Abstract: Techniques to enable a merchant to control preparation times for items that are offered by the merchant are described herein. In some examples, a merchant may indicate a status of demand in preparing orders. For instance, the merchant may indicate that the merchant is associated with more than a threshold amount of preparation activity. When the merchant indicates an increased demand, a preparation time for items that are offered by the merchant may be extended by an amount of time. This extended preparation time may be used to inform customers of delivery times for orders that are being placed or have been placed with the merchant. Additionally, or alternatively, this extended preparation time may be used to inform couriers of pickup times of the items from the merchant for delivery to customers. The extended preparation time may additionally, or alternatively, be used for other purposes.

Abstract: A method for determining values influencing movement of a robot is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a) provision of a task to be performed by the robot and a worker; b) provision of a layout of a workstation; c) provision of tool data; d) determination of respective axial movement patterns of the robot on the basis of steps a) to c); e) provision of a worker workspace; f) determination of critical path points of the robot, where a specified movement speed is exceeded by the robot and/or a specified mass of an element to be moved by the robot is exceeded, on the basis of the axial movement patterns and the workspace; g) simulation of respective collisions at the critical path points by a second robot; and h) determination of permissible operating speeds of the robot for each critical path point on the basis of the simulated collisions.

Abstract: A method to operate a production plant having a plurality of work regions in which respective work stations are arranged to carry out at least on respective work step, and having at least one transport system that transports goods to be processed on at least one predetermined path between the work stations, involves selecting the arrangement of the work stations, the work step that is able to be carried out by the respective work station, and the at least one predetermined path according to at least one predetermined criterion that is related to a production requirement, and adapting these due to a change of the at least one criterion.

Abstract: A human-robot cooperation (HRC) workstation has a programmable industrial robot (4) and a manual working area (14) for a worker (5) in a region surrounding the industrial robot (4). In the HRC workstation (1), the working areas of the industrial robot (4) and the worker (5) overlap. Contact between the worker (5) and the industrial robot (4) is possible. The workstation (1) is divided into a plurality of different zones (17, 18, 19, 20) having differently high levels of risk of hazard from the industrial robot (4) for the worker (5). The industrial robot (4) is suitable for human-robot cooperation.

Abstract: Techniques and arrangements for combining orders for items to be delivered to multiple buyers. Based on an indication of interest in a merchant by a first consumer, the first consumer and a nearby second consumer can be offered incentives to order from a same or nearby merchant in order to combine orders for delivery, thereby increasing the logistical efficiency of the deliveries. The indication of interest can be a commencement of an order, an indication that the first buyer “likes” a merchant, a search for the merchant, or other way to indicate an interest in the particular merchant. The incentives can include discounted delivery fees, discounted orders, and the like.

Abstract: A method for determining values influencing movement of a robot is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a) provision of a task to be performed by the robot and a worker; b) provision of a layout of a workstation; c) provision of tool data; d) determination of respective axial movement patterns of the robot on the basis of steps a) to c); e) provision of a worker workspace; f) determination of critical path points of the robot, where a specified movement speed is exceeded by the robot and/or a specified mass of an element to be moved by the robot is exceeded, on the basis of the axial movement patterns and the workspace; g) simulation of respective collisions at the critical path points by a second robot; and h) determination of permissible operating speeds of the robot for each critical path point on the basis of the simulated collisions.

Abstract: A human-robot cooperation (HRC) workstation has a programmable industrial robot (4) and a manual working area (14) for a worker (5) in a region surrounding the industrial robot (4). In the HRC workstation (1), the working areas of the industrial robot (4) and the worker (5) overlap. Contact between the worker (5) and the industrial robot (4) is possible. The workstation (1) is divided into a plurality of different zones (17, 18, 19, 20) having differently high levels of risk of hazard from the industrial robot (4) for the worker (5). The industrial robot (4) is suitable for human-robot cooperation.

Abstract: A method for operating a production plant having a plurality of work stations to carry out at least one respective work step by a control system allocated to the production plant involves a control system assigning human workers or robots to work stations according to at least one criterion relating to a production requirement, wherein each worker or robot can be assigned to one or several work stations.

Abstract: A method for operating a production plant having an unmanned transport system involves transporting a first parts carrier having a plurality of parts from a warehouse to a picking station by at least one industrial truck. At least one part, which is predetermined according to a parts list, is extracted from the parts carrier using a worker and deposition of the part on a further parts carrier. The further parts carrier is transported to a work station by a further industrial truck.

Abstract: A method to operate a production plant having a plurality of work regions in which respective work stations are arranged to carry out at least on respective work step, and having at least one transport system that transports goods to be processed on at least one predetermined path between the work stations, involves selecting the arrangement of the work stations, the work step that is able to be carried out by the respective work station, and the at least one predetermined path according to at least one predetermined criterion that is related to a production requirement, and adapting these due to a change of the at least one criterion.