Systems and methods for dynamically reprioritizing pick jobs in a fulfillment center are described herein. The example systems can be configured to periodically classify pick jobs in order to optimize throughput of the fulfillment center. The classifying can include determining an estimated completion time for pick jobs and identifying at-risk jobs that may complete after their associated due dates. The at-risk jobs can be assigned to autonomous vehicles based primarily on their associated due dates. Other pick jobs that are not at-risk can be assigned to autonomous vehicles based primarily on efficiency. The at-risk pick jobs can be assigned to autonomous vehicles before the other pick jobs.

A dynamic active control system (DACS) configured for: (1) total vessel pitch axis control by fast symmetric deployment of water engagement devices (WEDs) or controllers, coupled with engine trim adjustments; (2) total roll and heading control by differentially deploying WEDs to counter rolling motions while simultaneously adjusting engine steering position to counter the steering moment associated with WED delta position; and (3) adjustment of the engine steering angle to counter yaw moments produced by gyroscopic stabilization systems.

A multi-robot collaboration method in a flexible hardware production workshop is provided, by which allocation of workpiece machining tasks and transfer of workpieces in different workstations can be achieved and meanwhile relatively high calculation cost is avoided. According to the method, a distributed collaboration method is fully used, and in allusion to the current technical condition, the allocation of the workpiece machining tasks and the transfer of the workpieces in different workstations can be achieved and meanwhile the relatively high calculation cost is avoided. A multi-AGV path conflict eliminating method is used for avoiding possible collision of AGVs during movement. A centralized intervention and adjustment method is used for discovering and predicting system conflicts and failure problems and making timely dispatching and adjustment so as to improve the automation level and the flexibility level of a hardware workshop.

A transfer operation control unit changes, according to an operating state index indicating a level of an operating state of a plurality of transport vehicles (1) present on a travel path, a setting of a transfer operation such that a required transfer time (Tr) from start to completion of the transfer operation is increased as the level of the operating state is reduced, while maintaining at least one setting of a traveling speed of the transport vehicles (1).

A mobile object configured for movement in an area equipped with VLC illumination sources comprises a light sensor arranged to detect illumination from at least one of the illumination sources within the view of the light sensor; a computer arranged to determine from the detected illumination (i) a position of the mobile object relative to the at least one illumination source and (ii) the identifier of the at least one illumination source; and a transceiver. The transceiver can receive from another mobile object a message comprising the position of the other mobile object relative to a source of illumination, and the identifier of that source of illumination. From this, the computer determines from its position and the message a distance from the other mobile object. A mobile object which transmits such a message is also envisaged.

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.

Methods and apparatus for making autonomous vehicle handover decisions are described. A handover decision involves deciding if an autonomous vehicle should be handed off from one worker to another worker. The methods allow for decisions to be made in real or near real time shortly before an autonomous vehicle changes location. Worker time, if a handover is not implemented, is considered including the amount of worker time involved with the worker moving with the autonomous vehicle to the new location as compared to a new worker meeting the autonomous vehicle at the new location or on the way to the new location. Handover decisions can consider worker distribution and/or order priority. Such factors can be used to weight one or more time based cost values with a cost value representation of the cost if a handover is not implemented vs implementing a handover being compared to make the handover decision.

An automatic storage and retrieval system includes: a delivery vehicle; a storage container carried by the delivery vehicle; and an unloading station for unloading an item from the storage container while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle. The unloading station includes: an unloading device; and a destination conveyor configured to convey the item to a target destination, wherein the unloading device is configured to move the item through a side opening of the storage container to the destination conveyor.

Provided is a method for testing an autonomous system of which a virtual image exists, the virtual image including at least one virtual image of an autonomous component including the following steps: a) Acquiring of component data providing information in relation to a movement of the at least one virtual image of the autonomous component; b) Creating, in the virtual image, at least one virtual object; c) Generating, in the virtual image, a corpus around the at least one virtual object or/and the virtual image of the at least one component; d) Representing, in the virtual image, a movement of the at least one virtual object or/and the virtual image of the at least one autonomous component; e) Acquiring reaction data in relation to the movement of the at least one virtual object or/and the virtual image; f) Evaluating a feasible course of movement considering the reaction data.

A control device according to an embodiment includes a communication unit and a processor. The communication unit is configured to communicate with a transport vehicle and a host server, the transport vehicle being configured to move a movable shelf storing an article. The processor is configured to acquire from the host server, by the communication unit, a removal instruction indicating an article to be removed; specify, based on the removal instruction, the movable shelf having a plurality of shelves for storing the article and a shelf height at which the article is stored on the movable shelf; and switch between moving, by the transport vehicle, the specified movable shelf to a first position and a second position suitable for removing an article from a second shelf higher than the first shelf, based on the specified height.