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 system and method for picking items from storage containers located in stacks within a grid-based storage system are described. The system can include a movable structural member, movable from a first position to a second position such that when in the second position it is possible for an operative to access at least one row of storage containers such that items can be manually picked therefrom.

A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.

A method includes: obtaining a batch of item group definitions, each item group definition having one or more item identifiers and corresponding quantities; for each item identifier, retrieving (i) a location of a corresponding item in a facility, and (ii) a dimensional attribute of the corresponding item; based on the locations and dimensional attributes, assigning sets of the item group definitions to respective receptacle configurations, each receptacle configuration including, for each item group definition in the set, a receptacle type with a predefined capacity; monitoring availability of a plurality of transporters in the facility, each transporter having a chassis configured to support a selectable set of receptacles; and responsive to detecting that a transporter is available, selecting one of the receptacle configurations, and presenting the selected receptacle configuration via an output device, to initiate placement of receptacles onto the chassis of the transporter according to the selected receptacle configuration.

A rail can include first and transverse channels defined therein. A container can include a rod, a spring, a first plate assembly, and a second plate assembly. The first plate assembly can include a first transverse bearing disposed in the first transverse channel. The second plate assembly can include a second transverse bearing disposed in the second transverse channel. A robotic assembly can include a robotic arm. The robotic arm can include opposing grips defining a grip space therebetween. A processing system including one or more processors can be configured to, via the robotic assembly: align the grip space with the container rod; drive the rod against the spring; allow the spring to relax and thereby separate the first plate assembly from the second plate assembly; position the rod such that the first transverse bearing and the second transverse bearing are simultaneously withdrawn from the first and second transverse channels.

A rail can include an entry portion, an exit portion, and a middle portion disposed between the entry and exit portions. The middle portion can be lower than the entry and exit portions. The rail can be configured to couple with a container such that the container is movable, along the rail, from the entry portion to the exit portion. A first storage rack can be disposed on a first side of the rail middle portion and a second storage rack can be disposed on an opposing side of the rail middle portion. A processing system can be configured to: receive an order; analyze the order based on an inventory of the first storage rack and the second storage rack; and cause the container to move from the rail entry portion to the rail middle portion based on the analysis.

In accordance with the object of the present invention, it relates to a product storage area automation system having abase, at least one shelf unit located on this base and on which a various number of products are arranged, a shelf controller associated with this at least one shelf unit, a main control unit configured to communicate with the said shelf controller and equipped with an automation software, and a wheeled vehicle including a cart controller configured to communicate with the said main control unit and a product identity reader configured to read the information on each product. Here, at least one shelf unit includes a number of lighting elements configured to communicate with the said shelf controller and the said wheeled vehicle includes a riding stand so as to carry a human product collector.

Among other things, a connection assembly for motion along a rail is disclosed. The connection assembly can include a first plate assembly, a second plate assembly, and a release assembly. The first plate assembly can include a first stop mounted to a first base. The second plate assembly can include a second stop mounted to a second base and a post mounted to the second base. The release assembly can include a rod and a spring. The rod can include an outward extension. The spring can be disposed between the extension and the second stop. The release assembly can be configured to occupy: a first state such that the spring pushes the extension against the first stop and thereby biases the first base away from the second base; and a second state such that the spring pushes the extension against the post.

Disclosed is an automatic transport device, comprising: a distance sensor for measuring the distance between a surrounding object and the automatic transport device; a movable chassis provided with a power wheel for driving the automatic transport device; a bearing part provided with a space for bearing a container; a container sensor for sensing whether the container is associated with the automatic transport device; a wireless communication module for transmitting the serial number of the container to a remote server after it is determined that the container is associated with the automatic transport device, and receiving picking information that has been fed back; and a display screen for displaying the serial number of the associated container and the picking information. Further disclosed is a picking information acquisition and display method.

A picking and dispatching system includes: a control center, terminals carried by users, and handling devices. The control center is configured to: determine an item storage space of a to-be-picked item included in each of to-be-picked orders, and plan paths for each user and each handling device to reach the item storage space; match, according to each planned path and assigned to-be-picked order, a user and a handling device for picking, to determine to-be-selected tasks, and determine a moment at which a user and a handling device cooperate to pick from the item storage space; determine a target task from the to-be-selected tasks, and send the target task to a terminal and a handling device; assign, according to the target task sent to the handling device, a to-be-picked order to the handling device, and update the stored assignment result of the to-be-picked orders.