Abstract: A farming system and a control facility are disclosed, the farming system including a growing facility having at least one growing floor including a track network, based on a grid system. The track network includes access aisles and growing aisles, wherein the growing aisles include one or more booths for receiving growing trays. A booth includes a support for supporting a growing tray, and a hood for providing services to the growing trays, wherein the hood provides at least irrigation. A load handling device operating on the track network for lifting and transporting growing trays includes a tray support pad located on the upper surface of the load handling device.

Abstract: A track for a grid framework structure configured to guide a load handling device operative to move one or more containers, the rid framework structure including a plurality of grid members converging or intersecting at nodes in a grid pattern to form a grid structure 40 including a plurality of grid cells. The track comprising a plurality of track sections mountable to the grid structure to form a track surface upon which the load handling devices may move on the grid structure, wherein each track section of the plurality of track sections is formed as a unitary body so as to provide a track surface extending in transverse directions.

Abstract: A grid framework structure configured to support one or more robotic load handling devices includes: a grid structure having a first set of parallel grid members extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel grid members extending in a second direction to form a grid pattern of grid cells; a track system; and a supporting framework structure for supporting the grid structure above ground to create a storage space for containers such that load handling devices can lift containers through a grid cell; wherein: the supporting framework structure includes a plurality of prefabricated modular panels.

Abstract: A wireless communication system having base stations, remotely located terminal units and a base station controller. The base stations and the remotely located terminal units communicate data over operational wireless communication links between them. The base stations include respective in-channel detectors and out-of-channel detectors for detecting radar or other extraneous received signals. The in-channel detectors analyse signals over the operational communication links. The out-of-channel detectors include respective out-of-channel receiver elements that monitor possibly available channels alternative to the respective operational communication link channels. The base station controller registers whether channels are available or not for communication links, and allocates to the base stations respective target channel parameters including frequencies available for operational and alternative communication links.

Abstract: A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. Each container may be provided with connectors having a push fit male connector located at a top edge of the container and a female connector at a bottom edge of the container. Adjacent containers in a stack can be linked by routing means, which form moldings on each container. The connectors can also have spring-loaded contacts. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

Abstract: A hood and a growing tray for a farming system growing floor are disclosed. The hood is positioned substantially above a support for receiving a growing tray, the hood including: a lighting source; a fluid outlet for providing irrigation to a growing tray, wherein the fluid outlet can be raised and lowered with a mechanism; and a fluid inlet for receiving re-circulated fluid from a growing tray, wherein the fluid inlet can be raised and lowered with a mechanism. The growing tray can include a header pool for receiving fluid ingress from a hood; and a sump pool from which a pump may egress fluid to a hood.

Abstract: A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Abstract: A load handling device is disclosed for retrieving, transporting, and delivering containers in a storage system having a grid structure formed of two substantially perpendicular sets of rails or tracks located above stacks of containers. An exemplary load handling device can include a wheel assembly, a container receiving space, and a plurality of vehicle modules. The wheel assembly can include a first set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a first direction and a second set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a second direction. Each of the vehicle modules can include a container lifting means arranged to lift a container into the container receiving space and each of the vehicle modules can be moveable to adjust the spacing of the containers in the load handling device.

Abstract: A method for delivering online orders to customers via a fully unmanned system includes replenishing the pod by using inventory carriers carrying containers via a replenishment hatch, moving an inventory carrier attached to carrier base with a mobile robotic unit in a room of adequate temperature. Additionally, the method includes transferring an inventory carrier at a mini load station and loading the order containers on a delivery carrier. The method further includes transferring a delivery carrier and attaching it to a delivery hatch so that the customer, following authentication, is able to pull the drawers and pick the ordered items.

Abstract: A controller is provided to control movement of a plurality of transporting devices. In particular, the controller provides improved robot shunting. More specifically, the controller delays the planning of a shunt path for an idle robot until closer to the time the idle robot needs to move out of the way. Advantageously this avoids the computing burden of planning shunts in advance that are never performed because the idle robot is subsequently tasked before the shunt were due to start. In particular, shunt paths can be planned very close to the time at which they need to be executed thereby providing a more efficient solution to robot shunting because very close to the execution time there is a very small probability that the plan will change in a way that the shunt needs to be recalculated.

Abstract: An anti-seismic grid framework system including a grid framework structure configured for supporting a load handling device operative to move one or more containers in a stack. The anti-seismic grid framework system includes a seismic isolation system for reducing seismic forces acting on the grid framework structure, wherein the grid framework structure is supported by the seismic isolation system, the seismic isolation system including a superstructure and a substructure, and at least one base isolation device disposed between the superstructure and the substructure such that the at least one base isolation device suppresses movement of the superstructure relative to the substructure in a seismic event.

Abstract: A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers comprise liners formed from flame retardant or flame suppressant material. Containers comprising liner means are used to store ignitable items within the storage system.

Abstract: A load handling device for operating in a farming system, and an associated method of using the farming system to produce a crop are provided. The floor of the farming system includes a network of tracks based on a grid system. The load handling device includes: a first set of wheels, and a second set of wheels; and a support for receiving a growing tray, wherein the support pad can be raised and or lowered in a vertical direction to lift and lower a received growing tray. The method includes: preparing growing trays; depositing a growing tray in a growing booth; retrieving a growing tray from a growing booth; arranging growing trays in growing aisles according to life-cycle phase of the crop; controlling the environment using a hood; harvesting a crop; and/or transferring a harvested crop from the farming system to an integrated second system.

Abstract: A system, comprising: a storage workspace including a first framework defined by a series of first uprights, the first uprights supporting a grid of two substantially perpendicular sets of rails; and a plurality of containers for storing objects, wherein the plurality of containers are arranged in stacks, each stack of containers is located underneath a grid space in the workspace; and a grid extension including a continuation of the two substantially perpendicular sets of rails, and wherein the plurality of containers can be moved by one or more load handling devices between the storage workspace and an area beneath the grid extension, wherein the area beneath the grid extension is configured for positioning a roll cage such that containers can be placed or removed from the roll cage.

Abstract: A robotic picking device for picking items from a containerised storage system wherein items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework having a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic picking devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing robotic service device is described for use with a robotic picking system grid. The fire extinguishing robotic service device is configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to extinguish a fire. The service device may also be provided with a camera sensor to locate the fire.

Abstract: An inventory handling station assembly for a storage and retrieval system is disclosed. A grid framework structure includes a plurality of upright columns for one or more containers to be stacked, the plurality of upright columns being interconnected at their top ends by grid members which support first and second sets of tracks for a load handling device to move containers on the grid framework structure. A supply zone includes at least one vertical chute. A buffer zone vertically accumulates containers and includes at least one bin lift device. An access station is intermediate of the supply zone. A conveyor system conveys containers 10 from the supply zone to the buffer zone via the access station.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a robotic manipulator having one or more contact pads. The contact pads have features therein that are detectable to determine or measure a degree to which they have worn down. Such features may include fluorescent materials, colorful materials, and/or RFID tags. A robotic environment may include one or more sensors to detect such features, and may be configured to generate a signal indicating that one or more contact pads are in need of maintenance.

Abstract: A storing, germinating, propagating and or growing system for living organisms includes: at least one growth medium for germinating, propagating and or growing living organisms; at least one growth tray for receiving the at least one growth medium; and at least one rack for receiving one or more growth trays, wherein the one or more growth trays include an adaptable growth tray. An adaptable growth tray can include an extendable surface for positioning living organisms; and at least one mechanism for moving the tray between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the surface for placing living organisms extends and contracts with the at least one mechanism moving between compact configuration and expanded configuration respectively.