Systems and methods provide a travel control system to augment a supplemental object detection system of a material handling vehicle. Speed limits can be calculated for material handling vehicles based on properties of the vehicle, and a field of view of the object detection systems of the material handling vehicle. For given steer angles or ranges of steer angles, the speed of the material handling vehicle can be limited to ensure that the vehicle could stop before contact with a newly-detected object that was previously outside the field of view of the object detection system.

Systems and methods provide assistance to an operator of a material handling vehicle. Provided systems and methods include receiving vehicle condition data at a first material handling vehicle from a second material handling vehicle when the second material handling vehicle is within a predetermined communication range, determining a first predicted vehicle position for the first material handling vehicle based on current vehicle conditions, determining a second predicted vehicle position for the second material handling vehicle based on the received vehicle condition data, and determining if the first predicted vehicle position for the first material handling vehicle overlaps with the second predicted vehicle position for the second material handling vehicle. Upon the determination that the first predicted vehicle position overlaps with the second predicted vehicle position, the operator of the first material handling vehicle is provided an indication.

Described herein are systems and methods for ordering item-movement tasks in storage facilities. Item-movement tasks are distributed amongst queues of operators in a first state of the queues. A first value indicating utilization based on the operators performing the queues in the first state is determined. A first task from a first queue is swapped with a second task from a second queue, forming a second state of the queues, such that the first queue to be performed by a first operator includes the second task and the second queue to be performed by a second operator includes the first task. A second value indicating utilization based on the operators performing the queues having the second state is determined. Based on determining that utilization is greater when the queues have the first state, the first task is swapped with the second task to revert the queues to the first state.

A system for controlling a forklift truck has several operating modes and allows, in particular, operation in manual mode or autonomous mode. A forklift truck is provided with such a control system.

Systems and methods for process tending with a robot arm are presented. The system comprises a robot arm and robot arm control system mounted on a self-driving vehicle, and a server in communication with the vehicle and/or robot arm control system. The vehicle has a vehicle control system for storing a map and receiving a waypoint based on a process location provided by the server. The robot arm control system stores at programs that is executable by the robot arm. The vehicle control system autonomously navigates the vehicle to the waypoint based on the map, and the robot arm control system selects a target program from the stored programs based on the process location and/or a process identifier.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire first detection data for a first height range in a predetermined region. The processor generates a first environment map based on the first detection data and acquires second detection data for a second height range greater than the first height range in the predetermined region. The processor further acquires third detection data for a third height range included in the second height range and then superimposes a projected image of the third detection data on the first environment map to generate a superimposed image. The processor sets a prohibited area for an autonomous, mobile robot in the first environment map based on the superimposed image.

Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for transporting a mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include the mobile inventory transportation communication network comprising the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU from a first point to a second point, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit inventory request data to the first central system, and the first central system may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.

A mobile drive unit includes a pivot between the front chassis unit and the rear chassis unit, which both support a support structure that pivotally supports a payload unit. A conveyor is supported by the chassis assembly and located at least at an ergonomic height.

In one aspect, a method of determining a risk of conflict between a movable device and potential obstacles is provided. The method includes dividing a space into a plurality of positions. At each of a plurality of successive times, the method further includes: determining a conflict function for the movable device in a first position at a respective time, the first position having one or more neighbouring positions, wherein the conflict function is determined based on whether or not an obstacle is present in any of the first position and the one or more neighbouring positions; and determining a respective risk value for at least one of the first position and the one or more neighbouring positions using the conflict function and a risk value associated with a second position, wherein the movable device is planned to move from the first position to the second position at a subsequent time.

A transport system for transporting workpieces includes a plurality of objects disposed along a path of travel and a driverless transport vehicle having a workpiece holder and a personal protection sensor such as a laser scanner. The sensor has a transmitter for generating detection radiation and a receiver adapted to receive detection radiation generated by the transmitter and reflected from persons or objects located in a monitoring area that is monitored by the detection radiation. A control device steers the transport vehicle along the travel path so that it does not collide with the objects and triggers a safety measure if the personal protection sensor has detected a person in the monitoring area. The objects support a coating or cladding that absorbs detection radiation impinging thereon or reflects it in such a direction that it cannot reach the receiver. As a result, the objects become invisible to the personal protection sensor and cannot trigger any safety measures.