Method and vehicle for rescuing a stalled container handling vehicle

A method for operating a service vehicle unit (SVU) for maneuvering a container handling vehicle that has stalled on an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the system comprises:

• a rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of a container handling vehicle in a first direction across the top of a frame structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicle in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second sets of parallel rails dividing the rail system into a plurality of grid cells, at least one container handling vehicle configured to operate on the rail system, wherein the SVU comprises a wheel module, which is configured to operate on the rail system, wherein the method comprises:
• a. notifying, by a central computer system, the SVU about a stalled container handling vehicle
• b. sending, by the central computer system, the SVU to the last known position of the stalled container handling vehicle,
• c. positioning, by the central computer system, the SVU in relation to the container handling vehicle in such a way that a turret mounted positioner can be used to maneuver the container handling vehicle to a predetermined cell on the grid,
• d. repositioning, by the SVU, the stalled container handling vehicle,
• e. trying to restart the container handling vehicle using the central computer system from the predetermined position on the grid.

A storage and retrieval system for maneuvering a container handling vehicle that has stalled on an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the system comprises:

• a grid-based rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of a container handling vehicle in a first direction across the top of a frame structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicle in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second sets of parallel rails dividing the rail system into a plurality of grid cells, and at least one container handling vehicle configured to operate on the rail system;
• and
• a service vehicle unit (SVU) comprising a wheel module configured with a first and second set of wheels, which enables movement of the container handling vehicle in the first and second direction and which is configured to operate on the rail system,
• wherein the SVU further comprises a turret and a turret mounted positioner that is attached to the wheel module, the turret being configured to move the turret mounted positioner to attach to the container handling vehicle, wherein the turret mounted positioner is configured for maneuvering a container handling vehicle to a predetermined position on the grid.