Vehicle with non-motorized guiding wheels and motorized belt drive and methods of operating the vehicle

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising a two-dimensional rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of container handling vehicles 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 vehicles in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the automated storage and retrieval system further comprises a number of container handling vehicles and at least one vehicle for operation on the automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the wheeled base comprises:

• a first set of non-motorized guiding wheels for interaction with the rails in the first direction and a second set of non-motorized guiding wheels for interaction with the rails in the second direction;
• and
• a first motorized belt drive arranged for frictional contact with a rail of the rail system for driving the vehicle in one of the first direction and/or the second direction.

A method of moving a vehicle for operation on an automated storage and retrieval system, the automated storage and retrieval system comprising a two-dimensional rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of container handling vehicles 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 vehicles in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, where the vehicle comprises a wheeled base, wherein the wheeled base comprises:

• a first set of non-motorized guiding wheels for interaction with the rails in the first direction and a second set of non-motorized guiding wheels for interaction with the rails in the second direction;
• and
• a first motorized belt drive arranged for frictional contact with a rail of the rail system for driving the vehicle in one of the first direction and/or the second direction, on the rail system of the automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the method comprises using the belt drive to drive the vehicle and the first and second sets of non-motorized guiding wheels for guiding the vehicle on the rail system.