Automated vehicle for use in inventory management system

A vehicle operable in an inventory management system having a plurality of destination areas and a guide system, the vehicle comprising:

• a first motorized drive system configured to engage the guide system to guide movement of the vehicle along a vertical path segment;
• a second motorized drive system dimensioned and arranged to maneuver the vehicle upon a surface while the first drive system is out of engagement with the guide system;
• a transfer mechanism operative to transfer an item between the vehicle and one of the plurality of destination areas;
• and
• a clutch mechanism operative to engage and to disengage transmission of power from and to the transfer mechanism, whereby each of the first drive system and second drive system is operable independently of the transfer mechanism;
• wherein the first motorized drive system includes first and second pairs of motor driven rotary elements, the rotary elements of each pair being configured to interact with the guide system to control the position of the vehicle along the guide system.

A vehicle operable in an inventory management system, the vehicle comprising:

• a first motor and a second motor;
• a first pair of omnidirectional rollers and a second pair of omnidirectional rollers, wherein a first omnidirectional roller of each pair is dimensioned and arranged to rotate about a first axis of rotation and wherein a second omnidirectional roller of each pair is driven by the first motor or the second motor for rotation about a second axis of rotation;
• a fifth roller driven by the first motor or the second motor;
• and
• an actuator having an actuation surface configured to move from a first position to a second position to selectively urge the fifth roller in a direction toward an underlying support surface;
• wherein a surface of each of the first and second pairs of omnidirectional rollers, and a surface of the fifth roller are dimensioned and arranged to contact the underlying support surface while the actuator is maintained in the first position, and
• wherein movement of the actuator into the second position causes a transfer of load from one or more of the omnidirectional rollers to the fifth roller.