Systems and methods for providing vertical mobile carrier systems

An object processing system including at least one automated mobile carrier comprising:

• a carrier base portion including at least two wheels for moving the automated mobile carrier in at least one horizontal direction;
• a carrier upper portion that includes a payload receiving surface for receiving at least one object thereon to be moved by the automated mobile carrier, and an engagement system for engaging a vertical structure;
• and
• an elevation system being adapted for lifting the carrier upper portion including the payload receiving surface with respect to the carrier base portion such that the engagement system may engage the vertical structure.

A method of processing objects using an automated mobile carrier, said method comprising:

• moving the automated mobile carrier in a horizontal direction, said automated mobile carrier including a carrier base portion including at least two wheels for moving the automated mobile carrier in the horizontal direction, and a carrier upper portion including a payload receiving portion for receiving at least one object thereon to be moved by the automated mobile carrier;
• receiving the automated mobile carrier under at least two vertically extending lift structures such that the automated mobile carrier may move freely in the horizontal direction unobstructed by the vertically extending lift structures;
• elevating the carrier upper portion relative the carrier base portion such that an engagement system of the carrier upper portion engages the vertically extending lift structures;
• and
• lifting the automated mobile carrier along the vertically extending lift structures to any of a plurality of levels, each of which includes a plurality of destination locations.