A control unit performs a travel stop process for stopping travel of a travel unit in response to an indicator detection unit detecting a stop notice indicator section and then detecting a stop position indicator section. After the travel of the travel unit is stopped as a result of the travel stop process, the control unit performs a transfer process for causing a transfer unit to transfer an article. The control unit performs, instead of the transfer process, anomaly notification processing for providing a notification of an occurrence of an anomaly to a superordinate control unit, after the travel of the travel unit is stopped by the travel stop process, in response to: (i) a travel distance, from a position at which the indicator detection unit has detected the stop notice indicator section, being smaller than a determination distance smaller than a notice distance, and (ii) the indicator detection unit detecting the stop position indicator section.

An autonomous transport vehicle, for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system, includes a frame, a controller, at least two independently driven drive wheels mounted to the frame, and at least one caster wheel mounted to the frame and having a castering assistance motor that engages the at least one caster wheel so as to impart castering assistance torque to the at least one caster wheel assisting castering of the at least one caster wheel. The controller is communicably connected to the castering assistance motor and configured to effect via a combination of vehicle yaw, generated by differential torque from the at least two independently driven drive wheels, and castering assistance torque from the castering assistance motor, castering of the at least one caster wheel with the autonomous transport vehicle in motion with a predetermined kinematic state.

An artificial intelligence server for determining a route of a robot includes a communication unit and a processor. The communication unit is configured to receive image data for a control area from the robot or a camera installed inside the control area. The processor is configured to calculate a current density for the control area from the image data, calculate a future density for the control area using the calculated current density, determine a priority for each of group areas included in the control area based on the calculated future density, and determine the route of the robot based on the determined priority.

One variation of a method for deploying fixed cameras within a store includes: dispatching a robotic system to autonomously navigate along a set of inventory structures in the store and generate a spatial map of the store during a scan cycle; generating an accessibility heatmap representing accessibility of regions of the store to the robotic system based on the spatial map; generating a product value heatmap for the store based on locations and sales volumes of products in the store; accessing a number of fixed cameras allocated to the store; generating a composite heatmap for the store based on the accessibility heatmap and the product value heatmap; identifying a subset of inventory structures occupying a set of locations within the store corresponding to critical amplitudes in the composite heatmap; and generating a prompt to install the number of fixed cameras facing the subset of inventory structures in the store.

Disclosed herein is a robot stopping parallel to an installed object and a method of stopping the same. In the robot stopping parallel to an installed object, a pause state of the robot is determined, and when an obstacle sensor calculates distances from obstacles, the robot moves such that the robot is placed parallel and close to an adjacent one of installed objects disposed around the robot.

A basket assembly for receiving goods therein; a main body coupled to a bottom of the basket assembly to support the basket assembly; a handle assembly installed on one side of the main body; a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to a bottom of the main body to move the main body in a direction in which a force is applied to the handle assembly; and a battery installed inside the main body for supplying electrical energy to the wheel assembly.

A wheeled base includes a housing, two driven wheeled mechanisms positioned on a bottom of the housing and on opposite sides of the housing, at least one passive wheel positioned on the bottom of the housing, actuated feet positioned on the bottom of the housing and configured to move up and down, sensors, and a battery pack arranged within the housing. The two driven wheeled mechanisms each includes a damping mechanism, and each damping mechanism includes at least two dampers configured to absorb impact caused by an upward movement of the housing, and absorb impact caused by a downward movement of the housing.

Systems and methods are provided herein for coordinating movement of components of a workspace utilizing a controller device. The controller device may operate in a first state. The computing device may be associated with an interaction area having a first access point and a second access point, wherein a light curtain is generated at the first access point. While operating in the first state, access to the interaction area is restricted. The computing device may transition to operating in a second state based at least in part on detecting the first breach, wherein operating in the second state comprises enabling access to the interaction area at the second access point. While operating in the second state, a second breach of the light curtain may be detected and at least one remedial action performed based on the detection.

A manufacturing system including an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) structure with a three-dimensional array of storage locations distributed throughout a two-dimensional footprint of the ASRS structure at multiple storage levels; workpieces stored within the storage locations of the ASRS structure; robotic storage retrieval vehicles (RSRVs) navigable within the ASRS structure in three dimensions to access the storage locations, and multiple manufacturing cells positioned outside the ASRS structure, is provided. The manufacturing system includes a track structure attached to the ASRS structure and defining one or more travel paths traversable by the RSRVs from the ASRS structure. The same fleet of RSRVs that is navigable within the ASRS structure is operable to deliver the workpieces to the manufacturing cells. One or more of the manufacturing cells are positioned along the track structure, thereby receiving convenient access to the workpieces along with associated tool pieces and workpiece supports for manufacturing goods.

A cargo module swapping system for an electronic short take-off and landing aerial vehicle, including an autonomously driven robotic vehicle for transporting and swapping cargo modules on an autonomous electric aircraft. The robotic vehicle has two or more robotic arms for controlled material handling and manipulation, each configured to install, remove, and replace cargo bins directly onto the aft end of a forward portion of a central fuselage of an electric short take-off and landing (ESTOL) aircraft. The cargo bins are configured to function as the aft portion of the aircraft central fuselage.