A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

Vehicle-based package delivery and alignment systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes performing a first alignment of a delivery door of a vehicle with a receiving door of a package locker using location signals that are indicative of a location of the package locker, performing a second alignment of the delivery door with the receiving door based on camera images of an alignment target, and transferring a package from the vehicle to the package locker.

Vehicle-based package delivery and alignment systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes performing a first alignment of a delivery door of a vehicle with a receiving door of a package locker using location signals that are indicative of a location of the package locker, performing a second alignment of the delivery door with the receiving door based on camera images of an alignment target, and transferring a package from the vehicle to the package locker.

The present invention provides an automatic container loading and unloading apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises: a data acquisition module, used for scanning a container truck panel to obtain laser point cloud data; a data preprocessing module, used for segmenting a laser point cloud on a surface of the container truck panel from the laser point cloud data; a key point extraction module, used for performing edge extraction on the laser point cloud on the surface of the container truck panel to obtain discrete points on edges of the keel of the container truck panel; and a straight line fitting module, used for performing random sample consensus straight line fitting on the discrete points on the edges of the keel of the container truck panel to obtain spatial straight lines of the edges of the keel of the truck panel. The automatic container loading and unloading apparatus and method provided by the present invention using spatial straight lines on the edges of the keel of the container truck panel for computing processing, thereby achieving stronger robustness and higher accuracy, so that a container is loaded onto the container truck panel with higher precision and lower calculation amount.

A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

A system for unloading parcels from a cargo area includes: an extendible conveyor; a transfer conveyor for conveying parcels to the extendible conveyor; and a mobile robot assembly configured to engage and transfer parcels in the cargo area onto the transfer conveyor. The mobile robot assembly repeatedly advances and transfers parcels in the cargo area to the transfer conveyor. As the mobile robot assembly advances within the cargo area, the transfer conveyor and the extendible conveyor follow to provide a pathway along which parcels transferred by the mobile robot assembly can be transferred out of the cargo area. The mobile robot assembly includes: a mobile base for repositioning the mobile robot assembly; a framework mounted to the mobile base; a first robot and a second robot, each mounted for vertical movement with respect to the framework and configured to engage and transfer parcels; and a vision and control subsystem.

A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.

A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.