Abstract: A forklift includes a carriage that has one or more forks. A drop camera assembly is coupled to the forklift. The drop camera assembly includes a drop camera. The drop camera is configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position. The drop camera is located proximal to the forks when in the retracted position. The drop camera is positioned away from the carriage when in the extended position so as to image one or more obstacles under the forks of the carriage. The drop camera assembly further includes a carriage camera that is secured to the carriage. The carriage camera is configured to show alignment of the forks relative to a pallet or other object to be handled by the forklift.

Abstract: A robotic shuttle system includes a rack system and one or more shuttles. The rack system includes a rack and a shuttle frame. The rack has storage locations for containers containing items. The shuttle frame has rails disposed along the rack. The shuttle includes a powertrain, container transfer mechanism, and a robot arm. The power train is configured to move the shuttle along the rails of the rack and on a surface outside of the rack system. The container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the containers between the rack and the shuttle. The robot arm extends from the shuttle to transfer the items between one of the containers on the shuttle and a container in a container holder of the shuttle.

Abstract: A photoelectric sensor system includes a photoelectric sensor and a retroreflector that is positioned to reflect light emitted by the photoelectric sensor. The photoelectric sensor includes a polarized light source that emits p-polarized light. The photoelectric sensor further includes a Brewster polarizer that is oriented at a Brewster's angle to further polarize the emitted light. The emitted light beam emitted by the photoelectric sensor is reflected off the retroreflector and polarized ninety degrees by the retroreflector to have s-polarization. The reflected light beam is reflected off the Brewster polarizer to a laterally offset light detector.

Abstract: A robotic shuttle system includes a rack system and one or more shuttles. The rack system includes a rack and a shuttle frame. The rack has storage locations for containers containing items. The shuttle frame has rails disposed along the rack. The shuttle includes a powertrain, container transfer mechanism, and a robot arm. The power train is configured to move the shuttle along the rails of the rack and on a surface outside of the rack system. The container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the containers between the rack and the shuttle. The robot arm extends from the shuttle to transfer the items between one of the containers on the shuttle and a container in a container holder of the shuttle.