The initial setting method for the unmanned forklift includes a step of acquiring a measurement value of floor surface inclination of a stop position where the unmanned forklift stops when the unmanned forklift unloads a palette on a rack, a step of setting the stop position where a predetermined inclination pattern is detected, as a precise adjustment position, from the acquired measurement value, a step of causing the unmanned forklift to unload the palette in accordance with an operation program, and measuring a deviation amount of the palette unloaded by the unmanned forklift, at the precise adjustment position, and a step of correcting a command value of the unmanned forklift at the stop position, based on the measured deviation amount.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

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 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.

An automatic storage and retrieval system includes: a delivery vehicle; a storage container carried by the delivery vehicle; and an unloading station for unloading an item from the storage container while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle. The unloading station includes: an unloading device; and a destination conveyor configured to convey the item to a target destination, wherein the unloading device is configured to move the item through a side opening of the storage container to the destination conveyor.

Automated systems and methods for deployment of mounting tubs that support photovoltaic modules are provided in which a feeder assembly includes a screw thread assembly and a pivot arm. The screw thread assembly has at least one rotatable threaded component, and two such components in exemplary embodiments, positioned within the feeder assembly. The rotatable threaded component supports the stack of mounting tubs and rotates to separate the individual mounting tub from the stack of mounting tubs and lower the individual mounting tub onto the pivot arm. The pivot arm is configured to interact with an individual mounting tub and pivots to dispense the individual mounting tub onto a mounting surface. A sensor may be provided to detect the positions of the individual mounting tubs as they are moved, and a control system communicates with the sensor and the feeder assembly. The feeder assembly and a hopper holding the stack of mounting tubs may be mounted on an autonomous cart.

A storage, retrieval and processing system is disclosed for processing objects. The system includes a plurality of bins including objects to be distributed by the processing system, said plurality of bins being provided in at least a partially generally circular arrangement, a programmable motion device that includes an end effector for grasping and moving any of the objects, said programmable motion device being capable of reaching any of the objects within the plurality of bins, and a plurality of destination containers for receiving any of the objects from the plurality of bins, said plurality of destination containers being provided in a region that is generally within the at least partially generally circular arrangement of the plurality of bins.

A transport device includes rollable elements configured to both support and move the transport device on a surface; and a drive mechanism for driving the rollable elements. A load bearing mechanism is movable between a lowered position adjacent to the surface and at least one raised position, and is supported by a support frame having a front wall, two side walls and an open back. The load bearing mechanism is mounted such that the side walls and front wall of the support frame extend around the load bearing mechanism. An actuator is mounted on one of the walls of the support frame for controllably raising and lowering the load bearing mechanism and the rollable elements are mounted adjacent to the side walls of the support frame and support the two side walls at four locations, such that a center of gravity is between the four locations.

Traditionally, counterweight fork type autonomous mobile robots (AMR) have been used for any kind of pallet. But the challenge is it occupies lot more maneuvering space while making turns, which cannot work in narrow operating zones. Hence fork over AMR is preferred. However, these fork over AMR have extended parts always touching the ground surface and thus are not suitable for pallets with a wooden plank at the bottom of the fork opening in the pallet. To overcome the above technical problems, an Adjustable Counterweight-based Fork Type Autonomous Mobile Robot (ACFTAMR) is provided that includes chassis assembly and vertical mast unit, a horizontal cross slide mechanism and forks. The chassis assembly is provided counterweight assembly and counterbalance shafts that move forward and backward during pickup and release of payload when the vertical mast unit moves in upward/downward direction, thus providing better stability and counterbalance to the ACFTAMR.

To load and unload a trailer, an autonomous mobile robot determines its location and the location of objects within the trailer relative to the trailer itself, rather than relative to a warehouse. The autonomous mobile robot determines its location the location of objects within the trailer relative to the trailer. The autonomous mobile robot navigates within the trailer and manipulates objects within the trailer from the trailer's reference frame. Additionally, the autonomous mobile robot uses a centerline heuristic to compute a path for itself within the trailer. A centerline heuristic evaluates nodes within the trailer based on how far away those nodes are from the centerline. If the nodes are further away from the centerline, they are assigned a higher cost. Thus, when the autonomous mobile robot computes a path, the path is more likely to stay near the centerline of the trailer rather than get closer to the sides.