A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.

A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described that relate to location-based indications. An apparatus may include a frame, a sensing device, and a computing device. The frame may include a first set of members spaced apart and oriented in a first direction. At least one member of the first set of members may include an indicator area. The frame may also include a second set of members spaced apart and oriented in a second direction. At least two members of the second set of members may extend between the first set of members to define a container receiving area. The sensing device may be disposed adjacent to the container receiving area and configured to detect movement of containers with respective to the container receiving area. The computing device may be communicatively coupled to the sensing device and configured to cause presentation of indicators within the indicator area.

An order fulfillment system and method of fulfilling orders, each with at least one article, includes at least one mobile robotic unit that is capable of autonomous routing in an order fulfillment facility. A stationary robotic order-picking station with a stationary robot and vision equipment sorts articles into orders. The at least one mobile robotic unit transfers articles to or from the stationary robotic order-picking station.

Techniques for optimizing movement of robotic drive units (RDUs) in a warehouse are described. The optimization involves assignment of a task of delivery of plurality of products to a destination location a first RDU of a plurality of RDUs in the warehouse. Then, an analysis is performed for each product whether its retrieval is to be assigned to an RDU other than the first RDU. Based on the analysis, a task of retrieval of one or more products is assigned to one or more RDUs other than the first RDU. Further, an intersection point between a future path of the first RDU and a future path of each of the one or more RDUs is determined. Based on the determination, each RDU is instructed to deliver its respective retrieved products at the intersection point. The first RDU is then instructed to retrieve products delivered at intersection points.

A method for executing orders by at least one robot on a plurality of items stored at locations throughout a warehouse including reading a bar code affixed to an item storage array disposed on said at least one robot. The item storage array includes a plurality of interconnected containers each for storing items associated with an order. The method also includes using the read bar code to retrieve information about at least one characteristic of the item storage array and assigning an order associated to each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array. The orders are based in part on the at least one characteristic of the item storage array. The method further includes navigating the at least one robot to locations throughout the warehouse to execute the orders associated with each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array.

A task aid system which has: a terminal device; and a server that manages task information. When the information for identifying the position of the terminal device is input, the terminal device identifies, on the basis of the input information, the task location where task was performed, identifies a next task location by comparing the identified task location with the task instruction information generated by the server, and outputs the information showing the direction of the identified next task location.

A workstation receives bots carrying order totes and bots carrying product totes for transfer of goods from the product totes to the order totes. The workstation comprises a robot for automated transfer of goods between the product and order totes, but may also have a station for an operator to perform manual transfer. Cameras may be provided to capture images of the product and/or order totes to identify contents of totes and to identify positions where goods are to be picked from the product totes and placed into the order totes.

In accordance with the object of the present invention, it relates to a product storage area automation system having abase, at least one shelf unit located on this base and on which a various number of products are arranged, a shelf controller associated with this at least one shelf unit, a main control unit configured to communicate with the said shelf controller and equipped with an automation software, and a wheeled vehicle including a cart controller configured to communicate with the said main control unit and a product identity reader configured to read the information on each product. Here, at least one shelf unit includes a number of lighting elements configured to communicate with the said shelf controller and the said wheeled vehicle includes a riding stand so as to carry a human product collector.

A variety of vehicle-based and warehouse-based solutions are provided to increase the adaptability, utility, and efficiency of materials handling vehicles in the warehouse environment, such as a goods storage and retrieval system, comprising a multilevel warehouse racking system, a mobile storage cart, a cart home position, and a materials handling vehicle disposed on a vehicle transit surface and comprising a fork carriage assembly, a navigation subsystem, a cart engagement subsystem, and one or more vehicular controllers to use the navigation subsystem to navigate the materials handling vehicle along the vehicle transit surface to a localized engagement position where the cart home position is within a cart engagement field of view, and use the cart engagement subsystem to engage the mobile storage cart in the cart home position with the fork carriage assembly.