A baggage management system includes: a storage rack including a plurality of receptacles shaped and structured to retain one or more baggage items; a baggage transportation system including a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) configured to transport one or more baggage items between a pick up point, a drop off point, and the storage rack, each AGV including a a wireless communication unit and a controller configured to control movement of the specific AGV based on received control instructions; and a baggage administration server including a processor, a memory unit, and a wireless communication interface, and configured to receive a request to store or retrieve a baggage item from the storage rack, determine the position of the one or more AGVs, identify the one or more AGVs required to either store or retrieve a baggage item as defined in the request, and transmit control instructions to the AGVs.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

Apparatuses, methods and systems for dynamically retrieving objects are disclosed herein. In one example, a retrieval apparatus is provided. The example retrieval apparatus comprises: at least one moveable arm mechanism configured to engage a surface of at least one of a plurality of objects; at least one sensing element configured to obtain sensor data describing locations and characteristics of the plurality of objects as the retrieval apparatus traverses an environment associated with the plurality of objects; and a controller component in electronic communication with the at least one arm mechanism and the at least one sensing element, wherein the controller component is configured to modify operational data based at least in part on the sensor data.

Devices, methods, and computer program products for article retrieval are provided. An example article retrieval device includes a frame and a pair of loading arms movably attached to the frame that move between a retracted position and an extended position. The device includes an engagement structure movably attached to at least one of the pair of loading arms that moves between a stored position and a deployed position. The device further includes a sensing device coupled with the pair of loading arms and a computing device operably coupled with the pair of loading arms, the at least one engagement structure, and the sensing device. The computing device causes the pair of loading arms to extend from the retracted position to a position proximate a first article and deploys the at least one engagement structure based upon sensor data generated by the sensing device.

The invention relates to warehouse technology, and specifically, to systems of automatic storage, sorting, assembly and delivery of goods. The invention can be used in various automated storage facilities, remote sales systems, as well as automated retail stores. An automatic system comprises a plurality of places arranged in rows in two horizontal directions, perpendicular to each other, and serving to accommodate boxes for storing materials in vertical stacks. A transport network comprises first rail tracks arranged above the stacks of boxes and intended for the movement of mobile actuating devices along them, as well as second rail tracks arranged perpendicular to the first rail tracks and located below the latter for the movement of mobile transporting devices along them. The mobile transporting devices are intended for moving boxes placed onboard along the second rail tracks. The mobile actuating devices are provided with a transfer unit intended for removing/placing one upper box from the storage place or one box from the mobile transporting device onto a transporting platform intended for accommodating materials during the movement of the mobile actuating device, and a gripper intended for retrieving/placing material from/into a box. The transport network is organized in such a way that a window is arranged above each stack of boxes, allowing to retrieve the upper boxes from the stack through such window from above, and another window is arranged above each of the second rail tracks, allowing to retrieve the boxes located on the mobile transporting device through such window from above.

A storage facility includes a storage space enclosing a storage and retrieval system, a transit space, and a first separation wall. The storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid configured to store a plurality of storage containers in vertical stacks, a first upper vehicle support extending in an upper horizontal plane above the storage grid, and a container handling vehicle configured to transport at least one of the plurality of storage containers on a wheel arrangement between at least two locations on the first upper vehicle support. The transit space includes a second upper vehicle support extending in the upper horizontal plane and arranged relative to the first upper vehicle support such that the container handling vehicle may move between the storage space and the transit space. The first separation wall separating the storage space and transit space. The first separation wall includes a first upper opening having a minimum size and vertical position allowing the container handling vehicle to pass through, and a first upper closable gate configured to open and close the first opening.

A method of fulfilling orders of goods of mixed packs and single packs of the same type. The goods are first stored as single packs of the same type and all of the goods allocated to an order are removed from a specified order storage rack aisle of a storage rack. Goods present in the storage racks required for the order that are not present within the specified order storage rack aisle are transferred into the order storage rack aisle from another storage rack aisle by a transverse transport process. A mixed pack for the order is generated by picking from packs of the same type, and a picking station is supplied with corresponding packs of the same type from the same storage racks, and the mixed pack is stored into the order storage rack aisle. The order, comprising single packs of the same type and mixed packs, is removed from the specified order storage rack aisle.

A storage assembly having a substantially parallelepipedal first storage rack and a second substantially parallelepipedal storage rack, a front transverse face of the first storage rack and a second rear transverse face of the second storage rack being connected to each other by at least one horizontal bracing structure.

A rescue system for retrieving a malfunctioning vehicle from a rail system of an automated storage and retrieval system includes a first rescue vehicle and a second rescue vehicle. The rail system includes a plurality of rails with tracks extending in an X-direction and a plurality of rails with tracks extending in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move in the X and Y-directions on the tracks of the rail system. The first rescue vehicle is configured to run on the tracks of the rail system. The first rescue vehicle is provided with a lifting device on one side of the vehicle, which faces for engagement in a first X-direction. The second rescue vehicle is configured to run on the tracks of the rail system. The second rescue vehicle is provided with a lifting device on an opposite side of the vehicle, which faces for engagement in a second X-direction opposite to the first X-direction. The first and second rescue vehicles are configured to work in tandem so that when one of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles malfunctions, the first and second rescue vehicles can position themselves on the rail system on opposite sides of the malfunctioning vehicle to engage their respective lifting devices with the opposite sides of the malfunctioning vehicle. The first and second rescue vehicles operate their lifting devices simultaneously so as to lift the malfunctioning vehicle off the rail system and transport the malfunctioning vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a distribution station for serving an unmanned logistics distribution vehicle and distribution method. The distribution station includes: a building having a vehicle parking space for parking an unmanned logistics distribution vehicle at least including an unmanned logistics distribution aircraft and an unmanned logistics distribution ground vehicle; a cargo conveying and loading device disposed within the building, for automatically conveying and loading a cargo to be distributed to an allocated unmanned logistics distribution vehicle parked in the vehicle parking space; and a cargo dispatching device for allocating a corresponding unmanned logistics distribution vehicle to the cargo to be distributed, and providing the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle with guidance information to guide distribution of the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle, so that the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle automatically distributes the cargo to be distributed according to the guidance information.