unshelving order is acquired and a picking robot in the vicinity of the goods position is controlled to move to the goods position to instruct a picker to pick the goods at the goods position and pass the goods to the picking robot.

The customizable item sorting system is configured to guide a sorter to sort items to match specific orders for a shipper to ship. The system includes sorter light boxes to be customizably positioned at a respective shelf, and each configured to be coupled in a chain of sorter light boxes. A plurality of shipper light boxes are each configured to be coupled to a respective sorter light box and also positioned at the respective shelf. A hub is coupled to a first sorter light box in the chain and operates as a concentrator of control signals and power for the plurality of sorter light boxes in the chain. A power supply is configured to be coupled to the hub and supply power to the sorter light boxes and shipper light boxes. A controller is configured to be coupled to the hub and generate the control signals for the sorter light boxes in the chain of sorter light boxes based upon commands received via an externally coupled network, and a repeater is configured to be coupled within the chain to push power along the chain.

An article management support apparatus sets coordinates indicating a position of an observation point and an observation direction from the observation point in a space including article storage spaces, acquires coordinates of an article picking opening of an article storage space within a predetermined range with respect to the position of the observation point and the observation direction, acquires information on the article stored in the article storage space corresponding to the article picking opening for which the coordinates are acquired, transforms the acquired coordinates of the article picking opening into coordinates on an image seen in the observation direction from the position of the observation point, generates an image for displaying the information on the article stored in the article storage space corresponding to the article picking opening for which the coordinates are acquired in association with a position of the transformed coordinates, and displays the generated image.

A method includes receiving, at a robot being in communication with a control center communication module of a control center, an instruction to relocate a cart to a location where a set of items are stored. The method further includes moving, by the robot, to a second location where the cart is positioned; (2) activating, by the robot, a motor of a latch fastening system to cause movement of a latch arm resulting in a latch being exposed; (3) removably engaging, by the robot and using the latch, the cart via a latching feature of the cart; (4) moving, by the robot, the cart from the second location to the location where the set of items are stored; and (5) transitioning, by the robot, a subset of the set of items to the cart in accordance with the instruction.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a bin conveyance system for moving selected storage bins to a storage bin processing location, a programmable motion device in communication with the bin processing location for receiving a selected storage bin from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a plurality of destination bins in communication with the bin conveyance system for moving a selected destination bin from a destination bin processing location that is proximate the programmable motion device to the plurality of destination bins.

A transport device has a position detection portion, a holding portion attached to an arm, a driving portion to drive the holding portion and the arm, and a control portion. A control portion controls the position detection portion and the driving portion to perform, as one cycle, a procedure to detect a position of a parcel, select parcels based on a predetermined condition, and set priority for the selected parcels, and a procedure to refer to a result of the detection, and cause the holding portion to take out one or more parcels from the accumulation portion in accordance with the priority to transport the parcels to a predetermined location, and excludes, from parcels to be taken out, a second parcel that is present within a predetermined distance from a first parcel and has priority lower than the priority of the first parcel, during the one cycle.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

An RFID enabled system and method for tracking, directing, verifying, and validating item level order picking functions within order fulfilment and warehouse facilities having different SKUs sharing an inventory tote. RFID tags are coupled to each inventory item to be read by one or more RFID reader(s) in the facility. The system and method verify that a required item is picked and transferred correctly by the picker. The system provides feedback to the picker without requiring additional verification steps and preferably without any visual inspection by the picker. The picker may be guided to the required item and later directed to a location to place the retrieved item. The verification system may be adapted for use in a material handling system to monitor and direct material handling functions based on relative positions of RFID tags on individual items relative to RFID readers positioned throughout the facility.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.