An autonomous mobile robot includes a placement part, an arm configured to extend from and retract into the placement part in a horizontal direction, and a control unit configured to control a movement of the arm. The control unit moves a tip of the arm into a groove formed in a bottom surface of an object supported from underneath thereof, and then the control unit returns the tip of the arm hooked in the groove to the placement part, or the control unit moves the tip of the arm hooked in a groove formed in a bottom surface of an object placed on the placement part toward a rack configured to support the object from underneath thereof.

The application relates to a carrying robot including a fork. The fork includes a telescopic arm and a temporary storage tray. The telescopic arm includes a fixed arm and a movable arm connected to the fixed arm. The movable arm is telescopically movable relative to the fixed arm. The temporary storage tray is mounted to the fixed arm and is configured to temporarily store goods. The temporary storage tray is able to extend relative to the fixed arm. An extending direction of the temporary storage tray is consistent with an extending direction of the movable arm. When the fork pulls in or pushes out the goods, containers can be stably transferred between a stationary rack and the temporary storage tray.

An unloading priority mode is a mode for causing a transport device to execute a first transfer operation, a second transfer operation, a first travel operation, a third transfer operation, and a second travel operation in this order. The first transfer operation is an operation of transferring a second article to the transport device. The second transfer operation is an operation of transferring a first article to the transport device. The first travel operation is an operation of traveling to a position corresponding to a relay section while holding the first article and the second article. The third transfer operation is an operation of transferring the first article to the relay section, and thereafter transferring a third article to the transport device. The second travel operation is an operation of traveling to a position corresponding to a storage section while holding the second article and the third article.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

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 stocker includes a crane to travel on a travel route, a maintenance area on an extension of the travel route, a controller to cause the crane to travel toward the maintenance area, a first sensor to detect that the crane is positioned at an entry position, and a second sensor to detect that the crane has arrived at a stop position. The controller is configured or programmed to control the crane to decelerate in accordance with a detection result of the first sensor and control the crane to stop in accordance with a detection result of the second sensor.

A cryogenic storage system includes a transfer module configured to service one or more cryogenic storage freezers. The transfer module includes a working chamber that maintains a cryogenic environment for the transfer of sample tubes between different sample boxes. One or more freezer ports enable the transfer module to receive a sample box extracted from a respective freezer. An input/output (I/O) port enables external access to samples. A box transport robot operates to transport sample boxes between the freezer ports, the working chamber, and the I/O port. A picker robot operates to transfer sample tubes between sample boxes within the working chamber.

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 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.

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a pharmacy order-picking device. The present method reduces the susceptibility of the pharmacy order-picking device to disruption. To detect a positioning deviation of the control appliance in the horizontal direction, at least one desired value of at least one reference position is made available, the control appliance is brought to a position corresponding to the desired value in the horizontal direction and, when a signal characteristic of a reference position is detected, an actual value of this reference position is determined. A desired value is compared with a corresponding actual value, or two actual values are compared with each other, and a deviation is determined. If a deviation is determined that exceeds a limit value, a signal pointing to the need for a correction is output. Depending on the deviation, automatic correction of the position deviation can be performed.