System and apparatus for resource management

A mobile drive apparatus for use at a transport hub, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive means configured to drive the apparatus between two or more locations within the transport hub;
• a wireless communication module configured to form a wireless communications link with one or more remote computers or servers, such as a departure control system, and receive data from each of the one or more remote computers or servers relating to the transport hub;
• and
• a control means coupled to the drive means and coupled to the wireless communication module;
• wherein the control means is configured to analyse the data received from each of the one or more remote computers or servers, and determine whether the apparatus should be moved from a current location to a new, different location within the transport hub;
• and wherein, if the control means determines that the apparatus should be moved to the new, different location, the control means is further configured to issue a command instruction to the drive means to control the drive means to move the apparatus to the new, different location.

A resource management system for managing deployment of one or more mobile drive apparatus in a transport hub, the system comprising:

• a data input module configured to receive data from one or more data sources, said data relating to the transport hub;
• a process director coupled to the data input module and configured to analyse the data received via the data input module, and determine whether one or more threshold criteria has been met;
• and
• a resource communication module coupled to the process director, the resource communication module being configured to issue a command instruction to one or more mobile drive units when the process director has determined that the one or more threshold criteria has been met, wherein said command instruction comprises an instruction for the mobile drive apparatus to move to a specified location within the transport hub.

A method of managing deployment of one or more mobile drive apparatus in a transport hub, the method comprising:

• receiving data from one or more data sources, said data relating to the transport hub;
• analysing the received data to determine whether one or more threshold criteria has been met;
• and
• issuing a command instruction to one or more mobile drive units if the analysing step results in a determination that the one or more threshold criteria has been met, wherein said command instruction comprises an instruction for the one or more mobile drive apparatus to move to a specified location within the transport hub.