A robotic item retrieval and transport apparatus includes at least one item retrieval mechanism that is minimally exposed while stored and/or engaged in loading or unloading of objects relative to a deck (e.g., upper surface) thereof. Actuators and at least major portions of one or more movable implements are arranged below the deck. Loading and/or unloading of objects may include lateral sliding, such as by pulling the object while it is supported by an extrinsic support surface. At least substantial portions of an item retrieval mechanism may remain outside a central target area of a deck, to provide a unobstructed or minimally obstructed deck surface for holding objects. The apparatus may be used with at least one movable pallet element. A pallet element and/or a retrievable item may include one or more features detectable by a sensor.

The loading of one or more multi-track pick-and-place devices with formations of products from an interim store including buffer-storage belts arranged in a number of planes takes place by means of a lifting device arranged at the exit of the interim store. The lifting device has a height-adjustable platform, on which conveyor belts which run transversely to the conveying direction of the buffer-storage belts are arranged. The conveyor belts can be displaced horizontally in the conveying direction of the buffer-storage belts and can be rotated through an angle between 0° and 90°.

Provided is a system including a platform to receive unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) thereon for launching and retrieving the UAVs. The system can include a pair of gantry arms that move to any location along the platform to position a UAV as desired. The platform includes a door that can open to expose a storage area in the system to receive and store UAVs, as well as to re-charge power in the UAVs. The storage area can include a plurality of cells that can be adjusted to receive a UAV of any size for storage therein.

The storage assembly has four column structures which may each include a belt mounted on an upper pulley and a lower pulley. The lower pulley of each column is driven by an electric motor, which is synchronized with a controller coupled to logistic-control software system. Shelves are coupled to the belts which are used to hold storage platforms. Parts are placed on the storage platforms which are moved from the storage assembly to robotic vehicles or storage racks.

An automated temperature-controlled outdoor terminal for storage and handover of online grocery orders allowing simultaneous operation of two transactions and a method to operate the terminal is described here.

An item manipulator for an automated storage unit, comprising a pincer-like grip device preset on a supporting plate for items, the pincer-like device comprising: two opposite longitudinal grip blades, of which on can move with respect to another, respectively a first blade and a second blade, first elements for the translation of the blades in a first direction which is parallel to the direction of extension of the blades, second elements for translation in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and lies on a plane that is parallel to the plane of arrangement of the plate.

The manipulator comprises elements for controlled mutual approach/spacing of the blades.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

An article transport vehicle includes: a transfer device (24) that transfers an article (W) to a housing rack (1) by moving, along a protruding/retracting direction (A), a contact portion (46) that comes into contact with an article (W); a pair of first guide portions (28) that are located on opposite sides in a width direction (B) relative to an article (W) being transferred by the transfer device (24) and guide the article (W) in the protruding/retracting direction (A); a guide driving device (29) that changes a distance (D) between the two first guide portions (28) in the width direction (B); and a control unit (H) that controls the guide driving device (29).

A robotic item retrieval and transport apparatus includes at least one item retrieval mechanism that is minimally exposed while stored and/or engaged in loading or unloading of objects relative to a deck (e.g., upper surface) thereof. Actuators and at least major portions of one or more movable implements are arranged below the deck. Loading and/or unloading of objects may include lateral sliding, such as by pulling the object while it is supported by an extrinsic support surface. At least substantial portions of an item retrieval mechanism may remain outside a central target area of a deck, to provide a unobstructed or minimally obstructed deck surface for holding objects. The apparatus may be used with at least one movable pallet element. A pallet element and/or a retrievable item may include one or more features detectable by a sensor.

The embodiments of this application provide a goods box take-out mechanism, device, and method, and a transport robot, belong to the field of transport robot technologies, and are intended to resolve the problem of wasting part of storage space of the warehouse when the current transport robots are used to carry goods boxes. The goods box take-out device includes a take-out assembly that is connected to a front surface of a to-be-transferred goods box and that can take out the goods box from a warehousing shelving unit. Since the take-out assembly is connected to the front surface of the to-be-transferred goods box, there is no need to reserve space below, above, or on left and right sides of the goods box for insertion and movement of the take-out assembly. Therefore, the storage space of the warehouse is fully utilized, and the storage density of the warehouse is improved.