Robotic system for stacking and de-stacking

A mobile unit comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory comprising a computer program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the mobile unit to:

• receive a first signal to create a stack of totes on a conveying platform;
• receive a second signal to lift the stack of totes in a vertical upward direction relative to the conveying platform;
• receive a third signal to dispense a first tote from the stack of totes to a first location, wherein the first tote is a lowermost tote among the stack of totes and is held at the conveying platform by a set of grippers of the mobile unit;
• and
• receive a fourth signal to travel to a second location to drop a second tote from the stack of totes, wherein the second tote corresponds to a current lowermost tote among the stack of totes and is held at the conveying platform by the set of grippers, and wherein the first location is different from the second location.

A method for controlling a mobile unit, comprising:

• transmitting a first instruction to a telescopic platform of the mobile unit when operating in a first mode, to extend telescopically outward along a conveying direction to pick a first tote so as to position the first tote on a flat surface of the telescopic platform;
• directing a lifting apparatus of the mobile unit to lift the first tote in a vertical upward direction;
• transmitting a second instruction to the telescopic platform to extend telescopically outward along the conveying direction to pick a second tote and position the second tote on the flat surface;
• creating a stack of the first tote and the second tote on the flat surface;
• transmitting a third instruction to the lifting apparatus of the mobile unit when operating in a second mode, to lift the first tote that is an uppermost tote in the stack;
• and
• transmitting a fourth instruction to the telescopic platform to extend telescopically outward along the conveying direction to dispense the second tote out from the telescopic platform,
• wherein the first mode corresponds to a tote stacking mode, wherein in the tote stacking mode, the stack of the first tote and the second tote is created based on directing the lifting apparatus to drop the first tote over the second tote, and wherein the stack comprises the first tote placed over the second tote such that a bottom surface of the first tote abuts a top surface of the second tote.