Disclosed are techniques for determining and controlling automated layer pick operations. A computer system can receive, from a warehouse management system, a layer pick planning request for at least one order and determine an initial feasible solution for completing the request. The computer system can determine: initial batches of pallets based on grouping destination pallets that require layers of items from same source pallets, corresponding batch scores, initial locations of the pallets based on assigning locations in a pick area to the source and destination pallets, corresponding location scores, initial schedules for the initial batches based on determining an order of tasks to complete each batch, and corresponding shedule scores. For each batch, the computer system can iteratively adjust the initial schedule, initial locations based on the adjusted schedule, and initial batches based on the adjusted schedule and adjusted locations. The computer system can then identify a heuristic solution.

Disclosed are techniques for determining and controlling automated layer pick operations. A computer system can receive, from a warehouse management system, a layer pick planning request for at least one order and determine an initial feasible solution for completing the request. The computer system can determine: initial batches of pallets based on grouping destination pallets that require layers of items from same source pallets, corresponding batch scores, initial locations of the pallets based on assigning locations in a pick area to the source and destination pallets, corresponding location scores, initial schedules for the initial batches based on determining an order of tasks to complete each batch, and corresponding shedule scores. For each batch, the computer system can iteratively adjust the initial schedule, initial locations based on the adjusted schedule, and initial batches based on the adjusted schedule and adjusted locations. The computer system can then identify a heuristic solution.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for collection of products, the system comprising: at least one carrier (8) for carrying products (40); a collection point (14), at which collection point a user (10) of the system can remove products from the carrier; and a transporter arrangement (16, 20) for transporting the carrier to the collection point; wherein the system is arranged to physically inhibit (42) removal of the carrier by the user from the collection point.

A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.

The disclosure is directed at a high-density warehousing system that includes a set of high-density racking structures, each of the high-density racking structures including a set of compartments for housing a set of bins. The system can also include an automated picker for retrieving a requested bin or returning a returned bin to a designated compartment within the set of high-density racking structures and a control system for communicating compartment location information, the compartment location information associated with the designated compartment. Based on the compartment location information, the automated picker retrieves or returns the bin to the designated compartment.

The disclosure is directed at a high-density warehousing system that includes a set of high-density racking structures, each of the high-density racking structures including a set of compartments for housing a set of bins. The system can also include an automated picker for retrieving a requested bin or returning a returned bin to a designated compartment within the set of high-density racking structures and a control system for communicating compartment location information, the compartment location information associated with the designated compartment. Based on the compartment location information, the automated picker retrieves or returns the bin to the designated compartment.

Systems and methods described herein are directed to an environment involving a plurality of robots, wherein for receipt of a plurality of orders, the systems and methods generate a plurality of task batches to fulfill the plurality of orders; generate a parameter set for execution by the plurality of robots to execute the plurality of task batches. For a determination by a controller that one or more of the plurality of robots is to execute the plurality of task batches, the systems and methods load the parameter set; and control the one or more of the plurality of robots based on the loaded parameter set to execute the task batch.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location 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 a control system. The control system is 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 and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location 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 a control system. The control system is 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 and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A projection instruction device includes a processor and a memory that specifies each of a plurality of packages and store package specifying information including information related to a destination of each of the packages in a factory. The projection instruction device generates a first projection image for instructing conveyance of the received package to a first destination that is a storage place based on the package specifying information for each package, instructs the image projection device to project the first projection image, in a case that the package specifying information for each package stored in the memory indicates a second destination, generates a second projection image for instructing conveyance of the package to the second destination, and instructs the image projection device to project the second projection image.