A system and method of determining orientation of a physical location on a cart or end effector located on the cart in an independent cart. system receives a feedback signal from a sensor on the cart, A multi-axis device may generate three or more signals corresponding to X, Y, and Z axes orientations. Processing may be performed on the signals to generate a value of yaw, pitch, or roll of the cart. The feedback or processed signals are transmitted from the mover to a remote device external from the track. The real-time orientation information may be used to implement closed-loop control of an actuator mounted on or external to each cart as the cart travels along the track, Power for the devices on the mover may be provided by a battery mounted on the cart or by a wireless power transfer system.

A robotic system for dynamic controlling the movement of a mobile robot is presented. The robotic system includes a multi-level transport system arranged in an xyz-space. The multi-level transport system includes a plurality of magnetic tracks configured to allow movement of the mobile robot in at least one direction in the xy-plane. The multi-level transport system further includes a plurality of transfer mechanisms configured to change the direction of the mobile robot in the xy-plane, and to allow the movement of the mobile robot in a direction along the z-axis, each transfer mechanism defining a transfer node in the multi-level transport system. The robotic system further includes a control system configured to dynamically control the movement of the mobile robot in the x,y,z direction at one or more transfer nodes of the multi-level transport system, by dynamically activating a corresponding magnetic track or a corresponding transfer mechanism.

An automated transportation system includes a facility layer including at least one first transportation facility, and a system layer, in which an integrated control system controlling the at least one first transportation facility, a material control system (MCS) controlling a transport command with respect to the integrated control system, an application server managing a Real-Time Dispatcher (RTD), and a database storing information corresponding to an operation of the material control system and the real-time dispatcher are established. The facility layer and the system layer are spatially separated. Therefore, in the automated transportation system, the integrated server may be efficiently and stably operated, to quickly respond to a problem when a problem occurs in the system.

A process control method of a substrate processing apparatus includes monitoring a process status of each process chamber of a plurality of process chambers, determining a shift-to-idle process chamber to be shifted from a process state to an idle state among the plurality of process chambers, storing a first to-be-processed substrate in a storage, associated with the shift-to-idle process chamber, among a plurality of storages provided in a transfer chamber, and transferring the first to-be-processed substrate stored in the storage to the shift-to-idle process chamber in accordance with a shift to the idle state of the shift-to-idle process chamber.

Systems and methods for profiling a pallet in a warehouse can include a turntable that rotates the pallet, conveyor belts that move the pallet, and a vertical profiling structure, having cameras mounted at different locations, in a stationary position proximate to a side of the turntable. A photo booth can also be used to provide uniform lighting. A computing system can instruct a conveyor belt to automatically route the pallet onto the turntable, instruct the cameras to capture image data of the pallet as it rotates on the turntable, receive the image data, and retrieve image-based models of the pallet that were trained using images of pallets having unique identifiers. The computing system can determine, based on applying the image-based models to the image data, whether the pallet's unique identifier is identifiable, and transmit, to a warehouse management system, a notification indicating whether the unique identifier is identifiable.

An AMHS interface management system configured to facilitate the exchange of lot information between distinct AMHS systems. The AMHS interface management system receives lot information from a first AMHS system in a first format and translates the lot information into a format associated with a second AMHS system. The AMHS interface management system utilizes a handshake area located between the first and second AMHS systems. The handshake area includes one or more vehicles that facilitate the movement of a lot between the first AMHS system and the second AMHS system.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a production plant having a plurality of processing stations, wherein the workpieces to be processed can be transported to the various processing stations by means of a transport system, wherein a plurality of computers are provided which are connected for data exchange via a computer network, the production plant being controlled by means of a plurality of control processes. According to the disclosure, during the operation of the production plant an initial decision is taken automatically about which control process is executed on which computer, wherein the initial decision is then implemented automatically.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.

The invention provides methods, equipment and apparatuses for a highly agile manufacturing system. The system may include at least one item of mobile equipment, at least one mobile container and at least one manufacturing management system (MMS). Because of its high agility, the system may allow for efficient concurrent manufacturing of multiple dissimilar products. The system may also accommodate manufacturing processes requiring hybrid methods.

In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a set of pallets to hold a set of parcels. The system also includes a conveyor system to move the set of pallets to and from a transportation pod. The system further includes a lift system to lift the set of pallets to different heights within the transportation pod. The system further includes a storage system to store a set of parcels. The system further includes a mechanical arm to move the set of parcels from the storage system to the set of pallets.