Present disclosure relates to a method, control device, and a work device, for managing a plurality of work devices having a plurality of sensors, in a warehouse. The method includes at least: collecting information on the warehouse; analyzing the collected information; generating instructions based on the analyzed information; transmitting the generated instructions to work devices. The generated instructions include instructions for controlling at least one of a priority order of works to be performed by the work devices and a working route of the work devices in the warehouse.

A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.

A movement apparatus is provided that moves an article in a transfer direction. The movement apparatus is provided with a first protruding/retracting unit, a second protruding/retracting unit installed in a state spaced apart from the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction, a first drive unit that moves the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction, and a second drive unit that moves the second protruding/retracting unit in the width direction. The first drive unit is configured to move the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction within a first setting range by swinging a first connection unit, and the second drive unit is configured to move the second protruding/retracting unit in the width direction within a second setting range wider than the first setting range by moving a second connection unit back and forth in a prescribed path.

A system of exchanging information between machines is described. The system includes multiple communication modules with at least an infrared transmitter and receiver. At least one mobile robot having at least one said communication module. A receiving station communication module includes at least an opposing infrared transmitter and receiver. Each mobile robot identifies itself and communicates its intended tasks to a receiving station by sending a single pulse width encoded message. The encoding of information within the message occurs by the encoded message's timing.

A system and method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport containers in stacks arranged in a facility, the facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the at least one transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the system. A receiving unit is configured to receive information about a product to be returned to a container in a stack, wherein the product is located at a workstation; and a control unit is configured to select a container located in the stacks into which the product is to be placed and instruct a transporting device to move the selected container to a location of the workstation.

Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo arear and provided at a delivery location.

A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

A picking device and method for increasing the through-put of picking an order from a storage container into an order container. The picking device includes a mobile platform capable to travel along a guide rail and a robotic gripping arm. The mobile platform includes a receiving location for each of a storage container and an order container, which are both reachable by the robotic gripping arm. The robotic gripping arm is actuated by a platform-supported image acquisition and evaluation unit and by a platform-supported controller.

Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

An article storage facility is disclosed that is capable of performing an appropriate transport operation on a container group even when a container group that includes a plurality of containers in a stacked state is placed on a placement surface in an inclined state. The control device performs inclination computation processing to obtain a placement inclination θ that is an inclination of a container group Cg placed on a placement surface F relative to a Z direction, based on coordinate information, bottom surface dimension information, and container group position information that are stored in a storage unit, and individual position computation processing to obtain individual position information that indicates a position, in X and Y directions, of each of the containers C in the tiers included in the container group Cg, based on the container group position information, the placement inclination θ, and the height dimension information, and controls a movement mechanism based on the individual position information.