Warehouse automation systems and methods

1. A warehouse automation system for handling products within a warehouse, the system comprising:

a plurality of carts for transporting products within a warehouse, each cart comprising a plurality of storage receptacles for storing the products; and

a controller adapted to (i) associate a first one of the plurality of carts with a first person, (ii) control the first cart to lead the first person around the warehouse, (iii) instruct the first person to pick and place the products within specific storage receptacles of the first cart, (iv) control the first cart to lead the first person to a plurality of workstations, and (v) move the first cart at at least one of a speed equal to a normal pace of the first person and a speed faster than a normal pace of the first person,

wherein at least one storage receptacle is adapted to be removed from the first cart at each workstation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to associate a second one of the plurality of carts with the first person at the same time that the first cart is associated with the first person.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to associate the first cart with a second person different from the first person at the same time that the first cart is associated with the first person.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cart comprises a motor for propelling the first cart.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cart comprises at least one of an on-screen interface and an off-screen interface for communicating information to the first person.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first cart comprises the off-screen interface and further wherein the off-screen interface comprises at least one of lighting and an audio source.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cart comprises a sensor for, at least in part, at least one of identifying a distance of the first person from the first cart, determining a position of the first cart within the warehouse, and identifying an obstacle in a path of the first cart.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display for displaying real-time performance metrics of the first and other persons.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of overhead cameras adapted to (i) monitor the plurality of carts, the first person, and material handling equipment, and (ii) determine a location of each cart.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a workstation for preparing at least some of the products for shipment.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the shipment is at least one of ground delivery and air delivery.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a workstation for at least one of personalizing and gift wrapping at least some of the products.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a workstation for sorting at least some of the products.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the workstation is adapted to sort the at least some of the products by at least one of transportation carrier, destination zone, and delivery method.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the workstation comprises a robotic arm to perform the sorting.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the workstation comprises a sortation wall.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the sortation wall comprises a plurality of shipping bins each assigned to a unique customer order.

18. A computer-controlled automated method of handling products within a warehouse, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a first person with a first one of a plurality of carts for transporting products within a warehouse, the first cart comprising a plurality of storage receptacles for storing the products;

controlling the first cart to lead the first person around the warehouse;

instructing the first person to pick and place the products within specific storage receptacles;

controlling the first cart to lead the first person to a plurality of workstations; and

removing at least one storage receptacle from the first cart at each workstation,

wherein each controlling step comprises moving the first cart at at least one of a speed equal to a normal pace of the first person and a speed faster than a normal pace of the first person.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising associating the first person with a second one of the plurality of carts at the same time that the first person is associated with the first cart.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising associating a second person different from the first person with the first cart at the same time that the first person is associated with the first cart.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising preparing at least some of the products for shipment.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the shipment is at least one of ground delivery and air delivery.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising at least one of personalizing and gift wrapping at least some of the products.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising sorting, at at least one workstation, at least some of the products.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least some of the products are sorted by at least one of transportation carrier, destination zone, and delivery method.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sorting is performed by at least one of the first person and a robotic arm.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sorting comprises employing a sortation wall.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the sortation wall comprises a plurality of shipping bins each assigned to a unique customer order.