System and method for picking items

A transporter comprising:

• a chassis with a locomotive assembly;
• a first basket supported on the chassis, the first basket configured to collect items for an order;
• an item sensor configured to detect the items;
• a picking arm supported on the chassis and having an end effector and a second basket extending from the picking arm, the picking arm configured to engage the items and draw the items into the second basket;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• in response to detecting a target item by the item sensor, move the picking arm to position the second basket to receive the target item;
• control the picking arm to engage the target item and draw the target item into the second basket by activating a vacuum pump associated with the end effector to apply a vacuum to pull the target item towards the end effector to engage a front surface of the target item;
• and
• control the second basket to deposit the target item into the first basket, wherein
• the picking arm comprises a first section configured to move to position the second basket to receive the target item, and a second section having the end effector configured to engage the target item, the second section configured to move to position the end effector to engage the target item and draw the target item into the second basket.