Automated warehouse system and method for optimized batch picking

The method of claim 41, further comprising:

• receiving, into the computer system, a first plurality of commercial orders, wherein each respective commercial order of the plurality of commercial orders specifies one or more pick items to be picked for that respective commercial order;
• storing the first plurality of commercial orders to a storage system of the computer system;
• organizing, in the computer system, the first plurality of commercial orders into a first plurality of batch windows, wherein a first subset of the first plurality of batch windows are associated with a first aisle of a warehouse;
• generating, in the computer system, an ordered sequence of pick-operation specifications associated with each batch window of the first plurality of batch windows that is associated with the first aisle in order to optimize a throughput of commercial orders during each of a plurality of sequential time periods;
• generating, in the computer system, an ordered sequence of tote identifiers corresponding to the sequence of pick-operation specifications associated with each batch window of the first plurality of batch windows that is associated with the first aisle;
• moving a first mobile picker platform that supports a first human picker to a sequence of pick locations according to the sequence of pick-operation specifications associated with each respective batch window of the first subset of the first plurality of batch windows;
• and
• delivering a first sequence of totes to the first mobile picker platform according to the ordered sequence of tote identifiers associated with each respective batch window of the first subset of the first plurality of batch windows.

A method for fulfillment operatively coupled to control equipment operated automatically to transport totes into which goods are placed after being picked, wherein the goods are identified by respective SKU identifiers of a first plurality of orders at a fulfillment center, wherein the first plurality of orders is received from a plurality of customers, wherein each one of the first plurality of orders includes a plurality of stock-keeping unit (SKU) identifiers, and wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, into a computer system, a first plurality of commercial orders during a first batch-window period of time, wherein each respective order of the first plurality of commercial orders specifies one or more pick items to be picked for that respective commercial order;
• storing the first plurality of commercial orders to a storage system of the computer system;
• organizing, in the computer system, the first plurality of commercial orders into a first plurality of batches, wherein a first subset of the first plurality of batches are associated with a first aisle of a warehouse;
• performing, on a computer system, a batch-optimization algorithm that assigns/associates each respective one of the first plurality of orders to a respective batch of a first plurality of batches and assigns/associates each SKU identifier of the respective orders' plurality of SKU identifiers to a respective tote of a plurality of totes associated with the respective batch in order to maximize occurrences of two types of events, wherein the two types of events are:
• a multi-pick type of event wherein a plurality of SKU items specified by different orders but having equivalent SKU identifiers are picked at one time, and
• a chain-pick type of event wherein plurality of SKU items having different SKU identifiers, and all located within reach in a common pick window are picked consecutively and placed in a single tote,
• wherein the multi-pick type of event and the chain-pick type of event are both selected in order to provide a maximized pick performance, and wherein pick performance is defined as a number of picks per unit of time in a sequential series of picks performed.

A computer-readable medium operatively coupled to control equipment operated automatically to transport totes into which goods are picked, wherein the goods are identified by respective SKU identifiers having instructions stored thereon for causing a suitably programmed computer to perform a method for fulfillment of a first plurality of orders at a fulfillment center, wherein the first plurality of orders is received from a plurality of customers, wherein each one of the first plurality of orders includes a plurality of stock-keeping unit (SKU) identifiers, and wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, into a computer system, a first plurality of commercial orders during a first batch-window period of time, wherein each respective order of the first plurality of commercial orders specifies one or more pick items to be picked for that respective commercial order;
• storing the first plurality of commercial orders to a storage system of the computer system;
• organizing, in the computer system, the first plurality of commercial orders into a first plurality of batches, wherein a first subset of the first plurality of batches are associated with a first aisle of a warehouse;
• performing, on a computer system, a batch-optimization algorithm that assigns/associates each respective one of the first plurality of orders to a respective batch of a first plurality of batches and assigns/associates each SKU identifier of the respective orders' plurality of SKU identifiers to a respective tote of a plurality of totes associated with the respective batch in order to maximize occurrences of two types of events, wherein the two types of events are:
• a multi-pick type of event wherein a plurality of SKU items specified by different orders but having equivalent SKU identifiers are picked at one time, and
• a chain-pick type of event wherein plurality of SKU items having different SKU identifiers, and all located within reach in a common pick window are picked consecutively and placed in a single tote,
• wherein the multi-pick type of event and the chain-pick type of event are both selected in order to provide a maximized pick performance, and wherein pick performance is defined as a number of picks per unit of time in a sequential series of picks performed.