A system for automatically delivering an order to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: pouches adapted to receive a bag, associated with the control; a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of a pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a suspension element for suspending the pouches from a travel track, the suspension elements being moved automatically on the track; and an actuator to displace the pouches in which the different parts of the order have been deposited, to the pick-up location when the device for signalling and/or detecting emit a signal confirming the presence of the user in the vicinity of the pick-up location.

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.

Described in detail herein is an autonomous object storage and retrieval system. In one embodiment, an object storage and retrieval system includes a computing system hosting a service application and in communication with a database and storage and retrieval apparatuses configured to store and dispense physical objects. Each storage and retrieval apparatus is in communication with the computing system. The computing system can transmit instructions to a first one of the storage and retrieval apparatuses to render the status of the first physical object on the interactive display of the storage and retrieval apparatus.

An order picking system includes a paternoster conveyor having a carrier configured to carry products. The paternoster conveyor is on one side associated with at least one transporter; and on an opposite side associated with at least a plurality of further transporters that comprise a plurality of transport boxes. The plurality of transport boxes are configured to receive one or more than one product carried by the carrier. The paternoster conveyor is configured to at least one of: selectively place one or more than one product in a pre-selected transport box of the plurality of transport boxes; and selectively pick up and carry a pre-selected transport box comprising one or more than one product previously received therein. A method of handling products in such an order picking system.

A method includes: obtaining a task definition for a mobile robot, the task definition including (i) a position on an item support carried by the mobile robot, and (ii) an identifier of an item to be placed at the position to form a unit load with the item support; controlling the mobile robot carrying the item support to travel to a pick location for receiving the item from a picker; controlling an output device to render an indication of the position for the picker at the pick location; responsive to placement of the item at the position by the picker, controlling the mobile robot to travel to a handling location.

In various embodiments, a goods to operator workstation is provided. The goods to operator workstation include an upper level. The upper level includes an upper level conveyor and one or more upper level container bays configured to receive and present one of the one or more upper level containers. The goods to operator workstation also includes at least one connector panel extending from the upper level. The goods to operator workstation further includes a lower level coupled to the at least one connector panel. The lower level is configured to receive one or more lower level containers. A gap is defined between the upper level and lower level that is sized to allow the one or more lower containers to be placed on the lower level. A method of operating the goods to operator workstation is also included.

An article carrier system has a plurality of storage shelves and an order management unit. In the storage shelves, articles are stored. The order management unit manages a plurality of orders for shipping orders, holds receptacle information including at least information regarding a quantity of articles stored in each receptacle of each of the storage shelves, determines to provide different conditions for orders for performing picking at different workplaces, as conditions for correlating between each order and the receptacle for performing the picking in accordance with each order, and determines a storage shelf to be carried to the workplace for performing the picking in association with each order, based on the determined conditions and receptacle information.

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include: (i) picking or retrieving items from an inventory storage area, (ii) decanting individual items and placing them on carriers of a high-speed sorting and conveyance system, and (iii) final sortation as per customer orders. In some embodiments, the high-speed sorting and conveyance system includes multiple shuttles that each carry an individual item to a designated final order sortation system.

An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel unit (11) that travels to a set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to each of a plurality of storage units (1) configured to store an article (W); a support portion (12) configured to support the article (W); a lighting unit (13) that emits light; and a control unit that controls the travel unit (11) and the lighting unit (13). The control unit executes a travel control that controls the travel unit (11) such that the travel unit (11) travels to the set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to a target storage unit (1A), and a lighting control that controls the lighting unit (13) so as to emit light to a lighting position (P2) that corresponds to the target storage unit (1A).

A method for assigning orders to a plurality of robots fulfilling orders in a warehouse with the assistance of a plurality of operators. The method includes providing a first robot of the plurality of robots to a be assigned an order set, including one or more orders to be fulfilled and assessing the locations of at least one of the plurality of robots or at least one of the plurality of operators in the warehouse. The method also includes selecting an anchor location in the warehouse and generating an order set for the first robot correlated to the anchor location in the warehouse. The method also includes assigning the order set to the first robot for fulfillment.