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 goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

A self-service operating system and method, and an operation door. The system comprises: a control server, one or more operation doors, at least one robot, and one or more storage containers, wherein the control server is configured to respond to an item operation instruction, determine a target storage container and a target operation door which corresponds to an item to be operated, and send a carrying instruction to the robot; the robot is configured to respond to the carrying instruction to carry the target storage container to the target operation door, and a plurality of box openings on the target storage container respectively correspond to a plurality of box openings on the target operation door on a one-to-one basis; and the control server is further configured to control a box opening door of a target box opening on the target operation door to open.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A semi-autonomous processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The semi-autonomous processing system includes an input conveyance system for moving objects to a presentation area, a perception system including perception units that are directed toward a detection area for providing perception data regarding an object in the presentation area, at least two transport systems, each of which is adapted to receive the object and move the object in either of reciprocal directions, and a manual workstation area between the perception area the at least two transport systems.

A processing system for processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The processing system a perception unit for perceiving identifying indicia representative of an identity of an object associated with an input conveyance system, and an acquisition system for acquiring the object from a plurality of objects at an input area using an end effector of the programmable motion device, wherein the programmable motion device is adapted for assisting in the delivery of the object to an identified processing location. The identified processing location being associated with the identifying indicia and said identified processing location being provided as one of a plurality of processing locations. The processing system also includes a delivery system for receiving the object in a carrier and for delivering the object toward the identified processing location.

The present disclosure provides an article picking method, server and system, and relates to the field of smart storage technology. The article picking method according to the present disclosure includes: determining an order picking position for an order to be picked for according to one or more articles required in the order to be picked for; selecting one or more shelves carrying one or more of the articles required in the order to be picked for according to information of one or more articles on candidate shelves and distances from the shelves to the order picking position; and driving one or more selected shelves to the order picking position to perform article picking.

A warehousing system including a shelving unit, a goods-container-moving device, and a control terminal. The shelving unit is provided with a plurality of storage spaces configured to place a storage-goods container or a collection-goods container, wherein the storage-goods container is configured to store goods; the control terminal is configured to send a first control instruction to the goods-container-moving device; the goods-container-moving device is configured to move a target storage-goods container storing target goods to a first picking area; the control terminal is further configured to obtain a free storage space on the shelving unit, and send a second control instruction to the goods-container-moving device; and the goods-container-moving device is further configured to temporarily store the collection-goods container that completes the picking of the target goods to the free storage space.

A merging processing system, method and device. Said method comprises: determining turnover boxes to establish a correlation between the turnover boxes and the collection; box supply lines conveying the turnover boxes from sorting positions to a pickup position; the handling device moving the turnover boxes to a temporary storage region, and uploading to a control center; the control center determining a correlation between the turnover boxes and the temporary storage positions, when it is determined that all the turnover boxes of the collection to be merged are moved to the temporary storage region, controlling the handling device to move the turnover boxes of the collection to be merged to a merging processing station; and the handling device successively moving the turnover boxes corresponding to the same collection to be merged to the merging processing station, and performing merging on the collection to be merged.

A distribution system for use in an induction system with an object processing system. The distribution system provides dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units. The distribution system includes an air intake system with an opening that is a fixed distance from a conveyor section, said air intake system aiding in moving an object on the conveyor section from the conveyor section to one of a plurality of adjacent transport units.