Method, system and computer program for controlling an automated storage and retrieval system during rebuilding its physical design

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program for controlling operation of an automated storage and retrieval system during rebuilding a physical design. The method includes a planning and designing phase that establish a new design. Storage columns with a rail system that is affected by the rebuilding are excluded from a selection of available routes for container handling vehicles operating on the storage system. In a relocation phase, storage containers located in excluded storage columns are relocated to other storage columns. In a rerouting phase, traffic flow of container handling vehicles are rerouted according to available routes. A master controller is instructed to control the vehicles according to the available routes. In a rebuilding phase, the storage system is rebuilt according to the new physical design. In a final routing phase, the routing planner controls traffic flow of the vehicles according to available routes on the rail system of the rebuilt physical design.