An automated storage and retrieval facility includes a container dispenser which transfers one or more containers into a tote. Once loaded into a tote, the one or more containers may receive goods to fulfill an order. Once filled with goods, the containers may be accessed by customers for transport away from the facility. The container dispenser may include a table configured to move over an opening of a tote to dispense more than one container at different positions within the tote. The container dispenser may be integrated within a storage area of the automated storage and retrieval facility. Alternatively, the container dispenser may be part of workstation positioned away from the storage area.

An autonomous guided vehicle includes a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a sensor system, and a supplemental sensor system. The sensor system has electro-magnetic sensors, each responsive to interaction or interface of a sensor emitted or generated electro-magnetic beam or field with a physical characteristic, the electro-magnetic beam or field being disturbed by interaction or interface with the physical characteristic, and which disturbance is detected by and effects sensing of the physical characteristic. The sensor system generates sensor data embodying at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location information and payload pose or location information. The supplemental sensor system supplements the sensor system, and is, at least in part, a vision system with cameras disposed to capture image data informing the at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location and payload pose or location supplement to the information of the sensor system.

An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

An online shopping concierge system identifies a set of delivery orders and a set of delivery agents associated with a location. The system allocates the orders among the agents, each agent being allocated at least one order. The system obtains agent progress data describing travel progress of the agents to the location, and order preparation progress data describing progress of preparing the orders for delivery. The system periodically updates the allocation of the orders among the agents based on the agent progress data and the order preparation progress data. This involves re-allocating at least one order to a different delivery agent. When a first agent arrives at the location, the system assigns to the first agent the orders allocated to the first agent. The system then removes the first agent from the set of available delivery agents, and removes the assigned delivery orders from the set of delivery orders.

A cargo aisle drive system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a drive track; and a drive car configured for motorized translation along a length of the drive track, the drive car including a first plate, a second plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the first plate pivotally disposed on the upper surface of the second plate, a drive assembly connected to the lower surface of the second plate, and a first strain gauge sensor configured to detect a pivotal movement between the first plate and the second plate of the drive car.

Two transport units are provided with a partition device. The partition device includes a partition body, a partition body guide mechanism, and a movement assist mechanism. The movement assist mechanism includes a cable body and a cable body guide mechanism. A coupling portion is coupled to an upper portion of the partition body. A grip portion is provided on the cable body spaced apart from the coupling portion. The cable body guide mechanism includes a guide body. The cable body extends along a curved extending direction along the guide body. A portion of the cable body on the coupling portion side relative to the guide body extends along a width direction on a protruding side in the width direction relative to the guide body, and a portion of the cable body on the grip portion side relative to the guide body extends along an up-down direction below the guide body.

A conveyance robot system according to the present disclosure includes an intrusion detection sensor that detects an intrusion of an object into the arm opening, and a distance sensor that measures a clearance distance indicating a distance between an arm entry/exit surface and a shelf, the arm entry/exit surface being a surface of the conveyance robot in which the arm opening is provided from among surfaces of the conveyance robot 1 constituting the safety cover, and the object being stored in the shelf. The distance sensor is disposed at a fixed height of the shelf in a horizontal direction and at a height of the shelf corresponding to a part to be measured.

A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.

An autonomous transport vehicle including a frame forming a payload area, telescoping arms movably mounted to the frame, each telescoping arm being configured for extension and retraction relative to the frame along an extension axis to effect transfer of at least one pickface to and from the payload area, and traversal, relative to the frame, in at least one direction that is angled to the extension axis, and at least one tab extending from each telescoping arm where the at least one tab extends in a direction transverse to the direction of extension and retraction, and the at least one tab on one of the telescoping arms opposes the at least one tab on another of the telescoping arms.

A robotic object handling system and robotic load handling device for operation thereon is disclosed. The object handling system includes a number of robotic load handling devices operational on a grid-like structure, the structure having sets of parallel tracks, disposed above a hive of stacked bins. The bins contain inventory items to be picked by the system. Load handling devices capable of carrying multiple bins of a single grid-spacing size or single bins of a multiple grid spacings are operational on the grid and retrieve and transport bins under the control of a computerised order picking utility.