System for providing secure storing and retrieving of personal storage containers via an interaction area

A control system comprising a controller configured to perform operations comprising:

• instructing at least one container handling vehicle to raise storage containers from storage columns and transport the storage containers;
• instructing a container transport assembly to access the storage containers transported by the at least one container handling vehicle and to transfer the storage containers to an access station at an interaction area;
• wherein the interaction area comprises a device configured to identify a user, control user access to the access station, and interact with the container transport assembly, through a user interface;
• identifying a user at the interaction area with the device located at the interaction area, wherein the device is configured to (1) verify user access to the interaction area and (2) verify user access to one or more storage containers at the interaction area;
• and wherein only the one or more storage containers that are registered in the container transport assembly by a user and at the interaction area will be available to the user at the interaction area after verification of the user access to the interaction area and the verification of the user access to the one or more storage containers at the interaction area;
• if the user is authorized, allowing the user to access the access station;
• and
• instructing the user to retrieve the storage containers at the interaction area;
• wherein the controller instructs the container transport assembly and a cooperating transfer means in the interaction area to transfer the storage containers between the access station and the storage columns, thereby moving the storage containers to and from the container transport assembly and the access station.