AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A VEHICLE PEN AND A TRANSPORT VEHICLE, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHODS

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 in the operating area (20); - a transport vehicle (501') movable on the rail system (108), the transport vehicle (501') comprising an enclosure (E) 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 second area (30) partitioned from the operating area (20); - a vehicle pen (60) between the operating area (20) and the second area (30), wherein the vehicle pen (60) defines a vehicle pen area (61) and comprises a lockable first barrier (31) for separating the vehicle pen area (61) from the second area (30), and a lockable second barrier (32) for separating the vehicle pen area (61) from the operating area (20); wherein the first barrier (31) of the vehicle pen is configured to: - lock when the second barrier (32) of the vehicle pen is unlocked thereby preventing passage of a person therethrough; and - unlock when the second barrier (32) of the vehicle pen is locked thereby allowing passage of a person therethrough, and wherein the lockable barrier (520') of the transport vehicle is configured to: - lock when the second vehicle pen barrier (32) of the vehicle pen is unlocked thereby preventing passage of a person therethrough, and - unlock when the transport vehicle (501') is positioned within the vehicle pen area (61) and the second vehicle pen barrier (32) of the vehicle pen is locked thereby allowing passage of a person therethrough. It is also described methods of moving a transport vehicle (501') between a vehicle pen area (61) and an operating area (20) in an automated storage and retrieval system (1).