A secure package delivery and pick-up system includes a security door having a frame, and one or more collapsible storage compartments affixed to the frame. The collapsible storage compartments are configured for accommodating packages. An electronic unit is mounted on the frame, and is configured for electronically controlling an operation for the collapsible storage compartments. A security device is connected to the security door and receives images of a physical object from a first camera, receives an indication from at least one security tether indicating movement of the at least one physical object, and provides an alert based on the indication of movement of the at least one physical object.

An article management system according to the present invention includes: a reader antenna (102) including an open-type transmission line terminated in an impedance matched state; an RF tag (104) that is placed at a location that is electromagnetically coupled to the reader antenna (102) and is visible from the reader antenna (102) in a state where a management target article (105) is placed in the vicinity of the RF tag; a management target article arrangement region in which the management target article (105) is placed, the management target article arrangement region being set in a location where the management target article (105) is electromagnetically coupled to a tag antenna of the RF tag (104); and an RFID reader (103) that sends a transmitted signal to the reader antenna (102) and receives a response signal output from the tag antenna via the reader antenna (102).

The present invention relates to a reversible force pneumatic mail delivery system. The system includes a mailbox, a pneumatic tube, one or more courier canisters, a receiving slot, a tablet for monitoring the system and receiving notifications and a scanner positioned near a front door of the house. The mailbox and the receiving slot are connected through the pneumatic tube and the canister stores mail or other items for travel through the pneumatic tube. A compressor propels the canister from the mailbox to the receiving slot enabling a resident or user to receive incoming items and propels the canister from the receiving slot to the mailbox for sending an outgoing mail. The scanner is used for scanning a package and providing notifications of the scan are provided on the tablet.

A storage device (1′) for storing transport units (3′) includes a number of transport units (3′), a number of storage lines (12a′-12g′) which are configured to store transport units (3′), a feeding line (11′) which is connected by a respective first switch point (111′) to the storage lines (12a′-12g′), a measuring device (15′) which is arranged on the feeding line (11′) and which is configured to determine a respective extent of a transport unit (3′), and a controller (16′) which is connected to the measuring device (15′) and to the first switch pointes (111′) and which is configured to select a storage line (12a′-12g′) for storing the transport unit (3′) on the basis of the extent of the transport unit (3′) determined by the measuring device (15′).

A control system controls an automated storage and retrieval system to perform a method including receiving a plurality of orders in an order list; allocating each order to one of a plurality of pick-up entities; ranking the plurality of orders in the order list according to time received; estimating, for each order, a preparation time for preparing and delivering the order to a pick-up point for pick-up by the allocated pick-up entity; estimating, for each order, a pick-up time at which the allocated pick-up entity will be ready to pick up the order based on information about the allocated pick-up entity; comparing, for each order, the estimated preparation time and the estimated pick-up time; updating the ranking of the orders in the order list so that each order will be delivered at the pick-up point at a time within a predetermined time interval overlapping the estimated pick-up time of the allocated pick-up entity; and controlling the automated storage and retrieval system for preparing and delivering the orders of goods at the pick-up point according to the updated ranking of orders in the order list.

A position locating system includes: a position locating tag provided in an indoor space, the position locating tag being associated with position information in the indoor space in advance; a tag information acquisition unit provided on a mobile body moving in the indoor space, the tag information acquisition unit being configured to read a signal transmitted from the position locating tag; and a mobile-body position locating unit configured to locate a position of the mobile body based on the signal from the position locating tag read by the tag information acquisition unit.

A system for providing secure storage and retrieval of storage containers linked to different users includes an automated storage and retrieval system, a main control system, and a user interface. The automated storage and retrieval system has a framework structure defining a storage grid for storing storage containers arranged in stacks in storage columns and at least one container handling vehicle configured to raise storage containers from and lower storage containers into the storage columns and to transport storage containers to a container transport assembly connecting the automated storage and retrieval system to a plurality of interaction areas for accessing and transferring storage containers to and from the automated storage and retrieval system. The main control system is signal connected to an interaction area controller for keeping track of storage containers and their location in the automated storage and retrieval system and controls transfer of storage containers between the automated storage and retrieval system and the interaction areas. The container transport assembly and the interaction areas both include a transferring mechanism for moving a storage container to and from the container transport assembly and the interaction areas. The transferring mechanism of the container transport assembly includes a storage container support with a support transfer element. Each interaction area includes at least one access station for giving access to and enabling transferring of storage containers or items to and from the interaction area. The user interface has an identification mechanism for identifying a user and for controlling user access to the access station and for interacting with the automatic storage and retrieval system.

A dynamic storage device includes a storage area, a power carrying and moving device, a carrier group, a carrier detection device, a power transmission device, a gate, a gate detection device, a temporary storage area and a temporary storage area detection device. The storage device further includes a central control system for commanding, controlling, instructing and managing the aforementioned components and managing the information returned from each component. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used to implement the dynamic storage device and the dynamic access management method. The RFID tag is labelled to the carrier instead of the object, and the targets managed by the storage device and dynamic access management method are the carrier and carrier group. Each carrier forming the carrier group records the detailed object information contained in the carrier by the RFID tag, so as to achieve the effects of managing the object.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes remotely operated vehicles, a main grid in which the vehicles operates, a service grid for placement of vehicles for service, and a control system for controlling the vehicles. The control system includes a data record for the status of a vehicle state for each vehicle. Each remotely operated vehicle includes a label and the service grid includes a reader for reading the label so as to identify each vehicle passing the reader. The control system receives a signal from the reader and, upon receipt, compares the data record with an observed vehicle state of the identified vehicle and either updates the data record with the observed vehicle state or indicates to an operator that a difference exists between the observed vehicle state and the vehicle state on the control system.

Methods and systems are provided for verifying a pick/put operation within an order fulfilment workstation or a storage rack. An optical device observes an operator performing a pick/put operation at the workstation. An indicia is located on the operator such that it is visible to the optical device. Image data of the indicia captured by the optical device is transmitted to a control system of the workstation. The control system determines a relative location of the indicia and then determines the location at which an item was picked from or put to relative to the workstation within a high degree of positional accuracy. The method verifies that the operator has completed the assigned pick/put operation at the required location. The methods and systems may be adapted to track or monitor relative positions of mobile and stationary equipment in an automated warehouse.