Shuttle vehicles and rails must be designed in a space-saving way, in order to reach a profitable height grid. The height of the rail is decisive for the reachable space utilisation, because the height arises in every storage level and the totes are stored with a greater, vertical distance as actual necessary. Thus, the space utilisation and the storage capacity are less than those of lifting beams or miniloads – also because of the need of vertical conveyors. On the other hand, the floor space required is almost the same. The rail usually features a high integration of functions. It combines the function of positioning, energy transmission, carrying and guidance of the shuttle as well as safety functions. The data transmission is normally done via WiFi or Bluetooth. The rack has to be realized in that way, that it is able to absorb the occurring force of the movement, even in the case of error. Consequently, the costs for this kind of rack are higher than those for systems, which don’t cause forces or only small forces into the rack.

A shuttle storage system consists of the following components:

– Shuttle vehicle with or without lifting functionality (MLS or OLS Shuttle)
– Vertical conveyor
– Railing system
– Rack
– Load
– Controls
– Transfer conveyors

Shuttle vehicles, which – regarding the design – aren’t bound to a specific aisle, can move themselves autonomous and therefore take functions in different levels or aisles of the rack. Therefore appropriate transfer devices are necessary. Shuttle vehicles can also be the replacement for automated conveyor systems, in order to bridge transport routes outside of the rack. Accordingly, the design of the shuttles must be appropriate for leaving the rack and moving on the industrial floor or on a rail system.