Patent attributes
A vehicle for use in an inventory management system having a plurality of destination areas and a guide system includes a platform for receiving and transporting items to and from the destination areas, a plurality of motors, a first drive system, a second drive system, a transfer mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. Drive elements of the first drive system are rotated by a first subset of one or more motors to move the vehicle vertically. Drive elements of the second drive system are rotated by a second subset of two or more motors to move the vehicle horizontally. The transfer system is configured to transfer and retrieve items to and from the destination areas, and the clutch mechanism is configured to engage and disengage the transfer mechanism from the second subset of motors, whereby the second drive system drives movement of the vehicle independently of the transfer mechanism.
