Systems and methods for sorting delivery items are disclosed. The system may include an intake area, a sorting area operably coupled with the intake area, and a computing system operably coupled with the intake area and the sorting area. The intake area may include a source of delivery items having a plurality of delivery items, and a scanner for scanning respective indicia of each of the plurality of delivery items. The sorting area may include a conveyor having a respective sensor disposed at opposing end portions thereof, one or more sort locations disposed about the conveyor, and one or more indicators configured to indicate a proper sort location for the delivery items. The computing system may receive data corresponding to a delivery item from the scanner, determine the proper sort location for the delivery item, and send a signal to the indicator to indicate the proper sort location.

An arrangement and method for storing items is provided which may be applied, for example, in the storage of postal packages and the like. The size of an item to be stored is detected and the item is placed inside a storage structure in sufficient, but not excessive, space. In the arrangement and method, at least two, preferably three, dimensions of the item in directions perpendicular to each other are considered to determine the space in which to store it. Correspondingly, the storage structure of the arrangement comprises a plurality of vertical racks in which rack groups are present in which compartments of different width, and possibly of different depth, can be defined. The racks can possibly be mounted on rotatable platforms to further increase the capacity of the storage structure.

Disclosed are a robot control system and method. The robot control system includes a storage region, a lifting machine, a control device, and at least one self-driven robot. The storage region includes a loft having at least two storeys and is configured to store a container, and there is provided a passage on the floor of each of the at least two storeys of the loft for the self-driven robot to move through. The lifting machine is configured to transport the self-driven robot or the container to a target storey corresponding to a transportation task. The control device is configured to assign the transportation task to the self-driven robot and plan a travel route on the target storey for the self-driven robot according to the transportation task, and dispatch the self-driven robot to travel according to the travel route to perform the transportation task.

A dual-layer linear sorter includes a delivery mechanism, a first feeding mechanism, a second uploading mechanism, a slewing mechanism, and a driving mechanism, the delivery mechanism is ring-shaped and includes upper and lower layers; the running direction of the upper layer is a first direction, the running direction of the lower layer is a second direction; the second direction is opposite to the first direction; the first feeding mechanism is close to the upper layer, and is docked with one end of the delivery mechanism; the second feeding mechanism is close to the lower layer and is docked with the other end of the delivery mechanism; the driving mechanism can drive the delivery mechanism to run; a part of the goods can be delivered to the upper layer via the first uploading mechanism; another part of goods can be delivered to the lower layer via the second uploading mechanism.

An autonomous mobile robot including frame defining a payload holding area with a payload seating surface, and having a wheeled traverse system dependent from the frame for substantially free unrestricted roving of the autonomous mobile robot on a riding surface in a facility space, at least one drive section connected to the frame, and at least one motor defining at least one independent degree of freedom; and an articulated pick arm dependent from the frame, the articulated pick arm having an end effector configured so as to stably hold a container therewith, and being operably connected to the at least one motor so that the at least one independent degree of freedom extends and retracts, and raises and lowers the articulated pick arm defining a range of motion of the end effector spanning from an elevation below a lowermost level of the payload seating surface onto the payload seating surface.

A sorting system includes one or a plurality of transporter units, at least one loading station for loading a parcel onto transporter units, a plurality of destination stations, and a network of paths, each path including at least one track, the network including a plurality of junctions where at least two of the paths intersect. Each transporter unit is controllable to travel along the paths of the network of paths and to continue travelling along one of the at least two paths at a junction. A controller is configured to calculate a route within the network of paths between a loading station and a selected destination station, and to control the transporter unit to travel along the calculated route.

A method for enabling a delivery of a motor-driven processing machine and/or a battery pack for supplying a processing machine with electrical drive power to a delivery point is provided. A transmitting device is arranged on and/or in the processing machine and/or the battery pack. The transmitting device is designed for the wireless transmission of operating and/or status data of the processing machine and/or the battery pack and an identifier. The method includes the steps of: at least identifying the processing machine and/or the battery pack and/or the transmitting device based on the transmitted identifier; and enabling the delivery of the processing machine and/or the battery pack at the delivery point depending on a result of at least the identification.

A package lift assembly for a delivery vehicle includes a plurality of rods that define at least one shelf. The package lift assembly further includes upper and lower rails. An alteration assembly is operably coupled to the upper and lower rails. Vertical guides are operably coupled to the alteration assembly. A platform is operably coupled to the vertical guides and include a central receiving member. At least a portion of the plurality of rods are selectively disposed within the central receiving member. A motor assembly is operably coupled to the central receiving member and the vertical guides. The motor assembly and the alteration assembly cooperate to translate the platform along the vertical guides and translate the central receiving member between a retrieval position and a holding position.

The invention relates to a device, system and method for storing, transporting and delivering items. The device comprises of a modular container which is configured to be installed in a mobile robot. The modular container comprises of a control unit, first communication component and a power component. The system comprises of a modular container and a mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot comprises of a motion component, a second control unit, a second communication component. The method comprises of installing the modular container to the mobile robot and a second method for providing goods and services via modular container and mobile robot.

A system for detecting and verifying an environmental anomaly within a shipping container (transported on a transit vehicle having an external transceiver) has wireless sensor-based ID nodes at different locations within the container and multiple command nodes mounted to the container. A first command node is programmatically configured to be operative to detect the sensor data broadcasted from the ID nodes; responsively identify the anomaly based upon the sensor data detected by that command node; and transmit a validation request to another command node. The other command node is configured to be operative to also detect the sensor data broadcasted from the ID nodes; receive the validation request from the first command node; verify the anomaly in response to the validation request and based upon the sensor data detected by the second command node; and broadcast a verification message based upon whether the anomaly for the shipping container is verified.