AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM WITH LOGICALLY OPERABLE BARRIERS FOR SAFE ENTER AND EXIT INTO A TRANSPORT VEHICLE, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD

It is described an automated storage and retrieval system (1) comprising: - a rail system (108) comprising a first set of parallel rails (110) extending in a first direction (X) across the top of a frame structure (100) formed by a plurality of upright members (102), and a second set of parallel rails (111) in the horizontal plane arranged in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first set of parallel rails (110), to guide movement of container handling vehicles (201; 301; 401) in the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), and wherein the rail system (108) comprises an operating area (20); - a plurality of container handling vehicles (201; 301; 401) operating on the rails (110, 111) in the operating area (20); - transport vehicle (501') movable on the rail system (108), the transport vehicle (501') comprising an enclosure defining an enclosed first area (510) for transporting a person within, the enclosure comprising a lockable barrier (520') configured to provide access for a person into the first area (510); - a control system comprising a transmitter and a receiver for communication with the container handling vehicles (201; 301; 401) and the first transport vehicle (501'); - the transport vehicle comprises a receiver and is configured to receive routing instructions from the control system (500); - a second area (30; 510'), partitioned from the operating area (20) and comprising a lockable barrier (31; 521') configured to provide access for a person into the second area from the first area (510); wherein, when the transport vehicle (501') is within the operating area (20), the lockable barrier (520') for the enclosure and the lockable barrier (31; 521') for the second area are configured to: - unlock when the transport vehicle (501') is at a personnel transfer position (10); and - lock when the transport vehicle (501') is not at the personnel transfer position (10). It is further described a method of transferring a person between the first area and the second area.