Automated Lumber Retrieval and Delivery

A lumber handling method comprising:

• stacking a first plurality of boards on a first lumber support to create a first stack of lumber having a first upper contour, the first plurality of boards having a first size;
• stacking a second plurality of boards on a second lumber support to create a second stack of lumber having a second upper contour, the second plurality of boards having a second size;
• laser scanning the first upper contour and the second upper contour;
• creating a first digital profile representing the first upper contour;
• creating a second digital profile representing the second upper contour;
• based on the first digital profile and the second digital profile, identifying a first-to-pick board of each of the first stack of lumber and the second stack of lumber;
• generating a board request of a predetermined size;
• determining which of the first size and the second size matches the predetermined size;
• depending on which of the first size and the second size matches the predetermined size, directing a board picker to one of the first stack of lumber and the second stack of lumber;
• further directing the board picker to the first-to-pick board of one of the first stack of lumber and the second stack of lumber;
• the board picker picking up the first-to-pick board;
• and
• transporting the first-to-pick board from one of the first stack of lumber and the second stack of lumber to a delivered position spaced apart from the first stack of lumber and the second stack of lumber.