METHOD FOR HANDLING MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLES ON A RAIL SYSTEM AND A STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM USING SUCH A METHOD

A method for handling malfunctioning vehicles on a rail system constituting part of a storage and retrieval system includes storing a plurality of stacks of storage containers and a control system. The storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move laterally on the rail system. The method includes wirelessly monitoring and controlling, via the control system, movements of the plurality of vehicles. The method includes forming the control system by wireless data communication including: registering an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle on the rail system; registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle; bringing the malfunctioning vehicle to a halt; registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle relative to the rail system; setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone within the rail system into which the malfunctioning vehicle is halted; and updating movement pattern of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles outside the two-dimensional shutdown zone such that entrance into the two-dimensional shutdown zone is avoided.