The control unit includes a retrieval target article identification unit configured to identify a retrieval target article from among the articles stored in the storage unit on the basis of retrieval information indicating a retrieval completion state, a reverse sequential operation calculation unit configured to calculate a reverse sequential operation when it is assumed that the retrieval target article is moved to the storage position in the storage unit in a reverse sequence from the retrieval completion state, and a retrieval operation calculation unit configured to calculate a retrieval operation in which the retrieval target article is moved from the storage position in the storage unit and is in the retrieval completion state by reproducing the reverse sequential operation in reverse.

A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins, a plurality of destination bins, and a processing programmable motion device. The plurality of storage bins provides storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins are in communication with a gantry retrieval conveyance system for moving selected bins to a bin processing location. The plurality of destination bins are in communication with the gantry retrieval conveyance system for moving a selected destination bin to the processing location. The processing programmable motion device is at the processing location and is in communication with the gantry retrieval conveyance system. The processing programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin and depositing the selected object in the selected destination bin.

In an induction system for use with an object processing system, a distribution system is disclosed for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units. The distribution system includes a conveyor section that travels over a vacuum roller, and the plurality of receiving units arranged generally below the vacuum roller such that an object with a mass will fall toward one of the plurality of receiving units based on both the object's mass and a vacuum force applied to the object through the conveyor section.

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.

A layer pick system optimizes usage of a layer picker gantry or robotic arm by arranging and/or displacing the gantry or arm in optimal locations with respect to one or more groups of pallets, and/or by grouping pallets by their attributes and arranging the same group of pallets close to each other. In some implementations, a plurality of pallets is categorized into multiple groups by different velocities.

Provided are a container storage system, a warehousing system, a robot control method, and a robot; the container storage system comprises an inventory area, a control server, a robot, and a plurality of workstations; the control server communicates with the robot wirelessly; an inventory rack is placed in the inventory area; the inventory rack comprises at least one layer of layered panels; the at least one layer of layered panels divides the inventory rack into at least two layers; at least two storage containers are placed on the inventory rack in the direction of the depth of the layered panels, and the direction of width of the storage container on the inventory rack is consistent with the direction of the depth of the layered panels. The system increases the storage density of storage containers in the inventory area, and reduces the energy consumption of the robot picking the storage containers.

A container handling method employing dense storage comprises: when at least one blocking container blocking removal of a target container is stored on storage shelf, container fetching mechanism of a robot fetching at least one blocking container from storage shelf, and temporarily storing same on buffer mechanism of robot; and container fetching mechanism of robot fetching target container from storage shelf, storing same on buffer mechanism of robot, fetching at least one blocking container from buffer mechanism of robot, and placing same at an original storage position thereof, an original storage position of target container, or other vacant storage positions on storage shelf; when buffer mechanism of robot is full due to at least one blocking container, container fetching mechanism of robot fetching target container from storage shelf, and keeping same on container fetching mechanism of robot.