Method for handling malfunctioning vehicles on a rail system and a storage and retrieval system using such a method

Abstract

A method for handling malfunctioning vehicles () on a rail system () constituting part of a storage and retrieval system () configured to store a plurality of stacks () of storage containers (), wherein the storage and retrieval system () comprises—a plurality of remotely operated vehicles () configured to move laterally on the rail system () and—a control system () for monitoring and controlling wirelessly movements of the plurality of vehicles (), the control system () forms by wireless data communication at least the following steps: A. registering an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle (this) on the rail system (), B. registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle (), C. bringing the malfunctioning vehicle () to a halt, D. registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle () relative to the supporting rail system (), E. setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone () within the rail system () into which the malfunctioning vehicle () is halted and F. updating movement pattern of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles () outside the two-dimensional shutdown zone () such that entrance into the two-dimensional shutdown zone () is avoided.