A transportation rack includes a base frame configured for resting on a surface and including an upper open side and an open front side. The transportation rack further includes an extension frame defining an open front side and being slideably received through the open upper side of the base frame. An actuator is coupled between the base frame and the extension frame and is operable to move the extension frame in an extending direction outwardly from the base frame through the open upper side and a collapsing direction inwardly to the base frame through the open upper side. The transportation rack further includes a compartment unit supported by the extension frame and having a collapsing portion therealong that accommodates the extending and collapsing of the extension frame with respect to the base frame.

An automated storage system includes a three-dimensional storage grid for storing storage containers, at least one container handling vehicle operating on, around or under the storage grid, and a central communication system with a system transmitter and a system receiver for controlling and communicating with the at least one container handling vehicle for handling storage containers in the storage grid. At least one container handling vehicle includes a vehicle communication system with a vehicle transmitter and a vehicle receiver for communication with the central communication system. The system and vehicle transmitters and receivers are configured to use light for wireless communication. The system transmitter and the system receiver are located in the automated storage system on, around, or under the storage grid transmitting the same communication from all the transmitters of the central communication system.

An automated multi-storey warehouse is provided with a first and at least a second module, each having: at least one pick-up/deposit station to allow an operator to retrieve and/or deposit products relative to trays arranged in the station; and a transfer lift assembly having a lift shaft and a pick-up/deposit device, which is movable in the lift shaft and is configured so as to be able to horizontally translate the trays; the second module is a storage module having at least one storage column directly alongside the lift shaft and capable of accommodating respective trays; the pick-up/deposit station of the first module is arranged at a first level, whereas the storage column of the second module is arranged at a second level and is completely above or below the first level; the warehouse has an exchange station, which has at least one place for the temporary depositing of a tray and is accessible by both the pick-up/deposit devices of the first and the second module.

Some embodiments efficiently locate and map item locations in a distribution site using robots and a set of markers that the robots can scan without cessation of movement. Some embodiments optimally position a robot for item retrieval or placement. The optimal position is determined by affine transform computation or feature mapping. The robot first aligns itself according to the expected item position as indicated by one or more of the markers. The alignment is determined based on size and orientation of the markers in images obtained using the robot's camera. The robot then aligns itself according to the actual item position. Here, the repositioning is determined based on size and orientation of the actual item in images obtained using the robot's camera. Using the robot cameras and feature mapping, robots can traverse the shelves to identify and map item location therein.

According to one embodiment, a server includes a product position storage unit configured to store a storage position of a product in association with each product, a cart position storage unit configured to store a position of a cart, a cart determining unit configured to determine a cart positioned closest to a product-to-pick ordered from an ordering party, based on the storage position of the product and the position of the cart, and a product information transmitting unit configured to transmit information on the product-to-pick to a cart terminal attached to the determined cart for display thereof.

A system-directed single line pick batching is described. In an example implementation, the system may receive data describing a set of orders including SKU identifiers associated with items in the orders, identify an eligible cart, and assign a location to a task queue of the cart based on the location being associated with a particular SKU identifier. In some instances, the location or SKU identifier may be determined based on an order with a certain quantity of different SKU identifiers. In some instances, the system may navigate the cart to the location and instruct the item to be picked from the location. In response to completion of the pick of the item, the system may navigate the cart to an end point.

Systems/Methods are provided for reducing picking operation errors. Task instruction is received about an item to be picked. A unique identifier is received for a pick location where the item is located. A unique identifier signal is received from a computing device at the pick location. A sensor thereof is commanded to output a signal in response to detecting unique identifier signal. The outputted signal represents an ambient magnetic field measurement in the sensor's vicinity received and monitored to detect change. Vehicle motion information is received from a motion detector. A notification whether the vehicle is at the correct pick location where item is located or the incorrect pick location is outputted.

A storage system includes at least one consolidation vehicle, a transfer rail grid, an item picking area, and an item delivery station. The consolidation vehicle includes a wheel arrangement for moving the consolidation vehicle in two perpendicular directions upon the transfer rail grid. The consolidation vehicle may be positioned upon the item picking area to receive multiple items picked from at least one storage container, and an item picker is arranged to pick items from the storage container and transfer them to the consolidation vehicle. The consolidation vehicle may be positioned upon the item delivery station to deliver items received from the storage container to a packaging/processing assembly. The consolidation vehicle includes an item carrier arranged such that items may be emptied from the item carrier when the consolidation vehicle is positioned at the item delivery station.

An object sorting system includes: a storage device configured to drive an object to be sorted in the storage device to move after an object moving-out instruction is received; a transport device configured to transport the object to be sorted; and a dispatching system configured to enable the transport device to move to the storage device where the object to be sorted is located according to a storage position of the object to be sorted in the storage device, so that the object to be sorted is driven to depart from the storage device and then falls to the transport device.

The disclosed embodiments include methods and apparatus for picking products. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a machine-readable medium containing business rules for arranging at least one product of a physical stack having physical dimensions into a virtual stack, the virtual stack being a 3D representation of the at least one product, and also containing business rules for selecting the at least one product. The apparatus also includes a vision module including a sensor configured to identify indications of a condition of each product. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to perform an inspection of each product based on the condition of the product and the set of business rules for selecting the product. The apparatus further includes a robotic arm for selecting each product of that has passed the inspection and for arranging the product to form a physical stack based on the virtual stack.