Abstract: A robotic picking apparatus, system and method of use thereof. A system comprising: a plurality of robotic picking apparatuses configured to pick an item from a container and place the item in a different place, wherein each robotic picking apparatus is configured to operate in one of at least three operational modes: an autonomous mode, a human-assisted mode, and a remote-controlled mode, wherein in the autonomous mode, the robotic picking apparatus operates without human input, wherein in the human-assisted mode, an operation plan is determined using human input and the operation plan is executed automatically without additional input from a human, wherein in the remote-controlled mode, movements of the robotic picking apparatus are controlled directly by a remote human user. Human users located at one or more remote sites provide the human input.

Abstract: A storage facility having lift robots and ground robots cooperating in transferring of totes within the facility, is disclosed. The transferring of totes between ground robots and lift robots in the facility through buffer locations, allows the totes to be carried on top of the lift robots, which are thereby secured against unintentional dropping of the tote. The efficiency of the storage facility may be further improved in that the buffer locations, and in various embodiments also short height storage locations, which are accessible directly to ground robots, are utilized for storing totes that are ranked as associated with high prevalence to be transferred by ground robots, without the involvement of lift robots.

Abstract: A storage facility having lift robots and ground robots cooperating in transferring of totes within the facility, is disclosed. The transferring of totes between ground robots and lift robots in the facility through buffer locations, allows the totes to be carried on top of the lift robots, which are thereby secured against unintentional dropping of the tote. The efficiency of the storage facility may be further improved in that the buffer locations, and in various embodiments also short height storage locations, which are accessible directly to ground robots, are utilized for storing totes that are ranked as associated with high prevalence to be transferred by ground robots, without the involvement of lift robots.

Abstract: An inventory handling system includes multiple shelving units for mounting over a horizontal floor. Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves on which containers are placed. One or more floor robots travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

Abstract: An inventory handling system includes multiple shelving units for mounting over a horizontal floor. Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves on which containers are placed. One or more floor robots travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

Abstract: A robotic picking apparatus, system and method of use thereof. A system comprising: a plurality of robotic picking apparatuses configured to pick an item from a container and place the item in a different place, wherein each robotic picking apparatus is configured to operate in one of at least three operational modes: an autonomous mode, a human-assisted mode, and a remote-controlled mode, wherein in the autonomous mode, the robotic picking apparatus operates without human input, wherein in the human-assisted mode, an operation plan is determined using human input and the operation plan is executed automatically without additional input from a human, wherein in the remote-controlled mode, movements of the robotic picking apparatus are controlled directly by a remote human user. Human users located at one or more remote sites provide the human input.

Abstract: An inventory handling system (20, 150) includes multiple shelving units (22) for mounting over a horizontal floor (24). Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves (28) on which containers (30) are placed. One or more floor robots (36) travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots (32, 80, 120, 152) move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

Abstract: An inventory handling system (20, 150) includes multiple shelving units (22) for mounting over a horizontal floor (24). Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves (28) on which containers (30) are placed. One or more floor robots (36) travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots (32, 80, 120, 152) move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.