Abstract: Provided herein is a methods, apparatus, and system for the configuration of customizable trays for the storage and dispensing of articles. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a plurality of articles to be stored in a tray; determining a plurality of bins corresponding to the plurality of articles; generating a layout of the bins on the tray; identifying locations of the plurality of articles within the bins on the tray; and causing the tray to be configured according to the layout of the plurality of bins on the tray. Methods may include: receiving an indication of an article to be loaded into a bin of the plurality of bins; receiving a unique identifier of the bin of the plurality of bins into which the article is loaded; and storing, in a memory, a correlation between the unique identifier of the bin and the article loaded into the bin.

Abstract: A system is provided for the identification and separation of heterogeneous material, the system comprising: a hyperspectral identification system for capturing spectra of material; a computer receiving and analyzing data from the hyperspectral identification system and selecting desired materials from the heterogeneous materials; and an ejection system, whereby the desired materials are ejected from the system.

Abstract: Platform assembly for use with sorting articles comprises platforms connected to each other to form at least one level surface for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles. Each platform defines a first orientation in which the platform is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition. Each platform includes a first panel comprising a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a grid on the first panel for transit thereabout by the plurality of vehicles. Each marker includes a magnetic signature for determining an orientation of the marker. A container is positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers. In operation, the vehicle is directed by a control system to deposit an article carried thereon into a container associated with a marker based on the location and orientation of the marker.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically modulating a physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure. A reconfigurable building structure may be constructed of physical elements that are movable with respect to one another to facilitate actuating the reconfigurable building structure between a plurality of different physical configurations. The physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure may be adjusted to accommodate for physical dimensions of an item that is going to be moved into the reconfigurable building structure. For example, a spacing between two shelves may be expanded in response to an order being placed for a large item. In this way, when the item is delivered to a physical address associated with the reconfigurable building structure, various physical characteristics of the reconfigurable building structure may have already been modulated to accept the item.

Abstract: A die sorter tool may include a first conveyor, and a first lane to receive, from one or more load ports and via the first conveyor, a carrier with a set of dies. The die sorter tool may include a die flip module to receive the carrier from the first lane, manipulate one or more dies of the set of dies by changing orientations of the one or more dies, and return the one or more dies to the carrier after manipulating the one or more dies and without changing positions of the one or more dies within the carrier. The die sorter tool may include a second conveyor, and a second lane to receive, via the second conveyor, the carrier from the die flip module, and provide, via the first conveyor, the carrier to the one or more load ports.

Abstract: Autonomous mobile robots include transfer systems that may receive multiple items for delivery to one or more destinations. The transfer systems may be specifically configured to detect and identify items that are placed on loading surfaces, and to independently discharge specific items at selected destinations or to selected recipients. The transfer systems feature loading surfaces that may be defined by a plurality of independently operable conveyors to receive or discharge items, by independently operable floors that allow items to pass therethrough, or by independently operable diverters for detecting and expelling items therefrom. The transfer systems may receive items from, or discharge items to, one or more humans, other robots, or other systems such as conveyors, chutes, robotic arms or other mechanical implements or effectors, and be aligned at any angle or provided at any height, as desired.

Abstract: A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfilment stream.

Abstract: An inventory management system includes pick stations, automated vehicles having an onboard power source, a first drive system configured to horizontally displace the vehicle, a second drive system configured to vertically displace the vehicle along a guide system, and a platform for supporting an item during displacement of the vehicle. A first plurality of storage locations store inventory items at a first zone of vehicle operation and a second plurality of storage areas store inventory items at a second zone of vehicle operation. A first pick station is closer to the first storage locations than to the second storage locations, Vehicles are configured to transfer a selected item from one of the second plurality of storage locations to the first pick station or to transfer the selected item from the second plurality of storage locations to the first plurality of storage locations.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for an AGV includes a call box having a user interface and a manual activation element at the user interface accessible to a user. The manual activation element generates a manual call signal. The vehicle control device includes an automated activation element operably coupled to a sensor and receiving a sensor signal from the sensor. The automated activation element generates an automated call signal based on the sensor signal without user intervention. The vehicle control device includes a communication device held by the call box that receives the manual call signal and receiving the automated call signal and communicates with the AGV to trigger operation of the AGV based on both the manual call signal and the automated call signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a computer implemented system including at least one processor and memory storing instructions. In one embodiment, a system receives a batch identifier, determines a number of containers, sends the number of containers to a user device, and receives a first container identifier from a user device. The system retrieves a location identifier of a first item, sends the location identifier to the user device, and receives a physical location identifier from the user device. The system sends to the user device the first item when the physical location identifier matches the location identifier. The system receives a physical item identifier of the first item and sends a destination to the user device to bring the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled material processing and/or handling system for processing and/or handling construction and/or raw materials, in particular in the form of a mobile crushing system, with at least one working unit, which is drivable, by an electric unit drive, with an electric motor, at least one electric travel drive with an electric motor, as well as a control device to control the electric motors of the unit and travel drives. According to the invention, the control device comprises a common frequency converter for the at least one travel drive and the at least one unit drive and provides various parameter sets for the common frequency converter so that the travel drive is actuatable by the frequency converter on the basis of a first parameter set and the unit drive is actuatable by the common frequency converter on the basis of a second parameter set.

Abstract: An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel portion (11) that travels to set positions (P1) that are set in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of storage sections (1) that store articles; a supporting portion (12) that supports an article; an illumination portion (13) that emits light; and a control portion that controls the travel portion (11) and the illumination portion (13).

Abstract: A method of sorting baggage at an airport, the method comprising: acquiring a digital image of an identification label for identifying a piece of baggage, the label including an identification code designed to correspond to a set of items of data from a first database compiled as the baggage is being checked in; the method further comprising the following steps: retrieving information that is printed on the label from the image; comparing the information with data that is recorded in a local second database at the airport before the label is printed, the second database being distinct from the first database, the data from the second database being representative of a list of flights to or from the airport; and, in response to a match being detected, transmitting data representative of a flight number corresponding to the piece of baggage to a conveyor system.

Abstract: There is disclosed agiotage and retrieval system e.g. suitable for use in an airport and for aircraft baggage. In order e.g. to provide such system which improves usage and availability in view of the prior-art, a control system controls the system in two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a first rack region serving device (110) is only serving a first rack region 104 using a first feeding and extraction conveyor system (114), and a second rack region serving device (112) is only serving a second rack region (106) using a second feeding and extraction conveyor system (116). In a second mode of operation, only the first rack region serving device (110) is used for serving both the first and second rack regions (104, 106), and only the first feeding and extraction conveyor system (114) is used for feeding articles to the first rack region serving device (110) and for taking away articles from the first rack region serving device (110).

Abstract: A system and method for operating a robotic system to scan and register unrecognized objects is disclosed. The robotic system may use an image data representative of an unrecognized object located at a start location to implement operations for transferring the unrecognized object from the start location. While implementing the operations, the robotic system may obtain additional data, including scanning results of one or more portions of the unrecognized object not included in the image data. The robotic system may use the additional data to register the unrecognized object.

Abstract: A picking system, a manual picking method, as well as a window-conveyor system for a manually picking goods through a picker in accordance with a picking order, wherein the window-conveyor system comprises: a conveying device for transporting the goods along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device is movable, preferably continuously and discontinuously, and wherein the conveying device includes a conveying area, on which the goods can be deposited; a lighting device configured to indicate in an order-specific manner a portion of the conveying area in terms of an order-specific window by means of light visually distinguishable from a rest of the conveying area configured to divide the conveying area into the order-specific window and the rest, and further configured to generate controlling signals for the lighting device and output the same, which cause the lighting device to indicate the order-specific window visually distinguishable on the conveying device.

Abstract: Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to streamline order fulfillment. For example, according to some embodiments described herein, a method includes: causing a first mobile robot to engage with and transport a mobile storage unit to a robotic picking cell, causing a second mobile robot to engage with and transport an outbound container to the robotic picking cell, and causing the picking robot to transfer a sellable unit from the mobile storage unit to the outbound container.

Abstract: A system for stock management for on-board catering for a vehicle, in particular for an aircraft, includes a galley which is provided with a control unit for controlling the galley, wherein the control unit is designed to make available stock management data of the galley; a service unit for transporting supplies within the vehicle, wherein the stock management data comprise a stock record of the supplies transported with the service unit; and at least one operator control element which is communicatively connected to the control unit of the galley via a wireless data connection and is designed to record removal of a supply item from the service unit and/or reception of a supply item into the service unit, and to bring about updating of the stock record of the transported supplies on the basis thereof.

Abstract: A material handling system having object handling and transportation devices and method of receiving objects into a warehouse having a material handling system includes scanning a machine readable code of an incoming load forming at least a portion of an order and comparing the machine readable code with an order file listing objects on the incoming load. For each object on the load, object data including a 3D image and product code of the object removed from the incoming load is received with an image capture station and reconciled with the order file. Each object is identified by comparing the 3D image of the object captured with the image capture station with the 3D images in the database. The material handling system is controlled as a function of the identity of the objects being handled and transported by the material handling system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a computer implemented system including at least one processor and memory storing instructions. In one embodiment, a system receives a batch identifier, determines a number of containers, sends the number of containers to a user device, and receives a first container identifier from a user device. The system retrieves a location identifier of a first item, sends the location identifier to the user device, and receives a physical location identifier from the user device. The system sends to the user device the first item when the physical location identifier matches the location identifier. The system receives a physical item identifier of the first item and sends a destination to the user device to bring the container.