Method and control system for preparing orders of goods stored in an automated storage system

A computer-implemented method executed using a control system of an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the a control system comprises a memory and a processor, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of orders in an order list;
• ranking the plurality of orders in the order list according to times received;
• setting a priority for each of the orders based on at least a type of goods in each of the orders;
• allocating each order to one pick-up entity of a plurality of pick-up entities;
• responsive to a determination that two or more orders are allocated to a same pick-up entity, updating the ranking of the orders for the same pick-up entity based on the priority of the orders;
• estimating for each order a preparation time for preparing and delivering the order to a pick-up point for pick-up by the allocated pick-up entity;
• estimating for each order a pick-up time at which the allocated pick-up entity will be ready to pick up the order based on information about the allocated pick-up entity;
• comparing for each order the estimated preparation time and the estimated pick-up time;
• updating the ranking of the orders in the order list so that each order will be delivered at the pick-up point at a time within a predetermined time interval overlapping the estimated pick-up time of the allocated pick-up entity;
• and
• controlling an automated storage and retrieval system by a control system for preparing and delivering the orders of goods at the pick-up point according to the updated ranking of orders in the order list, wherein the control system comprises a memory and a processor.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed using a processor of a control system of an automated storage and retrieval system that is arranged for receiving information of a plurality of orders and pick-up entities, causes the processor to execute:

• receiving a plurality of orders in an order list;
• ranking the plurality of orders in the order list according to time received;
• setting a priority for each of the orders based on at least a type of goods in each of the orders;
• allocating each order to one of the pick-up entities;
• responsive to a determination that two or more orders are allocated to a same pick-up entity, updating the ranking of the orders for the same pick-up entity based on the priority of the orders;
• estimating for each order a preparation time for preparing and delivering the order to a pick-up point for pick-up by the allocated pick-up entity;
• estimating for each order a pick-up time at which the allocated pick-up entity will be ready to pick up the order based on information about the allocated pick-up entity;
• comparing for each order the estimated preparation time and the estimated pick-up time;
• updating the ranking of the orders in the order list so that each order will be delivered at the pick-up point at a time within a predetermined time interval overlapping the estimated pick-up time of the allocated pick-up entity;
• and
• controlling the automated storage and retrieval system by the control system for preparing and delivering the orders of goods at the pick-up point according to the updated ranking of orders in the order list.

A control system connected to an automated storage and retrieval system for controlling preparing and delivering of orders of goods from the automated storage and retrieval system, the control system comprises an input, memory, and processor, wherein the control system is arranged for receiving information of a plurality of orders and a plurality of pick-up entities and storing the plurality of orders and a plurality of pick-up entities in the memory;

• the memory comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed using the processor, cause the processor to perform:
• receiving a plurality of orders in an order list;
• ranking the plurality of orders in the order list according to time received;
• setting a priority for each of the orders based on at least a type of goods in each of the orders;
• allocating each order to one of the plurality of pick-up entities;
• responsive to a determination that two or more orders are allocated to a same pick-up entity, updating the ranking of the orders for the same pick-up entity based on the priority of the orders;
• estimating, for each order, a preparation time for preparing and delivering the order to a pick-up point for pick-up by the allocated pick-up entity;
• estimating, for each order, a pick-up time at which the allocated pick-up entity will be ready to pick up the order based on information about the allocated pick-up entity;
• comparing, for each order, the estimated preparation time and the estimated pick-up time;
• updating the ranking of the orders in the order list so that each order will be delivered at the pick-up point at a time within a predetermined time interval overlapping the estimated pick-up time;
• and
• wherein the controller is adapted to control the automated storage and retrieval system for preparing according to the updated ranking of orders in the order list.