Warehouse automation and methods of sorting and sequencing garment items can be used to enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes warehouse automation of systems and methods for efficiently compiling store replenishment orders for garment items. The systems and methods make store replenishment of garment items highly efficient. In some examples, the systems and methods are focused on automation (e.g., using autonomous mobile robots that transport pods containing garment items) and arranging the garment items in store-ready containers that can be wheeled out directly into the retail area for efficient store replenishment.

A baggage management system includes: a storage rack including a plurality of receptacles shaped and structured to retain one or more baggage items; a baggage transportation system including a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) configured to transport one or more baggage items between a pick up point, a drop off point, and the storage rack, each AGV including a a wireless communication unit and a controller configured to control movement of the specific AGV based on received control instructions; and a baggage administration server including a processor, a memory unit, and a wireless communication interface, and configured to receive a request to store or retrieve a baggage item from the storage rack, determine the position of the one or more AGVs, identify the one or more AGVs required to either store or retrieve a baggage item as defined in the request, and transmit control instructions to the AGVs.

Technologies for allocating resources of managed nodes to workloads to balance multiple resource allocation objectives include an orchestrator server to receive resource allocation objective data indicative of multiple resource allocation objectives to be satisfied. The orchestrator server is additionally to determine an initial assignment of a set of workloads among the managed nodes and receive telemetry data from the managed nodes. The orchestrator server is further to determine, as a function of the telemetry data and the resource allocation objective data, an adjustment to the assignment of the workloads to increase an achievement of at least one of the resource allocation objectives without decreasing an achievement of another of the resource allocation objectives, and apply the adjustments to the assignments of the workloads among the managed nodes as the workloads are performed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

A sorting system includes a control server, multiple sorting robots, and a sorting region. The sorting region is divided into multiple sub-regions. At least one supply station and multiple delivery openings are deployed in each sub-region. Delivery openings respectively correspond to paths. The control server determines, according to path information of an item to be sorted, a target delivery opening corresponding to a path of the item, determines, from the multiple sub-regions of the sorting region, a target sub-region in which the target delivery opening is located, and allocates a delivery task to a target sorting robot among the multiple sorting robots. In response to the delivery task, the target sorting robot acquires the item from the supply station where the item is located, carries the item to the target delivery opening in the target sub-region, and delivers the same.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

Apparatuses, methods and systems for dynamically retrieving objects are disclosed herein. In one example, a retrieval apparatus is provided. The example retrieval apparatus comprises: at least one moveable arm mechanism configured to engage a surface of at least one of a plurality of objects; at least one sensing element configured to obtain sensor data describing locations and characteristics of the plurality of objects as the retrieval apparatus traverses an environment associated with the plurality of objects; and a controller component in electronic communication with the at least one arm mechanism and the at least one sensing element, wherein the controller component is configured to modify operational data based at least in part on the sensor data.

Devices, methods, and computer program products for article retrieval are provided. An example article retrieval device includes a frame and a pair of loading arms movably attached to the frame that move between a retracted position and an extended position. The device includes an engagement structure movably attached to at least one of the pair of loading arms that moves between a stored position and a deployed position. The device further includes a sensing device coupled with the pair of loading arms and a computing device operably coupled with the pair of loading arms, the at least one engagement structure, and the sensing device. The computing device causes the pair of loading arms to extend from the retracted position to a position proximate a first article and deploys the at least one engagement structure based upon sensor data generated by the sensing device.

A control method performed by a controller includes calculating times required for a worker to load, on an automated guided vehicle, multiple articles placed in multiple locations regarding multiple cases among which a stop situation of the automated guided vehicle where the worker loads the articles varies and determining a position in which the automated guided vehicle is to be stopped, based on the calculated times.

A rack storage system includes first and second storage racks, a rack aisle therebetween, rack guide tracks arranged in pairs in driving planes above each other, a transport vehicle displaceable in the rack aisle, a transport vehicle lifting device with a vertically extending guide frame and a lift frame mounted thereon so as to be adjustable by a lift drive. A receiving device including lift guide tracks positionable relative to the rack guide tracks and by which the vehicle is transportable between the planes is arranged on the lift frame. Vertical first and second guide profiles are connected to the rack guide tracks. First and second lift guide tracks are mounted on the lift frame to be movable parallel to the rack guide tracks by guide devices. First and second coupling devices respectively couple the first and second lift guide tracks to the first and second guide profiles, respectively.

A materials handling vehicle includes a camera, odometry module, processor, and drive mechanism. The camera captures images of an identifier for a racking system aisle and a rack leg portion in the aisle. The processor uses the identifier to generate information indicative of an initial rack leg position and rack leg spacing in the aisle, generate an initial vehicle position using the initial rack leg position, generate a vehicle odometry-based position using odometry data and the initial vehicle position, detect a subsequent rack leg using a captured image, correlate the detected subsequent rack leg with an expected vehicle position using rack leg spacing, generate an odometry error signal based on a difference between the positions, and update the vehicle odometry-based position using the odometry error signal and/or generated mast sway compensation to use for end of aisle protection and/or in/out of aisle localization.