Package storage space optimization systems and methods using reconfigurable racks

1 . A package storage space optimization method, comprising:

receiving, by a control system, an expected package mix for a delivery facility, the expected package mix including standardized packages and non-standardized packages, and the delivery facility comprising a plurality of fixed racks and a plurality of reconfigurable racks, wherein the plurality of fixed racks have predetermined, non-reconfigurable configurations;

determining, by the control system, desired configurations for the plurality of reconfigurable racks based on the expected package mix, the desired configurations including a standardized package configuration configured to receive standardized packages and a non-standardized package configuration configured to receive non-standardized packages;

instructing, by the control system, automated conversion of at least some of the plurality of reconfigurable racks to respective desired configurations;

receiving, by the control system, data related to current configurations of the at least some of the plurality of reconfigurable racks;

determining, by the control system, that the current configurations match the respective desired configurations for the at least some of the plurality of reconfigurable racks; and

determining, by the control system, that the automated conversion is complete based on the comparison;

wherein the delivery facility comprises a plurality of clusters, individual clusters comprising a plurality of aisles; and

wherein individual aisles comprise a respective number of fixed racks, and a respective number of reconfigurable racks.

2 . The package storage space optimization method of claim 1 , wherein individual aisles are associated with one or more respective delivery zip codes, regions, geographical areas, routes, customers, or entities.

3 . The package storage space optimization method of claim 1 , wherein the respective number of fixed racks includes a first number of fixed racks having the standardized package configuration and a second number of fixed racks having the non-standardized package configuration.

4 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by a control system, an expected package mix for a facility, the expected package mix including standardized packages and non-standardized packages, and the facility comprising a plurality of fixed racks and a plurality of reconfigurable racks, wherein the plurality of fixed racks have predetermined, non-reconfigurable configurations;

determining, by the control system, a desired configuration for at least one reconfigurable rack based on the expected package mix, the desired configuration including a standardized package configuration configured to receive standardized packages or a non-standardized package configuration configured to receive non-standardized packages; and

instructing, by the control system, at least partially automated conversion of the at least one reconfigurable rack to the desired configuration;

wherein the facility comprises a plurality of aisles, individual aisles having a respective first number of fixed racks having the standardized package configuration, a respective second number of fixed racks having the non-standardized package configuration, and a respective third number of reconfigurable racks that can be configured in either the standardized package configuration or the non-standardized package configuration.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the standardized packages are configured to be placed within standardized containers, the standardized containers being configured to be received by racks having the standardized package configuration.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein for individual aisles, the respective third number of reconfigurable racks is positioned between the respective first number of fixed racks and the respective second number of fixed racks.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack comprises

a controller; and

the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the control system to the controller, information related to the desired configuration for the at least one reconfigurable rack.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack further comprises at least one of a visual display device or an audio output device; and

the method further comprising at least one of:

causing, by the control system via the controller, emission of an alert related to the desired configuration by at least one of the visual display device or the audio output device; or

causing, by the control system via the controller, presentation of information related to the desired configuration by at least one of the visual display device or the audio output device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack further comprises an actuator configured to reconfigure at least one component of the at least one reconfigurable rack; and

the method further comprising:

causing, by the control system via the controller, reconfiguration of the at least one component by the actuator according to the desired configuration.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack further comprises a sensor configured to detect a current configuration of at least one component of the at least one reconfigurable rack; and

the method further comprising:

causing, by the control system via the controller, detection of the current configuration of the at least one component by the sensor.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, by the control system via the controller, data related to the current configuration of the at least one component detected by the sensor; and

determining, by the control system, that the current configuration of the at least one component corresponds to the desired configuration of the at least one reconfigurable rack.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising responsive to determining that the current configuration corresponds to the desired configuration of the at least one reconfigurable rack:

causing, by the control system via the controller, stopping of emission of the alert related to the desired configuration by at least one of the visual display device or the audio output device; or

causing, by the control system via the controller, stopping of presentation of information related to the desired configuration by at least one of the visual display device or the audio output device.

13 . A storage system, comprising:

a facility having a plurality of aisles, individual aisles comprising a plurality of fixed racks and a plurality of reconfigurable racks;

wherein the plurality of fixed racks have predetermined, non-reconfigurable configurations including a first number of fixed racks having a standardized package configuration, and a second number of fixed racks having a non-standardized package configuration;

wherein the plurality of reconfigurable racks includes a third number of reconfigurable racks that can be configured in either the standardized package configuration or the non-standardized package configuration;

wherein at least one reconfigurable rack is configured to be at least partially automatically converted between the standardized package configuration and the non-standardized package configuration.

14 . The storage system of claim 13 , wherein for individual aisles, the third number of reconfigurable racks is positioned between the first number of fixed racks and the second number of fixed racks.

15 . The storage system of claim 13 , wherein individual aisles are associated with one or more respective delivery zip codes, regions, geographical areas, routes, customers, or entities.

16 . The storage system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack is configured to be at least partially automatically converted to a desired configuration that is determined based on an expected package mix among standardized packages and non-standardized packages;

wherein the desired configuration is one of the standardized package configuration or the non-standardized package configuration.

17 . The storage system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable rack includes a controller, a visual display device, an audio output device, an actuator, and a sensor configured to at least partially automatically convert the at least one reconfigurable rack between the standardized package configuration and the non-standardized package configuration.