Storage material handling system

A storage fill and retrieval system for a storage space, the system comprising:

• a multiplicity of fixed storage locations distributed in the storage space in a predetermined ordered configuration and defining at least one human pick zone arranged for human picker access to the fixed storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone so as to pick, or place, items from the fixed storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone, each of the at least one human pick zones having at least one collection tote location;
• at least one robot picker configured for holding and transporting a tote within the storage space and having an end effector arranged for autonomous transfer of the tote between the at least one robot picker and a tote holding station and between the at least one robot picker and at least one collection tote location;
• and
• a storage management system communicably connected to the at least one robot picker and configured to associate each robot picker of the at least one robot pickers with a human pick zone from the at least one human pick zones, each of the related human pick zones having at least one stored item in the fixed storage locations, of the related human pick zone, corresponding to a store or customer pick order of the storage management system;
• wherein the at least one robot picker is configured to transport the tote to the collection tote location of each associated human pick zone, and wherein each collection tote location is arranged for human picker access and defines an interface between a human picker in the human pick zone and the at least one robot picker;
• and
• wherein the related human pick zones form a path in the store space connecting the collection tote locations that correspond to the store or customer pick order.

A material handling system for a distribution center space, the system comprising:

• a multiplicity of fixed production or storage locations distributed in the distribution center space in a predetermined ordered configuration and defining at least one human pick zone arranged for human picker access to the fixed production or storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone so as to pick, or place, items from the fixed production or storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone, the fixed production and/or storage locations of each of the at least one human pick zone are integrally coupled to at least one collection tote location proximate each human pick zone;
• at least one robot picker configured for holding and transporting a tote within the distribution center space and having an end effector arranged for autonomous transfer of the tote between the at least one robot picker and a tote holding station and between the at least one robot picker and the at least one collection tote location;
• and
• an order management system communicably connected to the at least one robot picker and configured to associate each robot picker of the at least one robot picker with a human pick zone from more than one related human pick zones, of the at least one human pick zone, each of the related human pick zones has a stored item in the fixed production or storage locations, of the related human pick zone, corresponding to a pick order of the management system;
• wherein the at least one robot picker is configured to transport the tote to the collection tote location of each associated human pick zone, and wherein each collection tote location is arranged for human picker access and defines an interface between a human picker in the human pick zone and the at least one robot picker.

A method for operating a distribution center, the method comprising:

• providing storage locations arranged in human pick zones each of which has at least one collection tote location;
• generating a schedule of human pickers in the human pick zones with a storage management system (MS), the schedule of human pickers corresponding to a pick order;
• defining, with the storage management system, a path connecting the human pick zones corresponding to the pick order;
• and
• routing, with the storage management system, at least one robot picker to traverse the path to the at least one collection tote location of each corresponding human pick zone based on the schedule of human pickers.