An automated guided vehicle includes a main frame (1) and a sub-frame (2); wherein, a driving wheel assembly (11) is mounted on the main frame (1), a driven wheel assembly (21) or a driving wheel (11) is mounted on the sub-frame (2), and the main frame (1) is hinged to the sub-frame (2).

System includes an article supply location that includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container, and one or more removal devices that transport the container to a location of further processing. System further includes a control system configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container, deposit the article in the destination container, and transport the destination container to a location for further processing by manipulation of the removal device.

Provided are a parcel sorting system and method. The parcel sorting system is arranged in layers and includes: a parcel sorting layer located on an upper layer of the parcel sorting system, a moveable container carrying layer located on a lower layer of the parcel sorting system, a parcel delivery robot and a control device. The parcel sorting layer includes a modular entity platform that is a physical platform formed by splicing multiple splicable units and used for sorting parcels. The modular entity platform includes multiple delivery lattices arranged in an array and a traveling area constituted by gaps between the lattices and used for the parcel delivery robot traveling. One delivery lattices corresponds to one or more delivery path directions. The moveable container carrying layer includes multiple moveable containers, and a part of the containers are located below the lattices and receive the parcel from the parcel sorting layer.

An inventory management system includes pick stations, automated vehicles having an onboard power source, a first drive system configured to horizontally displace the vehicle, a second drive system configured to vertically displace the vehicle along a guide system, and a platform for supporting an item during displacement of the vehicle. A first plurality of storage locations store inventory items at a first zone of vehicle operation and a second plurality of storage areas store inventory items at a second zone of vehicle operation. A first pick station is closer to the first storage locations than to the second storage locations, Vehicles are configured to transfer a selected item from one of the second plurality of storage locations to the first pick station or to transfer the selected item from the second plurality of storage locations to the first plurality of storage locations.

Disclosed is a method of controlling a robot system, including receiving user input including a request for a predetermined service, by a first robot, transmitting information based on the user input to a server, by the first robot, identifying a support robot for supporting a task corresponding to the service request, by the server, making a request to the second robot identified to be the support robot for the task, by the server, and performing the task, by the second robot, wherein the first robot is different from the second robot.

A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails. Moving the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first motion mode to position the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is turned over a corner of the intersection that is accessible from the first position and that includes continuous rails connecting a vertical track and a horizontal track, whereby positioning the pinion-driven lift-robot in a second position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is moved in a second motion mode towards a designated direction.

A self-driven carriage (2) stores and accesses containers (4) in a storage rack arrangement (3) and includes a first wheel set (37) driving along a first axis (x) and a second wheel set (43) driving along a second axis (y) transverse to the first axis (x). At least one of the wheel sets is essentially vertically movable between a driving position and an idle position. A lower one of the wheel sets is in the driving position and the upper one of the wheel sets is in the idle position. The carriage includes a support surface (39) that carries a bottom surface of the container and a centering and securing system, centering and securing a container on the support surface, and including engaging elements movable in opposite directions between an idle position and a securing position in which the engaging elements engage the container.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes: a storage grid having storage columns arranged in rows, in which storage containers are stacked one on top of another; a rail system having a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane having a plurality of adjacent grid cells; at least one container handling vehicle configured to move on the rail system, including a wheel arrangement configured to guide the at least one storage container vehicle along the rail system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; and a service vehicle for movement on the rail system.

A processing system for processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The processing system includes a perception unit for perceiving identifying indicia representative of an identity of a plurality of objects received from an input conveyance system, and an acquisition system for acquiring an object from the plurality of objects at an input area using an end effector of the programmable motion device. The programmable motion device is adapted for assisting in the delivery of the object to an identified processing location. The identified processing location is associated with the identifying indicia and the identified processing location is provided as one of a plurality of processing locations. The system also includes a delivery system for receiving the object in a carrier and for delivering the object toward the identified processing location.

An exemplary embodiment may provide a robotic powered cargo handling system. An embodiment may implement a pallet-lift mechanism to lift cargo or pallets. Powered rollers may be embedded into the forks of a pallet-lift mechanism and on top of the vehicle body. An exemplary embodiment may be fully autonomous. A user or software may direct the vehicle to a pallet or piece of cargo and set a destination for the cargo. Sensors, cameras, GPS, and computer vision may be implemented to navigate and avoid obstacles. An exemplary embodiment may include independent 4-wheel steering, 4 corner height adjustment, in-hub electric motors, and pneumatic or solid tires.