Method and system for dynamically allocating resources in an automated storage and retrieval system

A computer-implemented method for controlling a system, the system comprising:

• a first set of tracks extending in a first direction and a second set of tracks extending in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction, wherein the first and second sets of tracks are in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid comprising a plurality of grid spaces to form a plurality of vertical storage locations beneath the grid for containers to be guided by uprights in a vertical direction through the plurality of grid spaces;
• a plurality of load handling devices, wherein each load-handling device is configured to move along the first and/or second sets of tracks, and lift a container from beneath the grid and/or lower a container beneath the grid, the method comprising:
• controlling each of the plurality of load handling devices to perform either a picking task or an outbound task, wherein a picking task comprises moving containers to and/or from a picking station to fill containers, each filled container comprising at least one predetermined item, wherein an outbound task comprises moving a filled container to an exit area of the system for the filled containers;
• determining a target number of filled containers;
• determining a real-time number of filled containers;
• and
• apportioning the plurality of load-handling devices between picking tasks and outbound tasks based on a difference between the target number of filled containers and the real-time number of the filled containers.