A sequencing station includes a buffer including a plurality of positions, each position being configured to receive an item. An industrial robot is configured to place items to the positions and pick items from the positions, and a transport device is configured to move items into and out of a work area of the robot. The robot has at least four degrees of freedom. A robot with four degrees of freedom manages both sequencing and restacking tasks faster and with lower investment than conventional machines dedicated to specific tasks.

A system, includes, a semiconductor processing unit, an Automated Materials Handling System (AMHS) vehicle, and a warehouse apparatus, wherein the warehouse apparatus comprises at least one input port, at least one output port, and at least one load/unload port, wherein the warehouse apparatus is configured to perform one of the following: receiving a plurality of tray cassette containers from the AMHS vehicle at the at least one input port, transporting at least one tray cassette in each of a plurality of tray cassette containers to the at least one load/unload port via the at least one input port, transporting at least one first tray from the at least one tray cassette to the semiconductor processing unit via a tray feeder conveyor, and receiving at least one second tray from the semiconductor processing unit via the tray feeder conveyor.

Techniques for automatically modulating a physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure. A reconfigurable building structure may be constructed of physical elements that are movable with respect to one another to facilitate actuating the reconfigurable building structure between a plurality of different physical configurations. The physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure may be adjusted to accommodate for physical dimensions of an item that is going to be moved into the reconfigurable building structure. For example, a spacing between two shelves may be expanded in response to an order being placed for a large item. In this way, when the item is delivered to a physical address associated with the reconfigurable building structure, various physical characteristics of the reconfigurable building structure may have already been modulated to accept the item.

An order fulfillment system includes a storage structure and integrated turning decks enabling mobile robots to pass between sections of the storage structure or to exit or enter the storage structure. An automated dispensing portion may be affixed to a turning deck, which automated dispensing portion connects with a dispensing portal. Thus, the turning deck allows direct transport of mobile robots between the storage structure and the dispensing portal.

A selective access device for a picking/deposit station in an automated warehouse defines an area which is accessible after having formed a passage having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges opposite one another; the device is provided with a first cover engaging the area and includes a roller shutter, which is operated to open, so as to define the front edge of the passage, and with a second cover, which engages the area above the first cover, is defined by a plurality of doors beside one other along a first straight axis and is operated to open so as to define the side edges of the passage; the doors can slide to open and close along respective second axes orthogonal to the first axis, so as to also define the rear edge of the passage when the second cover is open.

Examples provide a system for system for customized item decanting. A robotic picker device is configured to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device. A decan manager, implemented on a processor, is configured to identify a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item, The robotic picker device places the selected item into the destination tote and the decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update

An inventory management system comprising at least one storage unit, first and second robotic apparatus, and a control server. The control server receives a handling request for handling one or more inventory items stored in the storage unit and communicates a first set of instructions to first robotic apparatus to cause the first robotic apparatus to transport the storage unit from an inventory storage area to a processing area. The control server further communicates a second set of instructions to second robotic apparatus to cause the second robotic apparatus to receive the inventory items and transport the received inventory items to an operation area. The control server further communicates a third set of instructions to the second robotic apparatus to cause the second robotic apparatus to align with an identified target platform for transferring the transported inventory items to the identified target platform.

An automated guided vehicle, a system for sorting cargo, and a method of sorting cargo using the same are provided. The system for sorting cargo according to an embodiment includes an automated guided vehicle, a cargo supply unit, a plurality of cargo sorting units, a supply control unit configured to load the plurality of pieces of cargo supplied from the cargo supply unit into the plurality of cargo loading units of the automated guided vehicle, a transport control unit configured to transport the pieces of cargo to each cargo sorting unit while controlling a movement path of the automated guided vehicle into which the plurality of pieces of cargo are loaded; and a discharge control unit configured to discharge at least one piece of cargo transported through the automated guided vehicle to each cargo sorting unit to sort the at least one piece of cargo.

A system and method for managing items for fulfilment of an order in a warehouse are provided. The method comprises retrieving, at one instance, at least one item of the one or more items associated with an order being processed; scanning the items to generate a scan information therefor; assigning one of storage bins of a plurality of storage bins to the order being processed based on the acquired scan information; one of one or more sorting robots, provided on one or more platform levels to collect the said at least one item and transfer the said at least one item to the assigned storage bin to the order being processed; and transferring the said assigned storage bin to a packaging station in the warehouse, when each of the one or more items associated with the order being processed are transferred to the said assigned storage bin.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for concentric suction cup tools with parallel pistons. In one embodiment, an example picking assembly may include a first piston subassembly with a first air cylinder, a first sliding rail that slides relative to the first air cylinder, and a first suction cup. The example picking assembly may include a second piston subassembly comprising a second air cylinder, a second sliding rail that slides relative to the second air cylinder, and a second suction cup, where the first and second piston subassemblies may be configured to independently actuate from a retracted position to an extended position. The example picking assembly may include a first guide plate with a first aperture for the first piston subassembly and a second aperture for the second piston subassembly, a shell that forms a housing for the picking assembly, and an airflow coupler.